95
votes
Accepted
Why would someone get a fine when using a disabled parking space when the disabled person is not in the car?
There isn't any indication in that news story that the disabled son was anywhere nearby. I agree the situation you describe sounds like a legitimate use of the placard, but it seems in this situation, ...
- 4,263
74
votes
Why is drunk driving causing accident punished so much worse than just drunk driving?
Moral luck
You have raised the issue of moral luck, a long recognized problem in criminal theory. The classic expositions of this issue are by Thomas Nagel, in his chapter, "Moral Luck" (...
- 36.5k
51
votes
Flashing the emergency lights at a vehicle to dim the headlights
depending on the Jurisdiction, you actually were in violation of law!
In germany it is a misdemeanor to drive with the high beams on in such a fashion that it blinds or dazzles other road traffic, ...
- 31.4k
49
votes
What does "Have you been drinking?" really mean?
'Have you been drinking?' isn't a question with a strictly defined legal meaning. It's the opening gambit in a conversation intended to assess whether it's worth proceeding to a sobriety test.
And ...
- 752
40
votes
Accepted
Is it legal for a group of drivers to completely "fill" a roundabout?
They are impeding traffic, a Class D traffic violation.
Oregon Traffic Code 811.130:
Impeding traffic; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of impeding traffic if the person drives a motor ...
- 28.6k
33
votes
Accepted
May I create a custom license plate myself (in Virginia) using a purchased blank plate?
forges or counterfeits any license plate
That means you can't make your own. Certainly any created plate in different colors or design will attract attention of the authorities as well.
You will ...
- 4,939
32
votes
Why is place of birth shown on European driving licences?
Name and date of birth are not sufficiently unique to identify a person. While name, date of birth, and place of birth do not have to be unique, either, it reduces the number of false positives. Also, ...
- 13.2k
26
votes
Accepted
Is it legal to drive in reverse on a non-divided road that has a speed limit of more than 80 km/h?
The only specific prohibition of "backing" is at s. 157 of the Highway Traffic Act:
157 (1) No driver of a vehicle shall back the vehicle upon the roadway or shoulder of any highway divided ...
- 36.5k
26
votes
Why is drunk driving causing accident punished so much worse than just drunk driving?
Drunk driving remains, per se, "victimless" - a breach of regulations - until someone actually becomes a victim. That puts less emphasis on the punitive role of the justice system and more ...
- 1,876
24
votes
If my speedometer breaks without my knowledge, would I be responsible if I broke the speed limit by a small amount?
Yes, you would be responsible. Maintaining the vehicle in a state that enables compliance with the law is the owner's responsibility, and it is a driver's responsibility to comply with the speed limit....
- 1,274
24
votes
Accepted
Under what circumstance is it a crime if a car owner allows someone other than themself to drive their car?
TITLE XXI Section 263:1-a
263:1-a Allowing an Improper Person. – No person shall knowingly permit a motor vehicle owned or controlled by him to be driven by a person who is not properly licensed or ...
- 192k
23
votes
May I create a custom license plate myself (in Virginia) using a purchased blank plate?
Your confusion probably stems from trying to look at this issue from the wrong end. Instead of looking at the VA Code related to details of license plate forgeries, look earlier in the code for § 46....
- 331
19
votes
Accepted
Who is responsible if a customer does not specify location to taxi driver?
It could be the passenger's problem or the taxi's problem
When these sorts of breakdowns in communications happen in specifying contract terms then either or both parties can be at fault.
If the ...
- 192k
19
votes
Accepted
What does "Have you been drinking?" really mean?
Words and sentences have their ordinary meaning, unless a special meaning has been assigned by the legislature or (sort of) by the courts. The legislature may therefore specifically define "...
- 206k
17
votes
Accepted
Can a new driver legally drive themselves while waiting for their license card to be mailed to them?
No, she cannot
42-2-101(3), C.R.S. provides:
“No person shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless such person has in his or her immediate possession a current driver’s or ...
- 9,225
15
votes
Meter maid in San Francisco blocks the way, and issues the parking ticket while the driver is present
The California Vehicle Code defines parking as:
“Park or parking” shall mean the standing of a vehicle, whether
occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and
while actually ...
- 206k
14
votes
Age you have to be to drive with a disabled parent
united-states
Possibly, depends on the state. Texas law allows early drivers licenses under this circumstance, though there is an age requirement (15 years). California allows such a license for 14 ...
- 206k
14
votes
Accepted
Why is place of birth shown on European driving licences?
The document 2003/0252 (COD) provides background discussion of rationale for an earlier version of the regulation. Two important considerations regarding the EU licensing scheme are underscored: the ...
- 206k
13
votes
Flashing the emergency lights at a vehicle to dim the headlights
In Texas, there is actually precedent specifically stating that failure to dim lights is cause to pull you over. From State v. McCray, 986 S.W.2d 259 (1998) (emphasis mine):
On November 15, 1997, ...
- 7,007
13
votes
Accepted
Virginia right turn arrow street markings
virginia
Virginia Driver's Manual, section 2 on page 11 states:
White lane arrows are curved or straight. If you are in a lane marked
with a curved arrow or a curved arrow and the word ONLY, you must ...
- 1,275
12
votes
How should turn lane pavement markings be interpreted in Idaho?
The "definition" of diagonal crosshatches is given in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, under §3B.24, which says:
Option: 01 Chevron and diagonal crosshatch markings may be ...
- 206k
10
votes
Accepted
Parking Ticket while parked in our driveway
I'm assuming you are talking about something like this
You didn't specify where you live, but in many places it is illegal to block the sidewalk with a car. I just looked up my local ordinances and ...
- 429
10
votes
Accepted
How to stop an alcoholic from driving?
Is there anything I can do so that the authorities investigate and revoke his privilege of driving a car?
Yes. Next time he drinks and gets behind the wheel, call the police and tell them that you ...
- 575
10
votes
Being charged with driving while impaired, in the state of Minnesota? While prescribed desoxyn
Assuming you mean methamphetamine, then the answer is no. It is illegal to drive with any amount of methamphetamine in one's body.
The main Minnesota law on driving while impaired (DWI) is Section ...
- 28.6k
10
votes
Accepted
No Blinker in a Left Turn Lane: Is It Illegal?
It's legal
The Ohio Court of Appeals has addressed a nearly identical situation in State v. Paseka.
The relevant law is, as you noted in the question, R.C. 4511.39, which states, in relevant part:
No ...
- 10.2k
10
votes
DUI question with keyless ignition
Pennsylvania is one state sometimes cited as having such a law, but the law does not refer to "keys in the ignition", instead,
An individual may not drive, operate or be in actual physical ...
- 206k
9
votes
If my speedometer breaks without my knowledge, would I be responsible if I broke the speed limit by a small amount?
This varies widely depending on the jurisdiction, but you'll often see speeding tickets downgraded to a non-moving offense like "improper equipment" when the speedometer is broken.
You'd ...
- 6,049
9
votes
Do I need a physical address to get a driver's license?
While Colorado does issue driver's licenses to homeless individuals, as you identified in your question, you need the help of a homeless shelter. I can see from your questions that you're reluctant to ...
- 1,721
9
votes
Flashing the emergency lights at a vehicle to dim the headlights
england-and-wales
In the UK, driving with full beam headlights left on (especially while facing oncoming traffic) would be more than enough to justify a police stop, since the driver is breaching the ...
- 3,926
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