A Driver's Guide To Key Traffic Ticket Terms

21 April 2015
 Categories: Law, Blog

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Any time you get a traffic ticket, you will be given a slip of paper that shows the offense that you are being charged with as a driver. It is crucial that you understand the terms on this document to ensure that you are not being wrongfully accused of a violation you did not commit. While a traffic ticket lawyer can always offer advice, it will be most helpful if you familiar with a few of the key terms that may be used on your ticket.

Conditional License Violation - This is a term that is used to describe a violation of the license that you hold as a driver. For example, if you are restricted to driving only in the daytime due to a medical condition and are caught driving after dark, you will be accused of a conditional license violation.

Pedestrian Endangerment - Failure to observe the right-of-way of pedestrians at a crosswalk or traveling too close to a sidewalk could get you a pedestrian endangerment statement on your ticket. Even though pedestrian endangerment can be difficult to defend in court, there are some circumstances where a traffic ticket lawyer may be able to help you get a lesser charge.

Right-of-Way Negligence - There are understood rules of the road that every driver must learn when it comes to right-of-way and sharing the highway with other vehicles. If you are charged with right-of-way negligence, it means that you disregarded the right-of-way either at an intersection, between you and a bicycle driver, or at a crosswalk.

Prohibited Telecommunications Use - Depending on where you live, there are likely laws in place about how and when you can use a telephone as a driver. If you are caught neglecting these laws, you can get a ticket for prohibited telecommunications use on the roadway.

Lane Restriction Negligence - The lanes of the highway have definitive markings that show you when and where you can turn, pass, or yield. If you disregard lane restrictions, you can be charged with lane restriction negligence.

Curb/Shoulder Violations - Illegally using the shoulder of the road for passing and driving too close to a curb are both examples of curb/shoulder violations. This is considered dangerous because it puts you in a position on the road where other drivers or pedestrians will not expect you to be.

When you are handed a traffic ticket after being pulled over, there is no doubt you will want to know exactly what it is that you are being charged with as a driver. If you are unfamiliar with any of the terms that are used, contact a traffic ticket lawyer for help.