New Texas Traffic Laws

[todd]

The law about the obstructed License Plates actually came from the Texas Turnpike Authority. It seems that if the state name is not clear, they cannot mail citations to people that run toll booths. People were putting those clear plastic covers over the plate and when the high speed camera took pictures, the plate was not able to be read. Others were placing reflective tape around the numbers that also gave the cameras problems. This is also a problem with the red light cameras, but they actually use a little different technology. Seems the State looses quite a bit of money from the turnpike runners.

It is true that the state has a grant to have active seat belt enforcement. Click it or Ticket. This is not a "reward". It is a grant paid by the state. The State does not pay by the ticket, they pay by the hour. The amount is equal to the overtime rate of the Officer. Some smaller departments pay alot less than bigger ones. There are no amounts you have to write. You can write as many as you want.
20-30 officers in the Irving Police Department seems a little high knowing how many officers are ont he streets at one time.

I have mixed emotions on seatbelts, I have seen what happens when they are and are not worn. Kinda like the helmet law. (side note, to legally not wear a helmet, you have to take a motorcycle safety course or have an extra 10,000 dollars added medical coverage on you insurance.)

The law about moving over or slowing down did not come from the fords blowing up, it has been introduced before and not passed. The law is to curb the number one cause of officer deaths, traffic accidents.

You will never please everyone. We still pull people over that say they do not need a DL cause Texas is it's own nation and they do not recognize law enforcemnet authority. (or they bought it at TRADERS VILLAGE ) Pulled a guy over when I was in patrol a few years ago. Hey asked if I had anything better to do. I explained to him the number one cause of death (non natural) in Carrollton was a traffic accident and the number one cause of money lost was traffic accident. Not murder or theft. He had his kids and wife in the car and just blew the red light at Trinity Mills and Josey. He thought about it and said thanks, signed his ticket and went away. Hope he changed his driving habits.

The fine amounts differ from city to city. $150 seems a little high for the not moving over ticket, might be alot of court cost in your city.

By the way, I lived in Placentia California in 1988. Got pulled over because of an inspection sticker. I was driving a 1972 firebird formula 400. It cost me $360 dollars just to get it to pass inspection due to all the smog stuff. I count my blessings not to be in California!!!
Remember be safe.

Todd