The last thing anybody wants when they are driving on the roadway is to receive a traffic ticket. Yes, there are times when traffic citations are warranted. Traffic laws are in place for a reason – to keep us and others on the roadway safe. However, there are also times when traffic tickets are issued under questionable circumstances. Here, the Virginia traffic ticket defense attorneys at Randall, Page & Bruch, P.C. want to discuss some tips for avoiding traffic tickets in and around our area.
Staying safe and avoiding traffic tickets
Your number one goal on the roadway should not be simply avoiding traffic tickets; it should be remaining safe on the roadway. However, when you take steps to operate your vehicle safely, you are also taking steps to avoid costly traffic tickets.
- Put the phone down. Most states around the country have cell phone laws in place, particularly hands-free laws. As of January of 2021, Virginia will penalize drivers who hold their cell phones while driving. It is best to simply keep the cell phone out of your hands the entire time you are behind the wheel. This includes not texting and driving, not browsing the Internet or social media, and not adjusting your GPS or music controls.
- Slow down. If you tell a judge that you were just going with the flow of traffic, this is not going to be a sound of defense. Speeding is speeding, regardless of whether or not other people around you are also speeding or even going faster. Slow down and be safe.
- Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists. It is vital that you understand when you have to yield the right of way to bicyclists and pedestrians. This includes stopping at any marked crosswalk as well as being aware that bicyclists generally have the right to be on the roadway with vehicles. During this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there have been more pedestrians and bicyclists on the roadway, so please be aware of this as you drive around the Commonwealth.
- No drinking and driving. The Virginia Department of Transportation tells us that there were 7,181 alcohol-related crashes during the latest reporting year of data available. Out of these incidents, 278 people were killed, and 4,475 people sustained an injury. Drinking and driving are incredibly unsafe, it is illegal, and it could result in massive fines or jail time for those convicted.
We are here to help your case
If you or somebody you love has received a traffic ticket, you are probably wondering what your options are moving forward. At Randall, Page & Bruch, P.C., we are dedicated to helping citizens in and around Virginia get through these situations as smoothly as possible. Our goal is to examine the evidence in your case in an effort to get the traffic ticket reduced significantly or dismissed altogether. When you need a Virginia traffic ticket defense attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling one of our location phone numbers listed below.
