#TrafficLaws

[maplemoneycom]

If you've never fought traffic tickets in the past, here are the general steps you need to take, and the various consequences of getting a speeding ticket.

[rankrancherpro]

Understanding Moving Violations in Nassau County

Moving violations refer to traffic infractions committed while operating a motor vehicle. If you have received a moving violation in Nassau County, it is essential to understand the implications, consequences, and steps involved in addressing the situation. This guide provides valuable insights into moving violations in Nassau County and what you should know if you face one.

Types of Moving Violations

Moving violations encompass a wide range of traffic offenses. Some common examples of moving violations in Nassau County include:

Speeding: Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving unsafely for road conditions.

Reckless driving: Operating a vehicle with willful disregard for the safety of others.

Running red lights or stop signs: Failing to come to a complete stop or proceeding through a red light or stop sign without proper clearance.

Failure to yield: Not giving the right-of-way to other vehicles or pedestrians when required.

Illegal passing: Passing other vehicles in a no-passing zone or an unsafe manner.

Driving under the influence (DUI): Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Texting while driving: Engaging in texting or other forms of distracted driving.

Consequences of Moving Violations

Moving violations in Nassau County can have various consequences, including:

Fines: You may be required to pay a fine based on the severity of the violation. The acceptable amount can vary depending on the specific offense committed.

Points on your driving record: Moving violations typically accumulate points on your driving record. The number of points assigned depends on the violation. Accumulating too many points within a specific timeframe can lead to license suspension or increased insurance premiums.

License suspension or revocation: Serious or repeat offenses can result in the suspension or revocation of your driver's license. This means you will not be allowed to drive for a specified period or permanently lose your driving privileges.

Increased insurance premiums: Insurance companies may view moving violations as an increased risk, resulting in higher premiums.

Driver assessment fees: Depending on the offense, you may be required to pay additional driver assessment fees as mandated by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Responding to a Moving Violation

If you receive a moving violation in Nassau County, here are some steps to consider:

Review the ticket: Carefully read the details on the ticket, including the violation, date, time, and location. Ensure that all information is accurate.

Understand your options: You generally can plead guilty or not guilty to the violation. It is recommended to consult with a traffic attorney to determine the best course of action based on your specific situation.

Consult an attorney: Seeking legal advice from a qualified traffic attorney can help you understand the potential consequences, explore possible defenses, and guide you through the legal process.

Respond within the specified timeframe: Responding to the ticket within the given timeframe is crucial. Failure to respond can result in additional penalties, including a suspended license.

Attend court if necessary: If you contest the violation, you may need to appear. Your attorney can guide you through the process and represent your interests.

Conclusion

Understanding moving violations in Nassau County is essential to navigating the legal and administrative processes associated with traffic offenses. By familiarizing yourself with the types of violations, consequences, and necessary steps to address them, you can make informed decisions and take appropriate actions when facing a moving violation. You can consult with a traffic attorney to receive personalized guidance tailored to your situation.

Want to know more about moving to Nassau County, NY, please visit this page: https://gardencityhomesforsale.com/moving-to-nassau-county-ty/

[thecityboy]

A Rant: No Turn on Red (NoTOR) State Pre-Emption

TLDR: The State of Indiana has continuously targeted Indianapolis with state pre-emption policies, especially around transportation. No Turn on Red Policies are good when implemented correctly. This policy will have adverse impacts on living breathing humans as well as society as a whole. Hopefully this will push Indy to implement for significant solutions to solving the pedestrian crash crisis in the city.

Indiana Got Me Big Mad

Today, I had a two-hour period of intense frustration and anger over the usual song and dance that happens here in Indianapolis. To my dismay, I discovered that a state senator had surreptitiously inserted an amendment into Indiana House Bill 1050. The main body of the bill has various legislative changes to policies around cars (defining "alternative fuel", changing vehicle tax policies, etc.). The offending Senate Amendment #5, displayed in big, bold letters:

"A CONSOLIDATED CITY MAY NOT ADOPT AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE INSTALLATION OF A SIGNPROHIBITNG A TURN DESCRIBED IN [reference to subsection defined earlier in the amendment that says drivers can turn right on a steady red]."

There are a few interesting things of note here:

The policy applies only to "Consolidated Cities". Indianapolis is (I believe) the only consolidated city in the state. This rule would not apply to any other jurisdiction.

This was a response by the senator to the Indianapolis City-County Council's proposal to post signs restricting right turn on red in Downtown Indy, specifically on roads that are designed to move cars quickly. This is a bare-bones pedestrian safety solution, and because the roads cross through downtown and near a major university campus (IUPUI), it's one of the few places in this city that has people walking around.

The State Senator that submitted this amendment is named Aaron Freeman, the representative from Indiana Senate District 32. This district comprises of the southeast corner of Indianapolis (arguably the most rural quadrant of the city) and parts of suburban Greenwood and unincorporated lands south of the city. It is one of, if not the most conservative part of Indianapolis, and (this is just my speculation) provides legitimacy for the State Legislature to impose conservative state pre-emption on a mostly Democrat-represented city. Is this a punishment for the city because of how they vote? Who can say.

Aaron has become something of a transportation villain here in Indy. Before his crusade to preserve the sanctity of the ability to turn right on red (only in Indianapolis), he has also consistently fought against one of IndyGo's proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line - the Blue Line. He has done this every legislative session since at least 2019. His main gripe? The Blue Line would have dedicated lanes, removing one or two lanes from the currently SEVEN lane-wide East Washington Street. Dedicated lanes are integral for BRT to operate effectively; transit is not rapid if it's sitting in traffic (generally). But dedicated lanes are Communism; they control the means of production of those lanes for the masses and removes them from the enjoyment of F-150-driving, red blooded, meat-eating, gun-toting traditional families. And for that reason, Aaron cannot allow this injustice to happen quietly. Thankfully for the urbanites of Indy, every strategy Aaron has tried so far has failed to be passed into law. Hopefully it stays that way.

This is not the first case of the State of Indiana pre-empting Indianapolis in a way that relates to transportation, safety, and the built environment. The state passed a ban on funding light rail projects in 2014. A couple sessions ago, they tried to take away zoning control from the City of Indianapolis and give the power to townships; for some reason the township governments still exist in Indiana even though their land is incorporated by a city. It's very dumb way to operate local government, and this was a very dumb proposal, which is why it wasn't adopted. The state has also pre-empted the city from creating its own gun laws, local minimum wage, rent control, paid sick leave requirements, and plastic bag fees.

There are more examples of the atrocious pre-emption Indiana has done, but I want to move onto why this made me so mad; what is No Turn on Red and why is it important?

NoTOR is the Bare Minimum

Not Turn on Red (NoTOR) is a traffic control method that restricts drivers from turning right at red lights. A lot of drivers may find this annoying, but it is an important, easy, and affordable way to reduce pedestrians being hit by cars turning right on red. According to a five-year study examining crashes in Downtown Indy, over half of pedestrian-related crashes were the result of vehicles not yielding to pedestrians at signalized intersections. source. Anecdotally, pedestrian crashes across Indy have continued to rise year-over-year for the past five years. It is truly a crisis.

There is a provision in the amendment that says a driver must stop at a steady red light for 120 seconds before turning right on red. Theoretically, this means drivers should be completely stopped for a period of time that would allow them to see someone crossing on their right. This is also an ignorant safeguard. You might as well tell people not to speed on the highway. Very few people follow this (even the Federal Highway Administration say so) and it is rarely enforced.

The reason so many pedestrians are struck by vehicles turning right on red is a combination of factors:

The design of the intersection. Larger curb radii can allow for cars to take turns faster; lack of crosswalk markings doesn't remind drivers to check for pedestrians; having stop bars too close to where pedestrians cross reduces the amount of time a driver has to look right while crossing.

Driver behavior. On top of a general increase in distracted driving, there is a documented increase in reckless driving from the pandemic, however pedestrian deaths had been increasing even before this. In addition to this recent development, FHWA outlined how drivers really behave when turning right on red: "Motorists are so intent on looking for traffic approaching on their left that they may not be alert to pedestrians on their right. In addition motorists usually pull up into the crosswalk to wait for a gap in traffic, blocking pedestrian crossing movements. In some instances, motorists simply do not come to a full stop."

Vehicles have become larger, placing drivers higher. This obstructs their view, especially of people that may be below their sight lines (like children and people in wheelchairs). It also extends their vehicle's hoods and their bodies, which can inadvertently hit pedestrians, especially on tight urban streets.

Lack of Enforcement. I will be the first to admit that traffic enforcement can be tricky; traffic stops can lead to tragedy very quickly. That being said, the response should not be just not enforcing traffic laws. Two options stand out in my mind: better training for officers around traffic stops and remote enforcement. In a 2021 survey of police analyzed by the Rand Corporation, 42% of responding officers said their department has never provided traffic stop training, and only 6% strongly agree that they have received adequate training for traffic stops involving noncompliant drivers. Remote enforcement is not without its flaws, and requires a deeper dive in another post. In short; red light cameras work as a safety improvement. They reduce more fatal crashes between both vehicles and pedestrians. They can also cause an increase rear-ending by more aggressive drivers and other less life-threatening crashes. But if we have to pick one method over another, we should pick the one where less people are killed or gravely injured. There are issues with equitable placement of cameras, as well as the matter of ticketing drivers for using a roadway in the manner it was designed, rather than what a sign says. If the design of a street network is oriented to the fast movement of vehicles instead of pedestrian safety, drivers are more likely to drive over the posted speed limit and turn right on red without stopping, because that's how the road was designed to be used. Red light cameras have been legislatively prohibited in seven states, and are de facto prohibited in Indiana. Have those entities repealed or prohibited them out of some sort of duty to the low-income drivers that could be adversely affected by remote enforcement? No, it's mostly because drivers complain about having to obey traffic laws to the letter and look at it as a cash grab for cities to generate income (which, honestly, could be partially true). However, repealing red light cameras has been shown to increase traffic deaths, and the selfishness and entitlement of drivers is entirely to blame for that.

Implementation

The Federal Highway Administration has a very helpful page on how to effectively implement NoTOR. Restricting right turns on red is implemented through installing signage, sometimes in combination with a Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI), which gives pedestrians a few-second head start to enter the crosswalk before vehicles are given a green light. This is a measure that reduces pedestrians being hit by vehicles that impatiently want to turn right on green. Siting NoTORs appropriately is important. FHWA explicitly says that they should be present in areas with high pedestrian activity (however it does not define what that threshold is, leaving the interpretation open to state and local DOTs). In the case of the Downtown Indianapolis proposal, these signs would have implemented NoTOR on arterial roadways with high traffic volumes in the most pedestrian active region in the city (if not the state). It is more than appropriate to implement this policy. Anecdotally, I have seen NoTOR work. I recently visited Philadelphia and spent pretty much all of my time in Center City, where NoTOR is implemented at almost every intersection. As a pedestrian, it made me feel far safer than I ever did walking around in Downtown Indy.

The Human Cost of NoTOR Prohibition

The prohibition of NoTOR has a devastating impact on human life, as evidenced by the research indicating an increase in serious injury and death when NoTOR is not restricted. But the human toll extends far beyond physical harm. Those who are seriously injured face an array of financial burdens, including medical debt, lost income, and potential job loss. The emotional trauma of a traffic accident can be just as damaging, leaving lasting effects on mental health and quality of life.

The human cost doesn't stop there; being seriously injured can mean being saddled with medical debt, missed work from recovery, losing a job because of recovery or inability to do the work required, loss of income, and permanent changes in health and quality of life. This is on top of the mental trauma of being seriously injured or losing a loved one to a traffic accident.

There were over 3,400 pedestrian deaths in the United States in 2022. In 2021, over 60,000 pedestrians were injured by drivers. Each one of these individuals had a life, a family, and a community that cared about them. Their sudden and violent deaths or injuries leave a permanent scar on the lives of those who knew and loved them. And yet, all of this suffering is caused by a refusal to inconvenience drivers for a few minutes. The State of Indiana and Aaron Freeman seem to place little value on the safety and well-being of pedestrians, prioritizing the convenience of drivers over the lives and health of their fellow citizens. The cost of this callous disregard for human life is simply too high to bear.

At least according to the State of Indiana and Aaron Freeman.

How to Get Around the NoTOR Ban

There are ways that the City of Indianapolis can get around the NoTOR Ban, and it is primarily through intersection and street design improvements.

There are soft infrastructure changes like setting back where cars stop with signs and paint, painting more visible crosswalks, painting street murals, and implementing Leading Pedestrian Intervals signal timing.

There are also hard infrastructure changes like reducing curb radii so drivers have to significantly slow down before turning right. Reducing roadway lanes or lane widths and implementing streetscape improvements like street trees have also been shown to subconsciously cause drives to drive slower because it increases their awareness of other vehicles and obstacles around them.

Zooming out to a network-level view, considerations should be given to more unique approaches to improving pedestrian safety. Implementing mid-block crossings can provide a safer crossing for pedestrians because it reduces the potential points of conflict; drivers won't be pre-occupied with looking left while turning right and pedestrians don't have to look over their shoulders when crossing. All they have to worry about is oncoming traffic. There should also be consideration given to completely eliminating private vehicle traffic entirely from certain portions of downtown.

Conclusion

Although the pre-emption legislation may be exasperating and expected to prolong the unsafe conditions in Indianapolis' busiest pedestrian zones, there is a possibility that it could prompt much-needed infrastructure improvements to enhance pedestrian safety. Over the last three decades, Indianapolis has made significant strides from its former downtown one-way traffic nightmare. However, there is still much more progress to be made in creating a more livable city, and this legislative decision might serve as a motivating force to achieve this goal.

[mrglitterati]

Following an injury-causing car accident, you may need to file for compensation depending on the severity of your condition.

[ratlifflaw]

OK, so here is some driving schoolin' for the masses. THE RATLIFF LAW FIRM | (276) 522-1220 | 888-374-5078 | www.ratlifflaw.net

[yookieyunn]

Do not break traffic laws or else no face will capture you. 😆

[dmsailuntires-blog]

To avoid any unwanted situation, check your car tires from a good Tires Store, as well as your car.

[himography]

I, hereby pledge to be a safe driver. This includes obeying all traffic laws, and also taking every possible precaution to ensure my safety, and the safety of those around me, every time I am behind the wheel. #pledge #safety #trafficlaws #wheel #highway #raipur #safedrive #smartcity #indiantourism #himography (at Smart-City-Raipur) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGckzgHPV1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dlfq0pku32ye

[atoddsshow]

James Baker, Dearborn Open Carry, Kid Rock, Civil Asset Forfeiture, Female Genital Mutilation, Police Robots

[mrglitterati]

Following an injury-causing car accident, you may need to file for compensation depending on the severity of your condition.

[ratlifflaw]

OK, so here is some driving schoolin' for the masses. THE RATLIFF LAW FIRM | (276) 522-1220 | 888-374-5078 | www.ratlifflaw.net

[nintendomaster15]

Don't know I guess stay calm. #traffic #trafficlaws #drivingtest #traficlight #fire #intersections

[nathalierippert]

Did you know ? 😲😲😲 #trafficlaws about #turnsignal

[justinrayrich]

I'm glad all of my fellow drivers understand what this sign means 😒. #sarcasm #comeonpeople #trafficlaws #payattention #rantover

[jj-bullfrog]

When you forget to stop at a crosswalk and a rude woman comes up to your closed window and says, "You're supposed to F%!ing stop there, buddy!" I know I was in the wrong, but isn't she in the wrong to? #RudeWomen #Misandry #Cursing #TrafficLaws

[transformtheworldwithus-blog]

Driving and cell phone use: A recipe for accident

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – Tinkering with genius devices, particularly cell phones, is a favorite pastime of Filipinos. Do it while driving and it’s a sure recipe for serious injury and sometimes death.

While mobile devices are getting smarter, some motorists these days apparently are becoming less.

Certainly, there is no excuse for driving while not paying attention. Safe driving is a full-time job.

Beyond texting, there are other activities people do with their cell phones when behind the wheel. This includes browsing the Internet, posting their status on Facebook and Twitter, taking selfies and even filming the road.

The National Statistics Office (NSO), in its 2015 report, showed that using cellular phones while driving has been one of the top causes of traffic accidents.

The report revealed that from 2010 to 2012, a total of 1,290 incidents of cell phone use while driving were reported.

Although similar accidents are dropping over the years, the figures remain disturbing.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an enforcer of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said, that of the many incidents of car crashes he had investigated, he could not recall a single driver openly admitted that cell phone use was the cause of an accident.

“One time I was helping a crash victim… And I saw he was still holding his cell phone and seemingly texting someone when the accident happened,” he said. “Napailing na lang ako. Sabi ko, malamang nagtetext ito.”

This revelation shows the challenge that authorities face combating distracted driving caused by texting and cell phone use because they only have to rely on self-reporting, making it difficult for them to measure crash data.

In a phone interview with CNN Philippines, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said: “Accidents are everywhere. Hindi mapipigilan. Wala rin naman aamin na gumagamit sila ng cell phone while driving.”

He reminded motorists that driving while texting is a traffic violation.

“Obey traffic rules. Driving while using your cell phone is already a violation,” he said.

The MMDA chairman also offers the following tips to avoid accidents:

1. Focus on the road when driving. If you really have to use your phone, go to the nearest gasoline station or emergency bay.

2. Use defensive driving.

3. For pedestrians, pay attention when crossing and using the streets.

LET US BE RESPONSIBLE OF USING OUR GADGETS SO THAT IT WILL NOT LEAD US TO ANY HARM AND TRY LESSEN THE TIME WE SPEND ON IT, INSTEAD WE MUST ENGAGE OURSELVES TO SOCIALIZING PERSONALLY.

(c)CNN Philippines

Source: http://cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2015/07/22/driving-and-cell-phone-use-a-recipe-for-accident.html

-Valerio, Dustin D. (Entry for quiz)