When it comes to traffic laws, every driver knows that things like speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol are certainly illegal. However, there are also plenty of less obvious violations out there that the average person might not be aware of. Of course, when it comes to breaking the law, any attorney will tell you that a lack of knowledge or awareness is certainly not a viable defense. The best way to avoid getting slapped with traffic-related fines and points on your license is to become more familiar with the lesser-known traffic laws in your local area or state. Elliot Wiesner is a New Jersey-based attorney who has spent the past decade helping clients deal with a wide variety of matters relating to traffic laws. The following are some of the lesser known but punishable traffic offenses that New Jersey residents really ought to try to avoid:
Beware of the ice cream man
Most people know that there are strict rules in place for passing a stopped school bus. However, the improper passing of a frozen dessert truck can result in a whopping four-point violation. If you want to get around that ice cream truck, then make sure to signal properly and slowly make your way around the truck while yielding to pedestrians in search of an ice-cream fix.
Pass with care
Most people are aware that on any given highway, the left lane serves as the designated passing lane. However, some might not realize that passing on the right is not just discourteous, but also illegal. By passing another vehicle on the right instead of on the left, you might find yourself four points in the hole.
Don’t go too slow
Most drivers on the road tend to focus on not speeding, so much so that they might fail to realize that penalties are involved in going too slow. By driving slowly enough to impede the flow of traffic, you could end up with two points on your license and an unpleasant fine.
Remember to signal
You’re driving along, when suddenly you realize that the street you’re looking for is up ahead on the right. There’s a good chance that you’re either going to forget or simply not bother to signal, in which case, bad move. The failure to signal properly can result in a two-point penalty, and given the simplicity involved in using your turn signal, it seems awfully silly to take such a hit.
Watch out for Safe Corridors
Certain areas of specific roads in New Jersey are designated as Safe Corridors due to the frequency of accidents that once occurred in those spots. While you might be tempted to push the speed limit in such places, think twice before you apply pressure to that gas pedal, because the penalties for speeding are doubled in a Safe Corridor. This “double whammy” includes both applicable fines and points on a license. The next time you see a Safe Corridor sign, try to remind yourself that a couple of shaved-off seconds from your morning commute might not be worth the trouble.
Of course, these are only some of the lesser known traffic laws in the great state of New Jersey. If you want to learn more about the rules of the road, then you can access all of the information that your brain can handle via the Department of Motor Vehicles. And now that you’re aware of some of the things that you might be up against, you can take the necessary steps to ensure that you don’t fall victim to these costly mistakes.
