How
To Avoid Traffic Tickets
Some
common traffic violations include:
- Speeding:
if you go over the speed limit, you may incur a speeding ticket.
This can add points to your record. States can suspend or revoke your
license if you incur a certain amount of points within a given period
of time. Check the point laws at your state's DMV site:
Florida
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles:
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/
California
Department of Motor Vehicles:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dmv.htm
New
York State DMV:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/
- Failure
to Yield: you may receive a traffic ticket or just a warning from
the police officer
- Failure
to Stop at a Red Light or Stop Sign
!
A parking ticket is not a traffic violation.
It will not go on your police record. However, it will be recorded in
the city parking records, and may have to be paid before you re-register
your car with the state the following year.
!
Many
large cities have toll roads (often at bridges) which you must pay a
toll to use. Tolls normally run $1-3, while longer toll roads can cost
even more. If you do not have the money to pay the toll, the tollbooth
operator will issue you a bill which you can send in without penalty
within a certain time.
More
serious violations:
DUI
- "Driving Under the Influence". States consider this a serious
offense. Even if you drink only one glass of wine, if you are pulled
over by the highway patrol and your blood alcohol content is found to
be over the legal limit (.08% BAC or more detected through a "breathalyzer
test"), you may have your license suspended, and the DUI may stay
on your record for your lifetime. If the DUI caused an accident or injury
to another, you may have your license suspended, or even go to jail.
Calculate
your blood alcohol content (BAC) at this website:
http://www.ou.edu/oupd/bac.htm
Learn more
about DUI laws and penalties at these state DMV sites:
Florida:
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/duilaws.html
California:
If you
are 21 years of age or older, took a blood or breath test, or (if
applicable) a urine test, and the results showed 0.08% BAC or more:
- A
first offense will result in a 4-month suspension.
- A
second or subsequent offense within 7 years will result in a 1-year
suspension.
If you are under 21 year of age, took a preliminary alcohol screening
(PAS) test or other chemical test and results showed 0.01% BAC
or more, your driving privilege will be suspended for 1 year.
What
to do if you are arrested for DUI in California:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/driversafety/dsalcohol.htm
If you
are Stopped by the Highway Patrol:
If a policeman
finds reasonable cause to pull you over, he may come up behind you,
run his sirens and lights. This means you should pull over to the side
of the road at the nearest safe location and stop your car. Don't get
out of the car unless the policeman asks you to. The policeman will
ask to see your driver's license and registration (which you should
carry with you at all times). The officer will then go back to his car
to check to see that your papers are current and that you have no outstanding
violations or warrants for your arrest. Remain in the car quietly and
do not make a fuss. It may take a few minutes for the policeman to check
your records. The policeman will tell you what he thought you did wrong
and may issue you a ticket.
If you
wish to contest the ticket, you will need to appear in court on the
date that appears on the ticket with any evidence that might help your
case.
If you
wish to pay the ticket, you can send it in within the due date described
on the ticket. if you do not pay the ticket on time, you may incur extra
fines and penalties.