Thursday, September 1, 2016

How to Avoid a Traffic ticket

You look in your rear view mirror and ... Oh, no ... the dreaded blue lights! Your mind races; were you speeding? Is your insurance current? Did they finally suspend your license from that back child support?

In America, traffic tickets are always a possibility on our roadways. Police officers are constantly searching for inventive ways to stop you and increase their “productivity” numbers by issuing a citation. What can you do to prevent receiving that piece of paper that takes your time and money?

The police need a reason to stop you. Follow these tips to help prevent giving them that reason and, ultimately, avoiding a ticket;

1. Wear Your Seat Belt 
In Arkansas, Police officers can stop a driver simply for failure to wear safety belts while driving. Wearing your seat belt is an easy way to avoid this excuse for officers to stop your travels and ruin your day. Plus, seat belts DO save lives so BUCKLE UP!

2. Keep Registration Current
Another easy stop for the police is observing your expired license plate. You may not think officers pay attention to those small numbers on your tag, but they do. Keeping this visible evidence of compliance with state laws current will help prevent a traffic stop.

3. STOP at STOP signs
Failure to stop at stop signs and traffic signals is another sure-fire way to get pulled over by the police. Officers watch to see the weight of your vehicle “transfer” when you stop. A motorist's failure to come to a complete stop is like a gift to traffic officers. Don't give them any presents.

4. Obey the speed limit
Some people believe that police officers will “give 5 over,” assuming that unless they are greater than 5 mph over the speed limit that the cops will not pull them over. This is a fallacy. The police only need evidence that you exceeded the speed limit by 1 mph to justify a stop. Don't make the mistake. Drive the speed limit.

5. Make Eye Contact 
Many people feel that if they pass an officer they should avoid eye contact or even look the other way for fear that the officer might notice them more if they do not. This is also a fallacy. Officers are trained to observe certain types of suspicious human behavior. If it is normal to look in the eyes of a passing driver, wave, or otherwise acknowledge their presence, then you should do the same regardless if the other driver is a police officer.

Should you be on the receiving end of a traffic stop don't fret! Our firm stands ready to assist you with all your legal needs from divorce to civil suits to the everyday traffic ticket.