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by James Neely, freelance writer

Its every driver‘s bane:  the traffic ticket.  You are minding your own business, when all of a sudden out of nowhere; you see the flashing red and blue lights in your rearview mirror and hear a short blast on the siren.  You’ve broken a traffic law (or so says the officer) and now you have to pay a fine.  And as it turns out, it is a really, really high fine.  What’s going on here?

Traffic Fines & GPS Tracking

More states are raising their fines because they are in a financial bind.  It seems like highway robbery but it is a reality that we have to deal with nonetheless.  Fox news has issued a story about this which can be read here.

But, there are even more devious means of raising revenues from traffic fines and incidents that may not include a stop by your friendly law enforcement officer.  Some cities and towns are equipping their traffic signals with red-light cameras that take a snap shot of your license plate if you move through the intersection on a red light.  Sneaky tactics like these are becoming more popular.

It does not stop there either.  Should you find yourself involved in an accident, you might find a bill in your mailbox several days later for the cost of cleaning up the accident.

How does one fight back against these new revenue generating methods being employed by cities and towns across the nation?  Here are some suggestions:

Do Not Break Traffic Laws

This one is not difficult to do and will keep you out of all sorts of problems.  But, it requires you do take a more active approach to your driving.  You must focus on the task at hand and eliminate distractions.  Do not take cell phone calls, or (heaven forbid) text message while you are driving.  If you must take or make a call, pull over to the side of the road out of danger and then take the call.  Limit your call to just several minutes and then get back on your way.  Sitting on the side of the road poses a danger, too.

Obey the speed limits to within a few miles an hour, and become a good defensive driver.  These practices will help keep you out of trouble and will help you keep more money in your pocket.

Know the Laws

Being aware of state laws regarding moving violations can be useful if and when you are required to defend yourself.  Most states have laws that state that if you are issued a ticket, you have a right to examine all of the evidence that was used in making the decision to give you that ticket.  Your goal should be to examine the evidence and make sure that it is valid.

For example, manufacturers of radar units have guidelines that must be adhered to in order to make sure that they are functioning normally.  These guidelines can be used against a police department if the radar units have not been serviced (tested) at pre-determined intervals to make sure they are in peak operating condition.  If not, then a legal question as to whether or not they are function correctly and producing accurate readings is in order.  You have a right to request logs that show if the units have been maintained properly according to manufacturer guidelines.  Your case can be thrown out of court if they have not been.  It can take a little bit of time and effort to get this information, but it can also keep you from having to pay hundreds of dollars in fines and fees when you go to pay your ticket.

Use Technology

Make a small investment in a GPS Tracking device for your vehicles.  These units have already been used in court to establish evidence as to the speed of a vehicle at the time of an accident or a traffic citation.  They can protect you in other ways, too.  Helping you keep track of the use of your vehicle is a side benefit as well.

Face it, you are going to have to work harder to keep from getting tickets for moving violations.  The above suggestions will help and as a result, you might become a better driver, too.  Good Luck.