Why Fight a Speeding Ticket?

The fallout from a speeding ticket can result in mounting complications.

Points will be added to your driving record by PennDOT for the alleged violation. Accumulating 6 or more points can cause your vehicle insurance rates to rise by hundreds or thousands of dollars. You might even find yourself with a suspended license, which can lead to the loss of your job or missing school. From there, it’s a short step to being unable to pay the bills and losing your home, or failing classes.

Keeping your driving record clean is worth the battle. Below are some ways you can fight your speeding ticket:

• Hire a defense lawyer who has experience as a Pittsburgh Speeding Ticket Lawyer. Traffic charges can often be reduced or dismissed. Retaining a lawyer is a good investment, because you might be able to save money on your insurance costs over the course of years.
• Examine the ticket closely, as the traffic ticket you are given will offer clues regarding how the ticket might be fought. Look carefully for any inaccurate information.

If the ticket indicates that a VASCAR device was used to measure your speed, the ticket can be challenged in court. VASCAR devices are like stopwatches and have been shown to be prone to errors, especially when your speed is tracked over short distances.

• Police error in the calculation of speed is possible. A cop who follows your car to measure your speed might have gotten distracted or failed to follow you long enough to get an accurate measurement. Specific factors such as the darkness of the night or curves in the road can cause questions about the accuracy of the officer’s ability to track your vehicle consistently.
• If you were not speeding, the cop has mistakenly ticketed you. A Pittsburgh speeding ticket attorney can help you get this ticket removed. For instance, if your car was being tracked from the air during rush hour, and the officer looked away from your vehicle for some reason, he or she might have confused your car with someone else’s of a similar style and color, or even have lost sight of you altogether.
• Improper calibration of the speed calculating device, especially VASCAR devices, may cause speeding charges to be dismissed. Pittsburgh’s VASCAR speed-tracking automation devices should be calibrated once at least every 2 months, radar guns once every year, and police car speedometers, used for following cars to track their speed, also must be calibrated once a year. If the automation does not get calibrated within the stipulated time period, or if it was improperly calibrated, it can cause errors that can’t stand up in court.
• You have to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A speeding ticket lawyer at our Pittsburgh firm will examine in detail every part of the evidence against you to find where reasonable doubt exists. He or she will then attempt to prove it to the judge.

If you receive a traffic ticket, you need a speeding ticket attorney in Pittsburgh who will advocate for you through the entire process, work diligently to discredit evidence, and help you decide the best plan of action.

The criminal defense attorneys at Logue Law Group are here to help, starting with a free initial consultation. They can be reached 24/7 at 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901. You can also reach them online.

For more information about Pennsylvania Traffic Violation Law, including descriptions and definitions of traffic violations, you will find it in the Pennsylvania Code under Title 75.

You should get in touch with an experienced Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney as soon as you get a ticket so that the procedure can start without any kind of delay.

Reasons for Fighting a Ticket

Even if it is a first-time offense, still a traffic ticket can create a significant impact on your life. Points will get added to your driving record by PennDOT. If the points you accumulate are on the higher side, you can end up paying hefty amounts for car insurance premiums. Your license can also be at risk. It can get suspended anytime. Fighting traffic tickets is absolutely worth the effort and time it takes. You should seek the help of an experienced Traffic Ticket Lawyer in Pittsburgh as soon as possible after receiving a ticket. Only he can save you from these kinds of circumstances, and with proper evidence and research, can make sure that your rights and interests are fully protected. Your traffic charges can get reduced, and possibly dismissed.

Do not think twice about retaining a good Criminal Lawyer as he would not only help in cleaning your driving record but, would also save you from your insurance premiums going up in price. Contact Logue Law Group to get in touch with a Pittsburgh attorney who has sufficient experience and skill in fighting traffic tickets.

Different Types of Tickets You Should Be Fighting

There are various kinds of traffic tickets, and it is absolutely worth fighting your ticket. With the right Criminal Lawyer, you can easily turn the case in your favor.

Types of traffic tickets you should fight:

• Driving with a suspended license
• Running a red light
• Failure to yield
• Improper passing
• Speeding (this is the most common one)
• Not paying heed to a stop sign
• Turning violation
• Careless driving
• Improper backing up
• Driving slowly, etc.

What You Need to Know Regarding Traffic Tickets

The Municipal Court Traffic Division takes care of the violations of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code that are seen in the City of Pittsburgh. The Traffic Division covers red light violations, traffic citations, etc., but parking violations are not covered under this Code.

Help from a Criminal Lawyer

The attorney you choose to help you can make a big difference in the outcome of your case. You shouldn’t hire just anyone. You need an attorney who has years of experience fighting cases like yours, and winning. Don’t look for the cheapest, or even the most expensive. Look for the attorney with the best reputation.

When you have received a ticket, you should immediately hire a reputable Traffic Ticket Lawyer in the Pittsburgh area, who will be there with you to fight your ticket throughout the entire procedure. He should be experienced, responsive and should give maximum efforts in order to discredit the evidence against you. He will discuss all the options available to you, so that you can choose the best possible actions and get out of the situation as quickly as you can.

Don’t wait too long to call for legal assistance. If you do, you could find yourself in a more difficult spot than you need to be in, and an attorney will not be able to help you as much as you need him to.

To get in touch and schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Criminal Lawyer from Logue Law Group, contact us online, or call 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901.

Sean Logue and his associates at Logue Law Group proudly serve Pittsburgh and the surrounding area, including West Virginia and Ohio.

Interested in Learning More About Traffic Tickets in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Code Title 75 contains definitions and descriptions of traffic violations for which you can be ticketed.

• Cost of Pleading Guilty
• Driving Record
• How to Fight a Speeding Ticket
• Insurance Rates
• Points / PennDot Points System
• Speeding Points
• Traffic Violation Defenses

The Senate Transportation Committee today approved a bill, Senate Bill 1098, which would give school districts permission to have automated cameras put up on school buses. These cameras are similar to cameras at red lights, and automatically take pictures of vehicles that pass a school bus as it drops off or picks up students. The drivers are then automatically ticketed.

Senator Camera Bartolotta, one of the committee members, stated that she has witnessed some incidents of children stepping off a school bus and nearly being killed trying to get to the curb.

The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services says that, in a one-day survey in 2017, 106,976 bus drivers in 30 states counted 78,239 vehicles illegally passing their buses. No Pennsylvania bus drivers were included in the survey.

Another survey by the same organization learned that 17 states allow the use of photo or video evidence in writing tickets for illegal passing.

Work on the bill started after constituents of its lead sponsor, Senator Patrick Browne of Lehigh County, complained that there were problems with their children’s buses being passed illegally, according to Browne’s communications director, Matt Moyer.

The Pennsylvania School Bus Association worked with legislators to craft the bill, and its House companion, House Bill 2225, according to the association’s executive director, Mike Berk. The House bill is still in the House Transportation Committee. The association supports the bill in its current form.

The association’s concern is enforcement. They would like to see drivers get punished in some manner when they appear in their local magistrate’s court.

The bill calls for local police to collect images from the cameras, called “automated side stop signal arm enforcement systems,” and use them to send tickets to the owners or operators of the photographed vehicles. The law does say that cameras should be limited, as much as possible, when they take pictures so that images of passengers and drivers are not collected. The images would be destroyed within a year after court proceedings were over, as they would not be considered public records.

Not everyone is on board with the bill. The National Motorists Association’s Pennsylvania representative, James Sikorski Jr., is concerned that the bill does not define the length of time the yellow flashing lights warn drivers about the upcoming stop. He is also concerned that the bill doesn’t include a grace period for a driver who is passing just as the red flashers come on. Current law allows a driver who is already on his way around a bus to continue if the yellow flashers come on. And, since the ticket would be issued to the owner of the vehicle, determined by matching it to the license plate in the picture, the status of the vehicle—if it was borrowed by another driver or was stolen—is not taken into account.

Sikorski stated that illegal school bus passing is rare and not likely to be intentional.

The bill will next go to the Senate Appropriations Committee. They will discuss it late in the month of May, at the earliest, according to Moyer.

The penalties for illegally passing a school bus can be steep. A conviction comes with five points added to your driver’s license, a 60-day license suspension, and a fine of $250. There are defenses that can be successfully used to get a charge of illegal passing dismissed. If it can be proved that you made an honest mistake, for example, if the bus was stopped on a curve and you couldn’t see it until it was too late, it’s possible to get the charges dropped. It is, however, better to be safe than sorry. Pay attention out there, and give school buses a wide berth.

I know the cycling association my firm, Logue Law Group, sponsors – ABRA, the Appalachian Bicycle Racing Association – just kicked off its racing season this past weekend, which reminded me to remind you to be careful out there when you see those guys and gals on the roads.

And it’s not just because some of them are my friends: It’s because this Morgantown and Pittsburgh Criminal Defense Lawyer doesn’t want ignorance of the law turn into you breaking the law.

Here’s what I’m talking about: You see a bicyclist peddling up a curving back road. The speed limit is 35, and dude is not going nearly that fast.

So what do you do?

Do you pass him? Ride behind him like a creeper?

Here’s what the state Department of Transportation says: Yes, you can pass the cyclist, but you must allow at least 4 feet between your vehicle and the bicycle. And yes, your vehicle may cross the double yellow lines to safely pass.

Before you even ask: If you are driving on a road where there is just one lane of travel, the bicyclist may, in fact, use any portion of the lane in order to safely ride, which means they don’t have to hug the right side of the road – they are permitted to stay a safe distance away from parked or stopped vehicles, etc.

And just to clear the speed issue up: Bicyclists are absolutely expected to obey all traffic laws. A bicycle is considered a vehicle according to state law. Obvious, right? Here’s the thing, though: Don’t yell out your window about the cyclist going too slowly up that hill just yet.

Bicyclists kind of get a bye on that one: According to PennDOT, a cyclist may, in fact, travel more slowly than the posted minimum speed limit and not be cited for impeding traffic. Another fun fact: Yes, bicyclists may travel on the shoulder or berm of a road, but they are not required to.

What about when you park? You are required to look for cyclists before you open your door. If you don’t, and a cyclist hits your door and wrecks, it won’t be him or her getting the ticket. It will be you. This is called “dooring” and is taken very seriously.

The biggest threat to bicyclists is other vehicles. An accident between a car and a bicycle doesn’t usually come out well for the cyclist, which is why the government and cops take such a hard stance on them.

Another tidbit you ought to be aware of: in an accident, the bicyclist gets paid for all of his or her injuries, lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and a new bike. This is because they are considered “Full Torte” in the eyes of the law. Since someone has to pay for that, it means your insurance rates will go up if you are the driver who doors the biker, or cuts him off after passing him, or hits him from behind.

So be careful, be prudent, and be safe. And in case you are held by the police for some or the other sort of carelessness during the cycling season, please meet an experience Pittsburgh Criminal Defense Lawyer who can help you out.

If you do find yourself in that situation, don’t hesitate to call my office. My associates and I are here to assist you. We can be reached at 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901. You can also contact us online.

And to my friends at ABRA – I’m proud to be your sponsor again, and I wish you guys a great season!

That also means there will be flaggers and other construction workers toiling near to where cars and trucks are whizzing by, often a mere foot or two away.

That all said, the state Department of Motor Vehicles has designated this week as Work Zone Safety Awareness week – and your friendly Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney, who, along with his associates, handles a ton of traffic ticket cases, wanted to make sure you knew about it.

Here’s why: There are specific and steepened penalties for those who disobey traffic laws in active work zones in Pennsylvania, and a zero tolerance policy for speeding, aggressive driving, and tailgating.

For example, if you blow through a work zone going 11 miles faster than the posted speed limit, or you’re involved in a crash you could be charged with failing to drive at a safe speed and automatically lose your license for 15 days if convicted.

And there’s more! If you’re caught speeding by as little as one mile per hour above the posted limit, or driving under the influence in an active work zone, the fines are doubled.

And, if you are convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash in an active work zone? The law provides for as many as five years of additional jail time to go along with the $10,000 fine and year-long license suspension. Even causing a simple injury in such a crash is expensive for the driver: six months of license suspension and fines of up to $5,000.

Also, don’t forget about turning on your headlights in a work zone! The fine for failure to do that is $25.

Don’t think it’s enforced? Wrong! I’ve represented folks who’ve been cited, and according to PennDOT, so have a bunch of other Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyers – because in 2013, 472 license suspensions were doled out for work-zone violations.

Why are the penalties for speeding in a work zone so harsh? Because more than 30 Pennsylvania Turnpike workers have lost their lives on the job over the years, all due to speeding or distracted drivers intruding into their workspace. Safety for highway construction workers is and has been a top priority for Pennsylvania.

In addition to the workers who have been killed were drivers and passengers in the vehicles that caused the crashes.

The problem is not limited to Pennsylvania, of course. Work Zone Safety Week is celebrated nationwide, including in New York, Ohio, and Maryland.

The workers do their part—they put bright orange and white barrels around their work area and post a lowered speed limit, sometimes with a new metal sign but often with a lighted one. They have big signs at the beginning and end of every work zone, letting you know it’s there. They wear brightly-colored vests so drivers can see them. They pay attention to their work areas.

The problem comes in when drivers are speeding, or changing the radio channel, or talking on the phone, or even trying to text. You’ve heard over and over that distracted driving is dangerous. Add to that the smaller size of the roadway due to lane restrictions, and it becomes deadly. It only takes a split-second of glancing at your cell phone in a construction zone to cause you to plow through a barrel and hurt or kill a worker.

So be careful out there! Watch your speed, watch for workers – and if you get into a jam, call me. My associates and I can be reached at 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901. You can also contact us online. Someone is available 24/7 to take your call.

Absent from all those blogs, though, was any sort of word to the wise to parents of teen drivers.

In Pennsylvania, for instance, underage motorists have what is commonly referred to as Princess Licenses. Not familiar with the concept? Young drivers have driving restrictions in the evening.

In the Keystone State, young drivers are not permitted to drive from 11 p.m. through 5 a.m. unless it is for employment or a volunteer or charitable service project (and even then, they need appropriate documentation). Nor are they allowed to carry more than one passenger unless they’ve gone six months with no violations. Even then, they’re limited to three passengers.

Enter free advice from your friendly neighborhood Pittsburgh criminal lawyer: If you are the parent of a young driver, you need to discuss where they will spending their New Year’s Eve. Even the most innocent of teenage New Year’s Eve parties could end in a citation if your child is pulled over when and if they drive home from a party.

The consequences for teen driver violations are harsh. For example, if your junior license holder causes an accident, he or she will lose their license for 90 days or until they turn 18. That means, it’s back to hauling them around for you, which could potentially punish you both. Getting six points on their licenses also results in 90-day suspensions for underage drivers, the first time. If it happens again, the suspension is extended to 120 days.

Don’t forget Pennsylvania’s zero tolerance for teenage drinking. The legal limit for teens is only 0.02 percent. It could take less than a single beer for your kiddo to be over the limit and charged with a DUI.

And believe me: If there is a chance for any of this to happen, it would be during the New Year’s holiday.

There will be police out in force tonight, tomorrow and all this weekend – and every traffic violation will be considered a possible clue to a driver who is under the influence.

If your teen forgets to use a turn signal, or blows a stop sign, they will get more than a citation for a moving violation – they could possibly have their license privileges suspended.

Being convicted of any crime at a young age, especially a DUI can be seriously detrimental to your future. This DUI record will have to be disclosed at all college applications which can jeopardize your chances of getting an admission into your dream college. And if you are already in college, there are high chances of you getting expelled. Even when you apply for a job, an underage DUI conviction will reflect on your chances of getting the job.

So, you must at all costs, fight your DUI charges to avoid these harsh consequences on your future. So, quickly call a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer like me and get rid of the ill-effects of an underage DUI conviction. Do not plead guilty before consulting a lawyer because a skilled and experienced lawyer like me can come up with various defense strategies which will help you get a favorable outcome.

While I’m happy to represent clients who have been cited for various traffic violations – including young people and students – I would hate you to have to go through the process when some simple oversight and planning can prevent that legal trouble.

You did not, however, signal your intent to turn and then move into the passing lane.

Know what that means? You just violated Pennsylvania’s Steer Clear Law – and if you think it’s just one of those minor ones you’ll never get pulled over for, think again. This Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer has absolutely represented people who’ve been charged with this very thing.

Not familiar with the ins and outs of the Steer Clear law? Here’s what it says: As a motorist, you are required to move at least one lane away from incidents where an emergency vehicle is pulled over on the side of the road. According to PennDOT’s website, you must also move over or slow down for disabled vehicles. If it’s unsafe or illegal to move over, you must slow down to a reasonable speed that will allow you to pass the disabled vehicle, or emergency vehicles and personnel safely.

And that’s when you see any emergency responder on the side of the road, not just a police officer. ‘Tis the season for dead batteries, so please know that other emergency responders include tow-truck operators.

And as winter weather rears its head, please be aware that state Department of Transportation vehicles involved in emergency assistance are also included under the Steer Clear Law.

It’s not just the person—cop, tow truck driver, or DOT vehicle—that you need to avoid. The law states that you must also avoid the area where the incident is happening. Those areas will be marked with flares or signs, and include areas where emergency personnel are administering aid alongside the road.

I already know what your next question is: What if you CAN’T move over a lane because of heavy traffic or poor road conditions? Then at least reduce your speed.

Here’s why: Motorists who fail to change lanes or reduce their speed could be cited. Failure to move over or slow down can result in a citation that carries a fine of as much as $250.

If you’re cited for another traffic violation in this situation (say you aren’t wearing your seatbelt), you could face double fines. And if a worker is injured in a crash in this type of situation? Expect a 90-day license suspension, and the need to contact a Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer who focuses on traffic law defense.

You may wonder about the need for such legislation. The truth is, there have been hundreds of cops, firefighters, tow truck drivers, and motorists who have died because they were hit by someone traveling in the lane next to where they were. Case in point: in 2017, two men from Lancaster County were killed when they were hit by a drunk driver who didn’t move over. One of the men who died was a motorist whose car was disabled; the other was the tow truck driver who tried to help him.

If you find yourself holding a citation for failing to Steer Clear, call the expert and experienced Pittsburgh criminal lawyers at Logue Law Group. My associates and I can help you get your charges reduced or dismissed. Don’t delay; call us today at 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901. Or, you can contact us online. Someone is available 24/7 to take your call.

If you’re interested in checking up on the facts, this is addressed in the Pennsylvania Traffic Code, Title 75, Section 3327.

Update: September 25, 2017

A revision of this law was signed by Governor Tom Wolfe in July of 2017. The new law indicates that second-time offenders will receive a fine of up to $500, and the fine for a third offense or subsequent could be as high as $1,000. The new fines take effect this month (September 2017.)

Despite activating his emergency lights, another vehicle turned in front of the officer, Richard Champion, causing a fatal crash.

The driver of the vehicle who allegedly crossed into Champion’s lane of travel was taken to an area hospital, where he was listed in serious condition. Champion became trapped in the patrol car, which caught fire. Several good Samaritans attempted to break the windows but were unable to free him from the wreckage.

The vehicle he was pursuing continued to flee, and the driver is still being sought by police.

Champion, a military veteran, served as an officer with the Perryopolis Police Department for eight months. He is survived by his wife and 16-month-old child.

Being a Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney for quite some time now, I can tell you that sadly, cases of police officers dying in the line of duty are not rare. According to the Fallen Officer Memorial Page, 109 officers have died in the line of duty so far this year, and 25 of those deaths were attributed to automobile accidents.

With that in mind, I thought it would be helpful to reiterate what motorists should do when they encounter a police officer on the road with his emergency lights activated.

If you are being pulled over, you should immediately activate your turn signal, and drive as close as you can to the right berm of the road, where you can stop and safely park your vehicle.

If you aren’t being pulled over, but see that a police officer has activated his emergency lights, it is most prudent to stay out of his or her way. Put on your turn signal, and change lanes to allow the police officer to pass you, when possible.

The same applies to fire trucks and ambulances, as well. Every second counts, whether it’s an emergency or a police officer going after a speeder.

The best advice is to pay attention to what’s going on around you. Don’t have the radio so loud you can’t hear a siren, and don’t let your mind wander so much that you forget to check your mirrors or blow through a light or stop sign. When you hear the sirens or see the flashing lights, move over and stop. You could save a life.

When being charged with committing a crime against a police officer or any other government officer, you will be subjected to a number of harsh penalties. And if you want to reduce such penalties, you should resort to a skilled Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney. Since one of the primary functions of the government is to ensure the safety, order and peace in society, your interference in the legal operations of an officer, misconduct towards a law enforcement official, or causing him a fatal injury will lead to severe repercussions.

Such convictions mean imposition of huge fines, considerable amount of jail time and will hold an obligation to restitute anyone’s honor and reputation that has been affected by your actions. The offense you have committed will be permanently listed on your criminal records and will be public information. This sort of conviction for any crime will have a major impact on your reputation and career and if you receive a felony, you will be subjected to various kinds of limitations. For instance, you will have restrictions on your voting rights or will not have the permission to possess firearms.

If you or anyone you know are facing such charges, you must immediately get in touch with an experienced and skilled criminal defense lawyer for a free consultation so that you can receive the right guidance.

Call me at Logue Law Group: 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901. I can be contacted online, as well. Someone will respond no matter what time of day or night you reach out.