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 Crime Tip : |
The
Rules of the Road
You're tooling down the road, keeping sync with Chumbawomba
on the CD, one eye ahead of you, the other in the rearview
mirror. Nobody can accuse you of a lack of vigilance. You're
making good time and all is well in the universe.
But suddenly there it is, behind you. A small fleck of light
on the horizon...getting bigger. It picks up speed, coming
into view, gaining clarity and the added dimension of sound.
Suddenly, it's right on top of you, a nightmare of sensory
overload, red and blue lights filling your rearview mirrors
and a familiar 80-decibel whine pounding your eardrums.
The rotators stop and soon the metronomic beacon is flashing
and an intimidating baritone is telling you to pull to the
side of the road.
Yep, it's "COPS --- LIVE!"
And you're the star.
All is not well in the universe.
A hefty fine may be only the beginning if you get nailed
for speeding: Your insurer can slap a surcharge on your
policy that could run for years. And if you get too many
tickets, you may find your license suspended — or, worse,
revoked. An habitual lead-foot has found hundreds of drivers
eventually getting arrested for driving under such restrictions.
Prevention is the best medicine
The best method to avoid dealing with the hassle of a traffic
ticket is to maintain one's vehicle in safe operating order
and to avoid making vehicle code violations. But while most
motorists know the rules of the road, their willingness
to comply with said rules can vary widely. The driver who
wouldn't think of speeding might not think twice about tailgating
his fellow motorist. And even the best driver can make a
mistake. What does one do, then?
Check your options
So, you get a citation. Read both sides of the ticket. It
will probably outline a number of ways you can proceed,
from writing a check to going to court to fight. The middle
ground may include taking a safe-driving course; if you
complete the course, the ticket won't go on your record.
Such a course can cost from $40 to more than $100 (on top
of any fine you may have to pay) and typically lasts eight
hours. In California, you can take the course online. There
is a limit, however, on how often you can use this option
to protect your record; twice within any 18 month period.
And a subsequent traffic school session may obligate you
to attend for 12 hours!
You may also limit the damage by plea-bargaining. Request
a court date to present your case -- perhaps to show that
your speedometer was faulty -- and then ask the prosecutor
for a deal. To avoid clogging the docket, a prosecutor may
offer to reduce the fine and points, especially for first-time
violators.
Before you decide how much effort to go to, call your insurer
to see how the ticket could affect your rates. The more
severe the consequences, the more important it is to take
advantage of ways to hold down the damage.
Don't judge yourself
No one keeps an exact count of how many speeding tickets
are issued each year, but one estimate puts the number at
about 14 million. Considering the long-term financial consequences,
you should not treat a speeding ticket lightly. Although
you won't face jail time unless your offense is more serious
(say, reckless driving), you can put your license in jeopardy
by piling up tickets. Most states suspend or revoke the
license of a chronic offender, and violations generally
stay on your record for about three years.
The financial fallout begins with the fine. In California,
the general rule of thumb is up to $100 for a first offense,
$200 for the second and $250 for each ticket after that.
For many drivers, though, the biggest pocketbook hit comes
not from the judge but from the insurance company. A speeding
ticket can drive up premiums for three to five years. Some
insurers do ignore your first ticket, but it's not the way
to bet.
Wherever you live, it's likely your insurer will ratchet
up the surcharges as you rack up tickets. So the stakes
get higher each time you're pulled over, especially when
they exceed the official fine imposed by the state.
Use the two weeks you're generally given before you must
take action to do some research. Police officers, even with
radar, can make mistakes. There may be mitigating circumstances,
such as speeding up to avoid a potential accident caused
by another driver's erratic behavior.
But if you are stopped...
If a patrol car pulls up behind you with lights flashing,
the key to the next few minutes is keeping things safe for
you and the officer. Slow down and carefully pull over to
the right shoulder, making sure to use your turn signal.
If you are uncomfortable stopping in a relatively unpopulated
or unlighted area, slow down, turn on your hazard lights
and indicate by a hand signal that you are going up ahead.
Then pull over as soon as you get to a more populated area.
Police officers understand this concern.
If it's nighttime, turn on your dome light once you have
stopped. Stay in the car, unless you are told to get out.
"It's a challenge to the officer when you get out," says
Rich Whitcomb, director of driver training for the American
Automobile Association. Roll down the window and keep your
hands in view on the steering wheel. If you have to get
your driver's license, registration or insurance card from
the glove box, a purse or other enclosed area, tell the
officer before you do it.
In an ordinary speeding case, the decision whether to issue
a warning or a citation is left to the discretion of the
police officer. While it's no promise of amnesty by this
department or any other, national statistics show that drivers
who admit guilt and apologize for their vehicular transgression
have an excellent chance of getting a warning instead of
a ticket. Conversely, getting in an officer's face will
virtually ensure getting a souvenir. And if you're disinclined
to make any statement at all, that's fine, too: Silence
doesn't equal an admission of guilt, nor does signing the
ticket. You are simply acknowledging receipt of a copy of
the ticket.
Don't try these excuses
Martin Kron, a former judge turned traffic lawyer in New
York City, muses over a case that came up in his court.
A fellow who was representing himself on a speeding violation
called his mother as a witness. She testified that her son
had been bringing her a set of family-heirloom china. Since
the china arrived without a scratch, the mother explained,
her son couldn't possibly have been speeding. Here are some
other gems that won't work:
1. Everybody was going the same speed. Marcia Cunningham
of the National Traffic Law Center says, "Many times I've
heard a judge say, 'The river is full of fish. You can't
snag them all.'"
2. He's picking on me because I drive a red sports car.
This is a nonstarter.
3. The radar was wrong. It's possible, but the odds are
against beating a radar-based citation, especially if you
don't have the radar records as evidence and can't point
to specific errors the officer made.
4. I was going to see my sick [fill in the blank]. This
never works unless the judge dies laughing. Even then, the
case would probably be rescheduled.
Sheriffs Programs Assist the Community;
The Industry Sheriff's Station offers a number of programs
so area residents of all ages can learn more about the sheriffs
department and the services it provides. Community organizations
are invited to schedule a presentation for the group. Each
60-minute program is customized to focus on the interest
of the particular group, allows residents to learn more
about public safety while also getting acquainted with your
department personnel. Local teens can get the answers to
a number of commonly asked questions about Law enforcement
through a variety of free brochures. Copies are available
at the industry station crime prevention office located
directly across the street from the station at 205 North
Hudson Avenue, Industry.
Serving as a Sheriffs department volunteer;
Is another way to get better acquainted with the department.
The Volunteers on Patrol program allows citizens over the
age of 18 to be a part of the department. Volunteers perform
a variety of tasks that help enhance public safety services
provided to the community. Citizens between the ages of
15 and 21 are invited to become Explorers and experience
what is like to work in a law enforcement agency.
Residents who are interested in the Volunteers on Patrol
program should call Ken Layman at(626)934-3075.
The Explorer program;
Places an emphasis on developing leadership, building character,
and promoting teamwork for the youth.
For information on the Explorer program, call Deputy Mark
Macias at (626) 934-3315.
Information on the various programs and brochures available
through the Crime Prevention Unit is available from Ken
Layman at (626) 934-3075.
The ride-along program allows the public a first hand look
at a day in the life of an officer. Call (626)330-3322 for
information and to sign up.
Have A Question? Need Some Help? Let us have a shot at it.
If you have a law enforcement related question, or have
some need where the Crime Prevention Unit can be of assistance,
don't hesitate to e-mail the Crime Prevention Officer at kglayman@lasd.org.
INDUSTRY
SHERIFF'S STATION
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