driving fines
Currently there are several states working to pass new laws regarding driving. In the
past most states have focused on drunk driving as it is the most dangerous form. Laws have
been passed to reduce the amount of alcohol a person can have in their system and many car
manufacturers have created in car instruments to test the alcohol limit of the driver.
If, you have been convicted of drunk driving you will be forced to have a breath test in your
car that will prevent the engine from starting if you have had too much to drink. Along with
these test there are heavy fines in place if you are stopped for driving drunk. The change
in these laws has helped to reduce the high number of drunk driving accidents, all though
they are not completely stopped.
There are other driving fines one must deal with when you own a car. Perhaps the most
notable driving fine in the state of Washington at the moment is the texting while
driving. The bill has yet to be passed, but State Representative Joyce McDonald is aiming
for it. The bill states that it is illegal for a person to drive their car and text on their
phone. It came about because of the high number of accidents occurring as a result of
someone texting a message or looking at a text message while driving. This bill is not the
first of its kind. Many states already have in place a law stating you cannot talk on your
cell phone while driving. Of course this doesn't stop the culprits from doing the
illegal. However the fines the driver will be subject to are going to be hefty enough that
it may just deter the drivers. The texting bill is going to be in place in states like
Washington, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut if it gets passed by the state
government.
Another new fine on the law books is a seat belt law. Many states have had the seat belt law
that if you are stopped for another reason the police officer can cite you for the lack of a
seat belt as well. This new law passed in Colorado, Washington and a few other states says
the police officer can stop you just for the seat belt issue. If they don't see the shoulder
strap going across you they can pull you over. With this law also comes a pretty hefty fine.
While it is not as extensive as drunk driving or the texting law soon to be in place, it is
large enough to deter most drivers. In some states this law has been given so much weight
that there are seatbelt traps set up on the roads. In other words the police hang out on the
side of the road watching as the cars go by. They pull over anyone that doesn't have their
seat belt on enforcing the driving fines.
