Florida Seeks to Tackle License Suspensions
Miami-Dade County commissioners are looking to put together a team dedicated to reviewing fees and fines imposed by the court linked to suspensions in driver licenses. Dubbed the Driver License Suspension Task Force, the news arrives after the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court Administrator’s Office released numbers showing close to a third of licensed drivers in Miami-Dade County alone had suspended licenses.
According to the Miami Today report, since those who can more easily pay fees always do, poorer communities are disproportionately affected. While those convicted for drunk driving can get hardship permits to travel to and from work, no such provision can benefit individuals who cannot afford penalties, most of whom are not related to reckless driving, which is over 70 percent in Florida.
The Driver License Suspension Task Force, if established, will seek ways to adjust local practices more with states such as Virginia, California, and Wyoming that do not penalize drivers by suspending licenses for non-payment of fines, and others such as Vermont, Georgia, and the District of Columbia that have abolished compulsory suspensions of licenses for non-payment of unrelatable traffic costs. Significant changes will, however, have to arrive from Tallahassee. Statutes in Florida set fine sums and costs for court and collection fees.
This year, bills to reduce license suspensions for nonpayment of fees did not make it in the Legislature.
This update is brought to you by the Miami traffic ticket lawyer team of Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and are ready to answer your questions. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with a Miami speeding ticket lawyer today.
This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.
Ridesharing Service Ramps up Its Mask Requirement
If you’ve done any ridesharing lately, you may have noticed that services like Uber have ramped up their stance on wearing masks. As a preventative measure, the service began requiring that drivers snap a selfie wearing a mask before they are allowed to pick up passengers. Uber is now looking to do the same with certain passengers.
If an Uber driver has reported that a passenger has not worn a mask in the past, the passenger will be required to follow the same steps as that of a driver, meaning they must take a selfie showing they are wearing a mask before they can request a ride. The requirement will roll out near the end of the month but you may have already noticed it. Should the ride go smoothly without any issues, the passenger will not be required to take another selfie during their next ride.
According to the source article, Uber has also optimized their software to ensure that passengers and drivers cannot try and “fool” the app by attempting to cover their mouths with their hands, for example.
This update is brought to you by Miami traffic ticket lawyer Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions and help you fight your ticket. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak about Miami civil traffic tickets.
This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.
Consider Fighting Your Speeding Ticket Issued by an Aircraft Unit
Driving around Florida, you’ve likely noticed at some point a sign warning that an aircraft is monitoring speed. You may be under the assumption that the plane is using some kind of modern radar technology to monitor vehicles yet according to a Florida Highway Patrol newsletter, that’s not quite the case. Instead, speed monitoring seems to involve the use of a stopwatch and a grid with existing markings.
An aircraft operator can attest that the stopwatch was started and stopped at a certain time, but how certain the assertion is when it comes to the burden of proof is another matter. How does the potentially accused speeding driver know that the stopwatch performing properly and if it was started and stopped at the precise times indicated by the officer? Just one second can make a monumental difference in a case involving speeding. If an officer is unable to single out particular and dependable facts that back up their assertions, it may severely affect their case.
This update is brought to you by Miami traffic ticket lawyer Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions and help you fight your ticket. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with a Miami expungement attorney.
This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.
Florida Driver Plows into a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Sign
Chances are you’ve noticed the signs throughout Florida with the words “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”. These signs are often electronic and are part of a campaign while also serving as a reminder of the importance of not getting behind the wheel if you’ve had too much to drink.
In a bizarre coincidence, a Florida driver is making the news after he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) when he hit one of these signs informing drivers not to drive under the influence. The 22-year-old man hit the digital sign and was arrested after law enforcement officers discovered him inside of a Mazda that had sustained damage following the crash into the sign. The man claimed that he was speaking to a friend on the phone when the crash occurred and after taking a breathalyzer, his blood-alcohol level was twice Florida’s legal limit.
Besides being charged with DUI, the man is also facing charges of property damage as a result of hitting the sign.
To read more, please visit https://www.thedrive.com/news/36152/florida-man-arrested-for-dui-after-hitting-a-drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over-sign.
This update is brought to you by the Miami traffic attorney team of Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with one of the Miami criminal traffic lawyers today.
This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.
Are Electronic Licenses Valid?
At one point in time, drivers that were pulled over were required to present a physical copy of their proof of insurance to a law enforcement officer. Nowadays, it is acceptable to simply pull it up on your smartphone and present an electronic version. Does the same apply for a driver’s license? The simple answer is no.
Indeed, drivers are still legally required to present their license in physical form, unlike their insurance. It’s likely to remain that way for the foreseeable future. Attempting to drive with an electronic image of your license may be equivalent to if you were driving without one at all. This is unlawful and may result in a citation. However, do keep in mind that it is also unlawful to drive with a license that isn’t valid, even if a physical one is presented. This is considered a misdemeanor and it can carry hefty fines and potentially jail time.
There are exemptions that you may wish to look into or ask a traffic ticket lawyer about. For example, military personnel and non-residents may be exempt.
This update is brought to you by Miami traffic ticket lawyer Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions and help you fight your ticket. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with a Miami expungement attorney.
This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.
Be Wary of Truck Blind Spots
Just about every vehicle has a blind spot, including newer vehicles with technology built in designed to make it easier to detect vehicles that may be lurking in the blind spot. For trucks, however, this technology may not be quite as effective.
Truck blind spots are much more common as compared to the typical passenger car. In most trucks, standard safety devices cannot be used to improve driver vision in blind spots. These blind spots are substantial, due to the considerable size of commercial vehicles. Sometimes there are accidents caused by poor visibility in the blind spots of a vehicle.
Drivers may be under the false assumption that because of their height, truck drivers have a better view of the road. Although they do have improved visibility in terms of what’s in front of them, that’s not the case for the side or the back. Hence, truck blind spots are larger and more dangerous. Often these spots with limited visibility include the following:
- The region right in front of the truck reaching as far as 20 feet.
- The areas directly along the truck’s edge.
- The truck’s right side is especially risky because most truck drivers expect drivers to turn lanes to the left.
- The region immediately behind the vehicle, reaching as far as 30 feet.
Always be cautious around trucks and heed those warning stickers often found in the back stating that if you can’t see the truck mirrors, the truck driver can’t see you.
This update is brought to you by Miami traffic ticket lawyer Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and we are ready to answer your questions and help you fight your ticket. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with a Miami expungement attorney.