One of the most dreaded noises that a motor vehicle can hear is the sound of a police siren pulling you over. Was I speeding? Are my headlights on? Did I make an illegal turn? These are just a few of the questions that might be running through your head the minute you pull over. It can be a huge inconvenience to find out that the reason you have been stopped is because of an equipment violation, or the law has noticed some part of your car that needs fixing. While most cases end with just a mere citation or “fix-it” ticket, it can still be frustrating to have to confront the issue with a fine. Here are the top reasons a police officer might pull you over due to the condition of your car, and what you can do to avoid getting pulled over for these reasons in the future.
A Cracked Windshield
One of the most common things police see that entices them to pull people over is for a cracked or broken windshield. Keep in mind that the crack or damage to the window has to be an obstruction to your view in order for it to technically be a violation, however it should be taken care of before it becomes a bigger issue. In most cases, the police officer will just write you a citation in which you will have to get it changed or fixed within a certain amount of time to avoid fines.
Dead Head and Tail Lights
This is another popular citation for the police department to hand out, and each year many people are pulled over for head and taillights that have dead bulbs. This can be a tricky one to spot sometimes, especially with the taillights, because it can be hard to notice that they are no longer working until someone tells us otherwise. It is a good idea to check and see if your lights are working properly on a regular basis in order to avoid getting pulled over, however they are usually pretty cheap to replace.
License Plate Light
Every car made in the last couple of decades has license plate lights. These are located above, beneath or beside your license plates to display your plate number during the darker hours. While it might not seem like a big deal, this is a violation that many police officers insist on enforcing because they need to be able to identify you any time you are driving. This is another tough one to keep track of since it is unlikely to be in your line of sight, but most replacement bulbs only cost around $5. Regularly checking to see if your license plate light is functioning properly is a good way to avoid getting this citation.
A Loud Exhaust
Believe it or not, in some states police officers have been known to pull people over due to having a loud exhaust pipe on their cars. According to the laws in those states, having a car that loud is a disturbance to the peace and needs to be modified. One way you can fix this issue or avoid getting pulled over for it is to replace your exhaust pipe of purchase a muffler, which can be at a relatively decent cost depending on where you go to get the parts.
Written by Marc Laferierre, owner of Dents Unlimited. Dents Unlimited has the best auto repair Columbia MO has to offer, where their expert staff can get your car back on the road in no time.
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