02:20
Faizan
Keeping your vehicle maintained is one of the basic legal requirements for using public thoroughfares. Brakes, mufflers, turn signals and above all, headlights are supposed to be in working order at all times for maintaining public safety. If one of your headlights is out, an immediate repair or replacement is needed. Without it, you might receive a warning and possibly a citation from law enforcement.
Understanding a Moving Violation
State laws control penalties for moving violations, which by definition are violations that occur while the vehicle is in use and on the road. Speeding, running red lights, failing to yield at a stop sign and driving on the sidewalk are all common moving violations. Driving with faulty equipment, including a broken headlight, also qualifies as a violation under this heading.
Non-Moving Issues
Penalties for moving violations vary with the severity of the crime and the state. In Kansas, for example, the law instructs police officers to issue warnings to drivers who don't have fully functioning headlights between sunset and sunrise, or when atmospheric conditions are unfavorable, when windshield wipers are in continuous use, or when persons or vehicles are not clearly visible at 1,000 feet. State law and local ordinances may also detail non-moving violations based on the condition of your vehicle. For example, your dark window tint may be violating the law, or keeping that junker on blocks in your front yard may be illegal. A broken headlight on a parked car may draw just a warning or a full citation for an equipment violation.
Defending the Ticket
The police and courts may handle equipment violations, such as missing headlights, with a bit more leniency than full-blown speeding or other dangerous moving violations. In California, for example, you can handle a "fix-it" ticket by repairing the item in question, having a mechanic sign a certificate of correction and paying a dismissal fee by the deadline indicated on the ticket. For these correctable violations, the court may accept the certificate by mail, and then dismiss the case, which means that no violation will appear on your driver's record.
The Insurance Question
Moving violations can affect your insurance rates, even if you move to another state. The Driver License Compact and Nonresident Violator Compact are agreements used by a majority of the states to promote highway safety by sharing and transmitting information regarding dangerous, as well as minor, driving offenses. When you make an application for new insurance, the insurance company will check a motor vehicle report for any tickets -- and will adjust your premiums based on its own policy. Esurance, for example, will request information on any moving violations you had within the past three years. If the violation was cleared from your driving record, it generally won't affect your insurance rates.
Understanding a Moving ViolationState laws control penalties for moving violations, which by definition are violations that occur while the vehicle is in use and on the road. Speeding, running red lights, failing to yield at a stop sign and driving on the sidewalk are all common moving violations. Driving with faulty equipment, including a broken headlight, also qualifies as a violation under this heading.
Non-Moving Issues
Penalties for moving violations vary with the severity of the crime and the state. In Kansas, for example, the law instructs police officers to issue warnings to drivers who don't have fully functioning headlights between sunset and sunrise, or when atmospheric conditions are unfavorable, when windshield wipers are in continuous use, or when persons or vehicles are not clearly visible at 1,000 feet. State law and local ordinances may also detail non-moving violations based on the condition of your vehicle. For example, your dark window tint may be violating the law, or keeping that junker on blocks in your front yard may be illegal. A broken headlight on a parked car may draw just a warning or a full citation for an equipment violation.
Defending the Ticket
The police and courts may handle equipment violations, such as missing headlights, with a bit more leniency than full-blown speeding or other dangerous moving violations. In California, for example, you can handle a "fix-it" ticket by repairing the item in question, having a mechanic sign a certificate of correction and paying a dismissal fee by the deadline indicated on the ticket. For these correctable violations, the court may accept the certificate by mail, and then dismiss the case, which means that no violation will appear on your driver's record.
The Insurance Question
Moving violations can affect your insurance rates, even if you move to another state. The Driver License Compact and Nonresident Violator Compact are agreements used by a majority of the states to promote highway safety by sharing and transmitting information regarding dangerous, as well as minor, driving offenses. When you make an application for new insurance, the insurance company will check a motor vehicle report for any tickets -- and will adjust your premiums based on its own policy. Esurance, for example, will request information on any moving violations you had within the past three years. If the violation was cleared from your driving record, it generally won't affect your insurance rates.
Posted in: Driving Tips
