Ticket-free A-Z

Nothing grabs a driver’s attention quite like the sight of flashing red lights in the rear-view mirror and the whine of an approaching siren.

And the only thing worse than getting a ticket for something you know you’ve done wrong — is getting one for something you knew nothing about.

Lieutenant William Gallagher of the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office and Sergeant Tate Colburn with the Road Patrol offered some ideas on ticket-free motor vehicle operation.

Most of their tips had to do with visibility and equipment. Some of them may come as a surprise.


Ticket-Free A-Z

Aggressive driving can get you a ticket. That includes following too closely, driving or accelerating too fast, not using turn signal, pulling out in front of someone, or cutting someone off.

Broken windshield wipers are illegal. Get them fixed or you could end up with a citation.

Cracked windshields or fractured glass of any kind are also considered to be an obstruction that could limit the driver’s view.

DVD monitors or TVs cannot be within the view of the driver because of the potential distraction.

Excessive smoke or exhaust billowing from your vehicle is bad for the environment, but it’s worse for other drivers and may obstruct their view.

Front license plates are not optional. New York State requires plates on both the front and back of your vehicle. A missing front plate will cost you.

Got a handicap sticker? Keep it off your rear-view mirror when you’re driving, until you are parked in a handicap parking spot. It’s considered to be an obstruction of view.

High beams can get you in trouble, especially if you fail to dim them when another vehicle approaches.

Improper placement of your seat belt is unsafe and you can be cited for it. If you have a normal seat belt, it has to be worn over top of the shoulder and across the waist.

Just because you’re stopped at a red light does not mean it’s OK to text. It’s a law, as of Nov. 1, 2009.

Keep your license plates in clear view. No tinted tents or covers are allowed — just the license plate frames that holds them in place.

Lights installed underneath your car or motorcycle are illegal. You can only have red stop lights in the back, yellow emergency lights and turn signals, and the white lights on the front of the car. Nothing else is allowed unless you’re a firefighter or an EMS.

Menus, flyers and handbills may not be placed under windshield wipers in a parking lot by anyone. That’s called “posting of bills” and it’s punishable.

Necklaces, tassels, charms and tags hanging from your rear-view mirror could earn you a ticket. They’re considered to be an obstruction of view.

Outside mirrors are essential — the law says you need two of them. If you are stopped by an officer for any reason, he or she will likely check all your mirrors.

Painting of any window in your vehicle is not acceptable. So all those school spirit, just married and for sale signs may be colorful, but they can create a blind spot and obstruct the view of the driver.

Questioning whether you can be ticketed for holding your phone while driving? You can. If you’re holding it conspicuously, you are presumed to be using it.

Registration stickers must be affixed to the windshield. Having it sitting on your dashboard doesn’t count.

Slow driving — yes, you can occasionally be cited for driving slowly.

Two earphones or ear buds for phones or electronic devices may not be worn by drivers. Only one is allowed. The same goes for any motorized vehicle, including motorcycles.

Unauthorized stickers on your windshield are a violation. Anything other than an inspection or registration sticker is not acceptable.

Violations pertaining to equipment, if corrected within 24 hours, may be dismissed if you can prove the work has been done.

Worried you’ve had too much to drink? Don’t sleep it off in your car, especially if you’re in a public place, on a highway or have access to a public highway. As long as you have the keys and the capability of operating  your vehicle — if you’re intoxicated you’ll be charged.

X-tra gadgets which drivers may not use while operating their vehicles include pagers, any handheld device with mobile data access, laptop computers, iPads, and electronic games.

Your tinted windows could be a problem no matter where they are on your vehicle. If they offer less than 73 percent visibility, they’re illegal. Most vehicles from the factory offer 80-83 percent visibility.

Zero tickets — that’s what you’ll get for using your cell phone while driving if you are using it for a medical, fire or police emergency. Police officers, peace officers, firefighters and authorized emergency vehicle operators are also exempt from the law.