You probably follow common traffic laws to ensure you won’t run into the police but even law-abiding drivers can get cited for an infraction. These little slips of paper can lead to more problems than a fine. They can also give you higher insurance rates and points on your driver’s license. A traffic offense can sometimes put a misdemeanor or felony on your criminal record.

There are other ways for motorists to keep their driving records clean. This article provides some tips on how to avoid traffic tickets.

The best way to be able to spot the police is to ensure that you have good visibility from your car. You can do this by cleaning your windows and mirrors whenever you fill up at a gas station. If you have large stickers on any of your windows, removing them may be a good idea.

Also, check your rearview mirror for excessive vibration. If your rearview mirror moves too much, you might lose visibility to the back of your car. You can easily fix this problem by checking your car’s suspension or ensuring the wheels are balanced.

It’s a good idea to learn how to spot highway patrol cars, whether they are driving around or parked on the side of the road. It can be tricky to tell whether a car is a patrol vehicle.

Highway patrol cars are typically sedans with siren lights mounted on the top or sides of the car. Many highway patrol jurisdictions also employ patrol cars with smaller, sleeker profiles. Sometimes, the lights on top of vehicles are inside the car near the windows.

Highway patrol cars often wait for speeders near highway on-ramps. When driving through an overpass followed by an on-ramp, it’s always a good idea to look around for any parked cars, check your speed, and drive safely.

Patrol officers often work in teams. One car might check speeds using a radar gun while parked on the overpass. Another car could be waiting below the overpass to issue a speeding ticket. Stationary motor vehicles on an overpass could signal that you’re approaching a speed trap.

Police vehicles driving in the opposite direction may be watching your lane, too. These vehicles have features that allow patrol officers to U-turn quickly and catch up to you. You could get a ticket if they notice you breaking a traffic law.

In addition to cars, the highway patrol often uses motorcycles and airplanes. Highway patrol motorcycles are recognizable due to their large size and rear radio antenna. The rider of a patrol motorcycle usually sits upright, which is distinct from sport bikes with forward-leaning riders.

If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of driving offense, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Seattle Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Traffic Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their traffic charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a traffic offense, misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Traffic Lawyer as soon as possible. Infraction and criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone cited or charged with an infraction or a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Traffic Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900