TRAFFIC STOP
You’ve learned the rules of the road, but do
you know what to do if you see flashing blue
lights in your rearview mirror? Captain
Tommy Carswell of the Auburn Police
Department gave us his advice so you can
be prepared.
dispatcher know they are being stopped, especially
if being stopped by an unmarked car. But there
should be no doubt that the motorist is merely
looking for a safe place and hasn’t passed safe places. A
safe place could better be defined as a public place or a
place with lighting.”
PULL OVER PROMPTLY. “The law says that a
BE COURTEOUS AND PROVIDE THE
APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS, but “wait until
motorist should pull over immediately and doesn’t necessarily give a violator permission to find a location that
they determine as being safe, but officers do try to select
a safe location for both the officer and the motorist. In a
word, it is the officer who is best suited to determine what
is a safe location.”
IF YOU HAVE DOUBTS, PROCEED TO A
PLACE YOU FEEL SAFE AND CALL IT IN.
“It is suggested by many organizations that motorists who
question the safety and validity of a traffic stop turn on
their flashers and drive slowly to a close, safe location. Of
course, they can call 911 and let a
being asked for documents before starting to reach into
glove compartments and consoles.” Once the officer has
made the request, provide him or her with your drivers
license, registration, and proof of insurance. It is a good
idea to have your registration and insurance card already
organized in a folder where you can easily find them
when you need them.
Nearly half of new drivers will get a
speeding ticket their first year of
driving, and drivers ages 16-19 have
the highest rates of car accidents.
The Consequences of Speeding Tickets
Dot Jehle from Palomar Insurance cautions new drivers
about how speeding tickets affect insurance coverage:
insurance rates typically increase
Q Do
immediately after a speeding ticket?
Insurance companies general do a renewal review and
may order a current motor vehicle report on all the
drivers in the household. If the speeding ticket appears
on the driving record the rate increase or surcharge will
appear on the renewal, but not in midterm of the policy.
The surcharge for the ticket is for at least three years from
the conviction date.
are the dangers of multiple speeding
Q What
tickets in terms of insurance rates and
coverage?
Multiple tickets will affect increases in your premium and
also alert the company to do an underwriting review of
your policy. Too many tickets can cause the company to
non-renew or cancel your policy if you no longer meet
their underwriting eligibility guidelines.
there anything that can be done to prevent
Q orIs reduce
an increase in insurance rates after a
speeding ticket?
Unfortunately the consequences of a speeding ticket
cannot be ignored by the insurance company and will
impact your rate (premium). The best advice is do not get
another one. Remember it stays on your driving record
for three years. Be aware of speed zones and never text
while driving. There are circumstances involving first time
offenders receiving a minor violation where the Alabama
Court may allow the driver to complete a defensive
driving course to dismiss the ticket. The Judge will make
this decision on a case-by-case basis. Additional
information can be found be contacting the court that is
handling the case.
www.potentialmagazine.com
Spring 2016 |
27