Mother Nature was in a particularly angry mood this past weekend, unleashing lots of thunder, lightning, and some heavy downpours which resulted in traffic lights not working. As is often the case with thunderstorms, South Florida drivers sometimes forget what they should and not do when lights go out or when it’s raining heavily.
As we’ve mentioned in the past, do not use your hazard lights during heavy rain. It only serves to confuse other drivers and perhaps most importantly, it is illegal. Hazard lights should be used if a vehicle is stopped or disabled on the roadside or if it is part of a funeral procession. Drivers may wish to turn on their low beams during heavy rain instead.
When traffic lights are out and you approach a four-way intersection, they are to be treated as a four-way stop. If you are the first to arrive, you are the first to proceed. However, if you arrive at the light at the same as another vehicle, the driver of the vehicle on the left is expected to yield the right of way to a vehicle on the right.
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.
Countless children throughout South Florida will soon be returning for another school year, which means law enforcement officers will be out patrolling the school zones to make sure children and adults remain safe.
By now you’re likely aware that Florida’s texting while driving law is in effect. Although officers are only issuing warnings at this point, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of not using phones during the transitional period. Should you be confused about the law, the following may help clarify some things.
In case you haven’t heard or read our previous blogs, being caught texting while driving will get you pulled over. The new law marks an upgrade from Florida’s previous stance when it was legally a secondary offense, This meant a driver would’ve had to commit another infraction before they could be cited for using their phone while on the road. As a primary offense, this is no longer the case, which means a driver can be pulled over for texting while driving regardless of whether or not another infraction was committed.
The school year may be almost over for South Florida students, but it is still important to be aware of school zones. Being caught speeding in a school can have serious ramifications, including causing injury or death to a child. Hence, the penalties are strict. In fact, depending on how serious the offense is, it is possible for a driver to have their license suspended.
Like many states, Florida has laws that are in place but are not as strictly enforced. For example, we’ve mentioned in the past how many drivers are completely unaware that it is illegal to have a license plate frame which covers any portion of the letters, numbers, or registration sticker. Do you know what else is illegal? Any obstruction to your view. Indeed, Florida Statute 316.2004 covers obstructions to a driver’s view or a driving mechanism.
A bill (HB 107) that would allow law enforcement to pull over Florida drivers caught texting while driving has passed another hurdle after successfully making its way through the last committee after receiving the okay from the House State Affairs Committee.
There are the unwritten rules of the road and then there are the ones that become law. Drivers often tense up when they spot law enforcement nearby. If you’re driving behind one of these vehicles and they happen to be driving really slow, the unofficial rule is to be patient and not pass the vehicle.
Would you pay a little extra to avoid traffic slowdowns? Express lanes such as those on I-95 are already intended to ease the flow of traffic, but what the state has in mind is quite different. Double-decker toll lanes are being proposed on the Palmetto Expressway, resulting in an express route between South Dade and State Road 836 with the goal of allowing drivers to pay money to avoid traffic tie-ups.