6 Ways to Get a Ticket
Nobody likes getting pulled over by a traffic cop. You can get ticketed for any number of reasons, from expired registration to speeding. What’s worse, a ticket often raises your car insurance rates (depending on the insurer and severity of the offense). So how can you avoid those red and blue lights in your rearview? Korrena Bailie of carinsurancequotes.org asked retired and current traffic cops what kinds of behavior they look for on duty, and the answers might surprise you.
1) Speed. Let’s start with an obvious one–if you’re driving faster than the posted speed limit, you’re likely to be pulled over. Although there’s no guarantee that you won’t be pulled over for going 5 to 7 mph over the speed limit, Mike Brucks, a retired traffic cop, attests that his first priority was that drivers were driving in a safe and controlled manner, so it’s less likely to happen if you’re driving with the flow of traffic.
2) Using a cellphone. We’ve all been there: you’re driving to work or an engagement and get an important phone call on your cell phone. Here’s a tip: don’t take it. Talking on the phone without a hands-free device like a bluetooth earpiece is a major red flag for traffic cops. In all but four states, a cop can pull you over for that offense alone. So next time you’re on the highway, leave your phone in the backseat and return any calls you get when you’re not on the road.
3) Reckless driving. Driving a car on the road is much more dangerous than driving one in a video game, so don’t drive like they’re the same! A traffic cop will consider your driving reckless if you drive dangerously with intent–not stopping at intersections, making illegal U-turns, not paying attention to yield signs, tailgating, speeding up to pass the driver ahead of you, etc. There’s no definitive list of what qualifies as reckless driving, so air on the side of caution; it’s up to the traffic cop to decide whether your driving is considered reckless.
4) Your car’s condition. The appearance of your car is often the first thing a traffic cop notices, just as your hairstyle and clothing choices make a first impression on people you meet. You can be considered in violation if your taillights, headlights, or turn signals don’t work, your windows are tinted too darkly, your windshield is cracked, your side or rearview mirrors are missing, items you’ve packed in a truck bed are in danger of falling out, your registration is expired and many more. According to one traffic cop, he gets suspicious when a vehicle’s tag lights are out because he wonders whether the driver is purposefully trying to hide his/her license plate. Don’t risk a ticket over an easy fix!
5) Driving in the fast lane. That’s right, simply driving in the far left lane of a highway or freeway may draw a traffic cop’s eye. In many states, it’s illegal to use the left lane for anything other than passing. Drivers tend to drive faster in the passing lane and if a traffic cop is on the median strip, it’s easy for him to pull you over.
6) Driving too slowly. We’re all familiar with speeding tickets, but the reverse applies as well–driving too slowly might get you pulled over because it signals to a traffic cop that you might be impaired or distracted. Even if neither applies, driving too slowly impedes traffic and is just as likely to cause accidents as driving too quickly. Luckily for all of us, none of these behaviors is particularly difficult to change. A few minor adjustments to your driving habits may end up saving you a lot of time and money!