parking ticket – Traffic School Online

When driving in a parking garage drivers (especially new drivers) need to take extra precautions. Many malls and large shopping centers have parking garages and busy parking lots that require you to pay close attention. Accidents occur in parking lots and garages across the country though they are vastly underreported. Fender benders are a particularly common sight as mall patrons from all directions fight for a single parking spot, forgetting all the rules and traffic laws that they learned in driver’s education and throwing driver safety out the window.

Today, we’re going to focus on things you can do to avoid getting in an accident in a parking garage or busy parking lot. These are tips that promote driver safety and are especially useful for new drivers entering a driver’s education course.

Tip #1 — Park Far Away

Drivers new and old are always keen on getting a spot close to the entrance. If you can stand to walk for a few minutes, park far away from the door. It is common courtesy to save the close spots for the elderly and people who are unable to walk great distances.

You’ll benefit from not having to fight other drivers for the closer spots. Shoppers are an aggressive bunch and they’ll stop at nothing to fight with you for a parking spot. When you are ready to leave it will be more convenient to be away from the main entrance and be able to reverse out of the spot calmly instead of with the pressure of a line of traffic behind you because one person wants to wait for your spot.

Tip #2 — Use Your Horn

Don’t be afraid to use your horn. The horn, when properly used, can help promote driver safety. Use the horn as a warning device that you’re approaching from around the bend. Tell a driver backing out from a parking spot to wait their turn because you’re getting close and intending to pass. Warn pedestrians who may be approaching your vehicle that you’re backing up. Another driver may not be able to see you negotiating the tight corner. But if they hear your gentle tap of the horn, they will be more inclined to slow down, thus preventing a potential car accident. The horn can prevent accidents. Use it wisely.

Tip #3 — Proceed With Caution

With so many pedestrians and drivers in one packed area, you must drive with caution. Remember this: Be aware of your surroundings, drive safely, and be proactive on the road to anticipate situations ahead. Doing so will help you get in and out of parking garages and busy parking lots safely.

Erase your traffic ticket fast and easy with America’s #1 Traffic School course.

Get started today!

Renting a car can be a great way to get around independently while traveling. Furthermore, by renting a car rather than using your vehicle, you can save on wear and tear on your vehicle. On the other hand, if you’re issued a traffic citation while in a rental car, things can get troublesome. If you don’t know how to properly handle the situation, you could end up with additional fees from your rental car company.

Traffic Tickets vs. Parking Tickets

First of all, it’s important to understand the difference between getting a traffic ticket (moving violation) in a rental car versus getting a parking ticket. When you receive a moving violation, it doesn’t matter what vehicle you’re in. The violation is applied directly to your driver’s license, which means you may receive points on your license (or worse) depending on the severity of the violation.

If this happens while you’re in a rental car, simply handle the ticket the same way you normally would. If you choose to pay the ticket rather than dispute it, be sure to keep a copy of your payment receipt. More than likely, the rental car company will never be informed of the ticket unless you fail to pay it; at that time, the issuing agency will contact the rental car company attached to the vehicle you were in when the violation occurred. At this point, the rental car company may choose to pay the ticket and then send you a bill (along with a hefty “administrative” fee) that you will be responsible for.

With a parking ticket, on the other hand, the violation is charged directly to the vehicle and not to your driver’s license. As a result, it is more likely that the rental car company will find out about the ticket. The best way to handle this is to pay the ticket immediately and contact the rental car company to provide them with proof of this.

What About License Plate Cameras?

Things can get a little tricky if you are charged with a moving violation due to a license plate camera (such as a red light camera). Because these cameras read license plates and automatically bill the ticket to the person or company that owns the vehicle, your rental car company will be the one to receive the ticket. From there, they will most likely pay it and send you a bill for the cost of the violation in addition to the administrative fee.

What to Do if You Receive a Letter From the Rental Company

If you receive a letter or bill from a rental car company stating that you owe money for a ticket, there are a few things you should do. For starters, if you know you paid the ticket, pull up your payment receipt and send them a copy of it to prove that the ticket was paid. Sometimes, there is miscommunication between issuing agencies and rental car companies, so showing that you paid the ticket could prevent you from being responsible for additional fees.

If you haven’t paid the ticket, you will unfortunately be liable for the cost of the ticket, as well as any additional fees. One exception to this would be if you choose to fight or dispute the ticket in court. If this is something you plan on doing, you should let the rental car company know about your intentions as soon as possible. Keep in mind, however, that you will still be responsible for all costs if you lose your case.

Getting a traffic ticket while in a rental car can be a pain to deal with, but by knowing what to expect, you’ll be able to handle the situation properly.

◉ Driving Safely in a Parking Garage