In California, there is a lot of pressure on the police officers in the traffic enforcement department to write tickets and generate fines in an effort to allow the government to get ticket revenue. Even if this means using technically illegal methods such as speed traps. With that said, there is a lot of confusion about speed traps. So let’s take a look at what are speed traps and how to get your speeding ticket dismissed.

What is a speed trap? 

The primary goal of speed traps is to generate ticket revenue, rather than to promote safe driving. A common misconception is that a speed trap is merely a police officer hidden from view with a radar gun, tracking how fast you are driving. This situation is NOT a speed trap. 

A speed trap actually is police officers calculating how long it takes your vehicle to get from one marked point to another, and using that to determine if you were speeding. Or a speed trap is when there is not a valid engineering survey to justify the speed limit on that road. For example, if the speed limit suddenly changes on a section of the road without warning or reason. Under law, drivers must be given clear marked changes in speed limit and speed limits must follow California speed laws. 

Are speed traps legal in California?

According to Vehicle Code 40801, “No peace officer or other person shall use a speed trap in arresting, or participating or assisting in the arrest of, any person for any alleged violation of this code nor shall any speed trap be used in securing evidence as to the speed of any vehicle for the purpose of an arrest or prosecution under this code.” 

That means if you receive a speeding ticket because of a speed trap – you have every right to challenge it. It is illegal for a police officer to use a speed trap as evidence to show you were speeding. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean a police officer won’t try to get you to pay for a speed trap ticket. 

How to spot a speed trap?

A speed trap measures vehicular speed within short distances or is an unjustified speed limit change, thus making it difficult for the driver to be able to avoid violating the speed law. Additionally, speed traps are often set up with traffic laws or speed limits posted around shrubs or bushes where they are not easily visible. Other instances traffic signs are clustered together in an effort to cause confusion and unintentional violation by the motorist. This makes it hard for drivers to notice speed traps on their own.

So one of the easiest ways to avoid a speed trap is by using a mobile gps system app such as Waze. Waze updates drivers about any potential issues on the road including speed traps. If you wish not to download Waze, check out speedtrap.org to discover speed traps in your state or province.   

Is it legal for police to hide?

Police officers hiding behind billboards and aiming the radar gun to clock your vehicular speed is not prohibited or illegal regardless of the populous misconception. As long as there is a valid engineered survey for the speed limit on that road it is not illegal. Further police officers can legally use radar devices to show that a driver was speeding.

How to win speed ticket offenses?

Police officers continue to get away with illegal speed ticket administration because drivers are unaware and just pay the tickets handed to them without investigation. Instead of paying for a ticket, a traffic ticket dismissal service can help to protect your license and save you time and money by working to dismiss these tickets in the illegal circumstances mentioned. TicketBust is convenient as it offers no going to court, paperwork or waiting. We have 18 years of experience with successfully handling traffic offenses, namely: speeding, red light camera, cellphone, sign violation, red light and other violations. 

We use the process termed “Trial by Written Declaration.” This is a real court trial, but in written form. All completed documents are submitted by the driver through the mailing method instead of going into court to contest the traffic ticket in person. The Trial by Written Declaration process proves the best approach in contesting a traffic ticket in California. Don’t waste your time fighting your traffic ticket in court. Regardless of the offense, TicketBust is ready to fight your traffic ticket and help you maintain a good driving record.

With cell phones becoming more of a necessity to daily life rather than a luxury item, more drivers are at a higher risk of using them on the road and endangering others. Perhaps some individuals are consistently texting while driving or they just happened to encounter a police officer the single time they answered a phone call while on the road. Regardless of the circumstances that resulted in the cell phone ticket, California law states that these instances can cause distracted driving and are prohibited to promote exemplary road safety.

Traffic violations related to cell phone use are highly common in California. 23123.5 CVC, the main law condemning cell phone usage while driving, currently has relatively minimal consequences. However, as more car accidents have occurred as a result of texting or distracted driving, cell phone laws have become more stringent. No matter how a person receives a cell phone ticket, everyone has the right to learn how to fight a 23123.5 CVC violation.

What is 23123.5 CVC?

California Legislation states that 23123.5 CVC prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless phone in a handheld manner. Instance of handheld phone usage that violates 23123.5 CVC includes:

• Using a cell phone in a manner that does not use its voice-operated and hands-free operations

Having said that, a cell phone may be operated in a manner requiring the use of the driver’s hand if BOTH of these conditions are met:

• If the cell phone is mounted to the dash or window in a manner that does not hinder the view of the road.
• If activation or deactivation of a feature only requires a single swipe or tap.

If found in violation of this vehicle code, the offense is punishable by a fine. For a first-time offense, the fine is $20, whereas subsequent offenses will result in a $50 fine per violation. These violations may not seem like a big deal compared to speeding or running a red light. However, that will soon change. 

Beginning July 1, 2021, a new cell phone law will be enacted which will levy an additional penalty on a driver found in violation of California’s hands-free law, 23123.5 CVC. For instance, through this law, a point will be added onto a driver’s record for each hands-free violation that occurred within the 36-period from a prior conviction for the same offense. With a guaranteed risk of points on driving records, California law enforcement hopes that people would further deter themselves from using cell phones while driving in a manner that is not hands-free.

Fighting a Cell Phone Violation

Fortunately, in the state of California, people who receive a 23123.5 CVC violation are eligible to contest their tickets without a court appearance. As stated in Vehicle Code Section 20902, Trial by Written Declaration (TR-205) allows individuals to contest their tickets in writing to mail to their local court. 

Through TicketBust’s dependable Trial by Written Declaration system, we do all of the paperwork for you. All that you have to do is follow three simple steps to fight the cell phone traffic citation.

1. Upload Your Ticket & Driver License

When fighting a cell phone traffic violation, it is critical to upload your ticket and driver’s license to our private system. Once it is loaded on the server, the information on the ticket goes through a processing system to gather the most important information from the ticket to best prepare a thorough defense against the 23123.5 CVC ticket or other cell phone-related traffic violations. 

2. Explain Your Circumstances

Through Trial by Written Declaration, individuals have the autonomy to fully express their situation when contesting their 23123.5 CVC ticket. When explaining your circumstances, gather as much information as possible, including the weather, time of day, and traffic. Additionally, it is best to explain the external factors that may have impacted your rationale for using a cell phone device while driving to provide full clarity and transparency to the court.

TicketBust’s efficient system has processed thousands of cell phone tickets. It is programmed to analyze the information and assess which explanation provides the best defense when contesting the ticket. 

3. Mail Your Defense Documents to Court

When the defense documents are available to download, print them out, sign, include a check for your bail, and mail it to the court.

TicketBust Is Ready to Help

With over 18 years of service, TicketBust strives to achieve a successful defense for each client. At TicketBust, we are prepared to serve our clients with excellent service and provide a solid defense when fighting a 23123.5 CVC traffic violation. Contact TicketBust today to contest your cell phone ticket.

Saving money for rent, groceries and bills is a big priority amidst this coronavirus quarantine. That is why paying for a traffic ticket is the last thing you want to have to do. Even though we are quarantined, the courts will not just waive the violation. Therefore, it is ALWAYS worth fighting California traffic tickets. After all, anything is better than paying a hefty fine and dealing with higher insurance premiums for the next 3 years. 

Why Should I Fight My Traffic Ticket?

If you do not put in the necessary effort to challenge the ticket, you are at risk of paying an expensive fine and insurance premiums that you may not currently be able to afford because of the rising unemployment rates and wavering economy. 

Contrary to public belief, fighting your ticket is significantly better than attending a traffic school. Although traffic school does have its benefits, such as keeping your insurance premiums from spiking, it does not dismiss the fine from the citation or remove points from your driving record. 

How do I Fight My Ticket in Quarantine?

All in all, fighting a ticket gives you the best chance at getting your case dismissed, with no fines, no penalties and no driving record points. Furthermore, there is an option to fight your ticket without going to court, allowing you to stay at home and avoid contracting the coronavirus. This option is called Trial by Written Declaration.

According to the Judicial Branch of California, Trial by Written Declaration, also known as Vehicle Code Section 40902, “allows a defendant to challenge traffic infractions in writing, without having to appear in person at court”. If successful, defendants do not have to appear in court, pay a fine, receive points on their record, nor go to traffic school – their ticket is fully dismissed. Luckily, Trial by Written Declaration is available during the pandemic and after and is a safe option for people to stay home and stay safe.

California Courts

If you receive a ticket during the quarantine, be proactive, and go to your local court’s website to find critical information regarding how that specific court is handling traffic citations. For instance, if they are postponing ticket payments or if they are expecting individuals to go into court at a later time when social distancing regulations are loosened. In addition to research if these delays are done automatically through the court or if you have to appeal to get an extension.

The protocols when appealing your citation will differ per county because of the stay at home orders for the coronavirus. Prior to quarantine, individuals who received traffic violations were expected to pay a fine, complete traffic school, or challenge their ticket within a certain amount of time. It is important to note that for some counties, this may still be the case and they are proceeding as business as usual. For other counties, however, they may be more lenient or expect people to complete extra paperwork and appeal to get the extension. 

Regardless of what county you reside in, throughout California, individuals are welcome to fight their traffic tickets through Trial by Written Declaration. 

TicketBust Can Help Today

Although the world is going through unprecedented times, it is essential to contest a traffic citation during the coronavirus quarantine. Through TicketBust, we build solid defenses to fight traffic citations. In addition, our team is available to assist in researching how to help you best contest the case depending on how your county’s court is handling the impacts of the coronavirus. We use a premier system that has processed thousands of tickets and cases and is successful in providing clients the best opportunity of getting their ticket dismissed. 

To learn more about our services during the COVID-19 pandemic, contact TicketBust today.

In 2005, California came out with the “Click It or Ticket” campaign to encourage drivers and passengers to wear their seat belts every time they get into a car. If drivers and passengers fail to put on their seat belts, they can be pulled over and given a ticket. So how much is a seat belt ticket and what are the dangerous of not wearing one?

Click It or Ticket Success

Seat belts have proven to save lives. According to National Highway Traffic Safety, seat belts saved about 15,000 lives in 2017. However, there is still room to do better. In 2019, the national rate was 90.7% of drivers and passengers wear seat belts. That is still 10% of people not clicking it before driving.

Dangerous of Not Wearing a Seat Belt

• Not wearing a seatbelt could put you at risk of having severe injuries or worse
• Now wearing a seatbelt could cause stress and anxiety for you, your family or friends. Fatal accidents or serious injuries affects everyone.
• Not wearing seatbelt could cost you hundreds or thousands in medical expenses.

How Much is a Seat Belt Ticket?

The average cost of California seat belt ticket is $162 or $490 fine for not properly restraining a child under 16.

Keep in mind, in California, drivers are responsible for all passengers. If a passenger does not wear a seat belt than the driver is fined. Therefore, it is always safest and best to always put on your seatbelt. And make sure all passengers in your car have their seat belts on too!

What If I Receive a Traffic Ticket?

TicketBust has been helping drivers in California successfully fight traffic citations for decades. We have successfully handled thousands of citations for California drivers.

To learn more about getting your stop sign ticket dismissed using Trial By Written Declaration, visit us at staging-vadusuxe.kinsta.cloud.

Lane splitting is the practice of a motorcycle driving between two rows of stopped or moving cars in the same lane. This practice has become extremely common occurrence on highways and roads. For this reason, drivers must stay attentive on the road and learn how to deal with them to ensure safety. But is lane splitting legal? Find out!

Is Lane Splitting Legal?

Right now, lane splitting is only officially legal in California. Although, lane splitting has never been considered illegal, California was the first state to  pass a law that specifically allowed motorcyclists to drive between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane.

You may be wondering why they would create a law if technically it is not illegal. The reason is with the law in place, California was able to develop regulations. These regulations spell out what is legal versus illegal lane splitting.

Safe Practices by Motorcyclists

• Only split lanes if traffic is going under 30 mph
• Always travel at a safe speed. Rule of thumb is travel only 10 mph faster than the traffic around you.
• Splitting lanes in the farther left lanes is safer than splitting lanes in the right lanes. This is for two reasons – 1) Drivers are more likely to anticipate motorcycles in the left lanes. 2) Lanes on the right have a lot more cars changing lanes from freeway exits and ramps. Making it more likely for accidents to happen.
• Don’t lane split if it is bad weather – rain, fog, dusk etc.
• Be watchful for unexpected car movements, traffic, road width and big cars.
• Only lane split on roads that you are familiar with
• Wear bright colors and use lights to help drivers see you

Safe Practices for Drivers

• Always signal to alert motorcyclists of lane changes
• Always check blindspots. Motorcycles can appear suddenly
• Always let a motorcyclist pass you before changing lanes – they typically are moving faster
• Don’t change lanes quickly
• The best way to anticipate a motorcyclist is listening for them

Is Lane Splitting Safe?

According to research done by UC Berkeley in 2015, it can be done safely if the motorcycle is driven at a speed of no more than 50 mph and not more than 15 mph faster than surrounding traffic. However, more research needs to be done in order to determine if it is safe or not. Most drivers believe lane splitting is extremely dangerous while motorcyclists feel it is safer for them since they can avoid being hit from behind.

What If I Receive a Traffic Ticket?

We all try not to get traffic tickets but if you do –  at TicketBust, we are here to help! Our ticket dismissal service has helped thousands of California drivers keep their record clean. We can help you fight your ticket through the simple, fast process of Trial By Written Declaration. If your ticket is dismissed, it means no points, no fines, and no going to court. Call us today at 800-850-8038 or start here.