Even the best drivers make mistakes. But no one likes paying extra fines on top of the expenses it takes to own and operate a car. It’s especially frustrating to get a ticket for a seemingly small, avoidable violation. Here’s how you can keep tickets out of your record, and money in your wallet.
Parking Predicaments
You come back to your parked car, and you see it; the dreaded paper tucked under the windshield wiper. One of the quickest ways to violate parking laws is failing to read all signage in the area you’re parking. It’s essential to take the time to understand the conditions of the space before leaving your car. Leave yourself time to verify you’re parked legally and find other parking if you need to.
Make sure you feed the meter, if there is one, and note the time limit on the parking space. If you have a real emergency and park your car illegally out of necessity, be prepared to present evidence backing up your claim in traffic court.
Lead-Foot Syndrome
If you’re heavy on the gas pedal, you might find red and blue lights in your rearview mirror. The fines can be steep, depending on how fast you were going. Leaving yourself enough time to reach your destination will help you resist the temptation to speed.
Habitual speeders can have their license revoked entirely. So if you’re speeding just for the fun of it, consider the fact it might cost you the privilege to drive. Plus, it’s putting everyone at risk, including yourself.
Hands Off The Phone
More states are making it illegal to talk on a mobile phone while driving unless you have a hands-free device. It can be inconvenient to have to leave conversations for after you’ve parked the car – especially if you have a long commute. But merely having a phone in your hands is enough to get you pulled over.
Texting or reading on your phone is equally illegal; for good reasons. Distracted driving contributes to 25% of all accidents. The most natural solution is to put your phone away until the engine stops.
Avoiding Inconvenience
Most tickets are avoidable, but sometimes they happen. It can be challenging to take time out of your life to pay your fines. There are online resources like njmcdirect.com, which guide you through the fine process while avoiding a trip to the courthouse. You might even be lucky enough to live in a city where you can donate to a good cause instead of paying a ticket.
