Laws can change every year. Sometimes news laws are added to the books and others times old laws change. It can be difficult to keep up, which is why we’ve compiled a list of three traffic laws – some old, some new – that you need to be aware of to avoid a ticket.
3 Pennslyvania Traffic Laws You Should Know
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No Texting While Driving — Using a mobile phone, particularly for texting, has become a hot topic around the country. Distracted drivers are no joke, and talking or texting on a cell phone has become one of our main distractions when we’re behind the wheel. Because of this, Pennsylvania is one of the states to completely ban texting while driving. It isn’t just texting either, it’s any written communication on a wireless communication device, so this could also cover sending an email from your iPad.
If a police officer sees someone texting while driving, he or she can pull that individual over and give them a ticket. The fine is $50.00.
There is an exception though – you can use your device to text or email when the vehicle is fully stopped or you can use a hands-free device.
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Give Bicyclists Their Space — Pennsylvania has laws regarding how vehicles should treat bicyclists on the road to ensure everyone’s safety. In general, bikes are considered vehicles and must follow all the same traffic laws, but there are some differences.
If you’re on a two-lane road, you need to be at least four feet behind the cyclist. It may be annoying to drive behind someone on a bike, who can’t necessarily go the speed limit, but the cyclist isn’t required to ride as close to the side of the road as possible. You just have to be patient until you can safely and legally pass, which means on the left, no less than four feet from the cyclist, at a reduced speed.
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Double Check that Vehicle Modification — There are numerous Pennsylvania laws that regulate how an owner can modify his or her car. For instance, the state has frame and bumper height restrictions, meaning you can only lift your car to a certain height, as well as total height restrictions. Bumper height depends on the type of vehicle and its weight, but any vehicle can only be up to 13 feet 6 inches tall.
You can have additional lights installed on your car within certain parameters. Off-road lights must be covered and not used when driving on the road.
Tinting may also be an issue as Pennsylvania law says any sun screening device that makes it impossible to see into the vehicle is generally prohibited.
Contact a Philadelphia Traffic Defense Attorney
If you’ve been ticketed for one of these offenses or a different traffic violation, call Philadelphia traffic defense attorney Fienman Defense. Michael Fienman has years of experiencing helping individuals fight unfair tickets and getting the best outcome possible. Tickets in Pennsylvania need to be handled correctly to avoid amounting points on your license, which could ultimately lead to it being suspended for a period of time.
Call Fienman Defense at (215) 839-9529 to schedule a free consultation.
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