Canadian Citizens and Traffic Tickets in the US

By Amy Nutt

As in Canada, The United States traffic laws must be obeyed. Most traffic laws that Canadians tend to violate are speeding tickets and parking violations. When Canadians drive in the US, they should be aware of how the traffic ticket system works.

When it comes to speeding tickets, fines can vary because many states determine the amount of the fine based on how many miles per hour the driver was driving above the speed limit. The faster you are traveling, the higher the fine. Many US states have a higher maximum speed limit than in Canada. Many U.S. highways have a maximum speed limit of 65 mph and in some as high as 70 mph. When you sign a traffic violation ticket such as a speeding ticket, you are acknowledging that you are going to appear in court. If you do not appear at the scheduled court session time and return to Canada, you can be held in contempt of court. The court can then place a bench warrant for your arrest. If you ever re-enter that state where you have been alleged to have committed the traffic offence, you can be arrested.

The speeding ticket system is different in the US than in Canada. For instance, if you are driving in a state such as New York, and are stopped by a police officer, you will be issued what is known as a Uniform Traffic Ticket. This ticket will display the date of offense, time of offense, place of offense, as well as a description of the alleged violation. You must appear in the court where the alleged traffic violation occurred. You will then enter either a plea of guilty or not guilty. You must appear in person at your trial. If you plead guilty, the judge will assess your fine based on the type of traffic violation.

If you are driving a rental car and receive a traffic ticket such as a parking fine, the car rental agency will have to pay it, but they will charge the fine to your credit card. If you are driving your own car and receive a ticket, you may have demerit points placed against you drivers license, especially if the state and the province in which you live share an agreement. If you ignore any type of traffic violation, the state has the right to issue a warrant for your arrest. You can be arrested if you return to the United States.

When it comes to demerit points, nearly all insurance companies will increase insurance premium rates if a driver receives a major traffic violation that results in 4+ points. The best way for drivers to avoid demerit points from being applied to their record is to maintain a clean driving record in both Canada and the United States is to maintain a clean driving record when traveling within both Canada and the United States. It will also avoid any future criminal charges and an increase in auto insurance premiums. - 21396

About the Author:

Avoid demerit points on your next traffic ticket Toronto. A criminal lawyer Torontor can help you with your drunk driving Toronto case. Also provides commercial vehicle safety training to ensure a safe and excellent driving record.

Confessions Of A Car Technician - The Inside Story

By Rand Stuck

By the time we arrive at the legal driving age, people more experiences than us, have encouraged us to imbibe three key lessons: Number 1: Fasten your seat belt. Number 2: Avoid rush driving. Number 3: It is better not to rely on your auto mechanic.

A few days ago I met with an auto mechanic who agreed to provide me with some honest revelations regarding the car repair industry in return for a little privacy. "Max, that's what we call him, has experience of more than 30 years in the car repair industry.

Max admits that even though the auto industry has been mending its ways, there are still some errant mechanics who replace used parts in peoples cars and sell them as new.

I would say years ago, it was more pars for the course. I would say it happened about 40 percent of the time, he said. Today, I would say it probably happens a whole heck of a lot less. You're probably looking at about 10 to 7 percent margin, but it does still happen.

Shady Auto Mechanics and their activities

Max has couple of things to suggest as you search for a good car repair shop. The first one is the appropriate Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification from places as AC Delco, Ford Motor Company or Bendix. "While ASE certification does not indicate that they're really good, it does indicate that the technicians go on their own time, or the business has given them the incentive to study, to take the course and go and show their skills are worthy of certification." (Ed. Note: ASE is an independent and non-profit organization founded in 1972.

Max also requests to notice that a car repair shop holds correct equipment (Such as a proper tire mounting machine with rubber mounts that hardly scratch your wheels or an alliance rack with laser capacity) for better performance. "I want to make sure they have the proper diagnostic equipment. A shop that has invested in the proper equipment to service today's automobiles is usually a shop that you can trust, because they are not going to buy that expensive equipment and then have people who are not qualified to use it."

Max also advises a good organized car repair shop. Max states, "I'm looking for a clean shop. I don't want to see Jake the Junkyard Dog chained in the office. I don't want to see a lot of dirt around the place. It shouldn't look like it's going to be condemned by the health department".

Max says, in addition to a car repair shop's hygiene, the fee for car repairs ought to be visibly posted, and they must all the time inform you proper car repair estimation prior to any work. You must be able to find a few helpful advices regarding the car repair shop. If it is recommended by an auto-mechanic, then confirm it. He says, "Well I go there because my father's cousin's grandfather used to work there and they're really nice and they make a good cup of coffee," he said. "It's got to be better than that, they've got to have a track record of good quality repair."

Old ladies should stay alert to avoid getting conned

Due to his thirty years of experience, Max is well aware of several car repair shop scenarios that would convince a person to get the car repaired. Max informed me about a situation where an assistant used a shocking method to convince an old woman to get her car repaired. Max passed on the waiting room discussion between Mrs. M and the auto mechanic.

Mechanic: Mrs. G., what street do you live on?

Elderly Woman: I live on Main Street.

Mechanic: I live on that street. When do you come home in the evening?

Elderly Woman: Oh, about 4 o'clock.

Mechanic: Good. Then I'll know when to tell my kids to get off the street because I shudder to think of you driving down the street in this car with my children playing in the street because you're driving a death trap and it could kill them.

"Well needless to say the poor little old lady, just shy of a heart attack, started crying and saying, 'Just do it, fix it, do whatever you have to do!' And this is the type of tactic this guy used." Although Max said these situations don't happen as often as they use to, but there are instances where mechanics use such unscrupulous tactics.

Straight Questions

30 years is a long time for Max to have been in quite a few situations which can be termed annoying. I asked him about few things that customers do which gets to him and pat came the reply, People who are shopping auto repair prices.

A hypothetical situation Max explained it with: people call up now and then inquiring about the cost for a tune-up, when in reality they don't have a slightest idea what is wrong with their car. The symptoms they specify over the phone require a different treatment. They are generally terrified of diagnostics test which is expensive so they don't like to pay for it. Max says that this test is time and money well spent. You're paying for a skilled technician to take an hours worth of labor to diagnose your vehicle with the proper computer scan tools to determine where your drivability problem is.

Can you make me a deal?

Max finds some conversations with certain customers very unpleasant. Can you make me a deal? is another question from the customers that annoys Max the most. This does not mean that he does not help those who are really in need of help and are not just out to score a discount.

For example, he would go out of his way to help out a pregnant woman with two kids and car trouble and not enough money to fix it. Max told me, I'm going to the ends of the Earth, to the gates of hell for that woman to get that car running as reasonably as I possibly can and still maintain a profit for my business." He insists that his business is not a charitable organization even while lending a helping hand to people who are in dire need of fixing their cars but are unable to pay the required amount."I don't wear a white collar and consequently, I can't stay in business if I give away everything I do."

Trust " an ingredient for loyalty

Max appreciates the customers who rely on him. He had a client couple of years ago who would just deliver his car and ask Max to take care of the repair. He barely cared about the cost and never made any telephone call. He purely believed Max as his auto mechanic to find his car running again. "And I never breached that trust," Max said.

In return for the trust placed in him, Max tries to adjust his booked schedule to squeeze these customers in and let them out the same day. "I took care of him. Did I give him a discount? No ... did I do everything I could to get him back on the road as quickly as possible? You're damn right I did. And I did it over, say the guy who came in an hour before and said, 'Can you make me a deal? - 21396

About the Author:

Rand Stuck is a BMW master technician with over 12 years of experience. He currently manages the online parts department of a BMW performance parts retailer. You can find additional information on car repair and BMW OEM parts at AutoWerks.

The Most Inexpensive Cars To Insure

By Amy Nutt

With many concerns about the economy and the like, people are desperately looking for more ways for them to save as much money as possible. Especially with rising gas prices, and just about everything else, there is a dire need for people to save just about every red cent. Food is getting more expensive, and there are also things to think about such as healthcare, and the like.

Cars are something that we all need, and insurance is another thing that we need to legally to keep our cars on the road, and us out of trouble. The thing is that many of these cars are pretty expensive to insure, and since we have a lot of other expenses in our everyday lives, it can be quite troublesome to balance everything and still keep us on the road. The car is something that is invaluable, as it takes it to and from work. So, for those who need the knowledge of some of the most inexpensive cars to insure, this may come in handy.

Hyundai Sante Fe. This vehicle is something that is quite popular in a lot of the countries in the world, and it is probably one of the least expensive cars to keep on the road, as far as insurance goes. On average, this sport utility vehicle comes in at about $830 a year.

Saturn Vue. This is a car that is also quite popular and affordable. With its sleek design that is gaining more and more attention, it's no wonder why people are finding that this is a great choice in a car. On average, this vehicle is about $910 a year to insure.

Kia Sportage. This vehicle is something that is quite trendy; it's another one of the smaller sports utility vehicles. At around $840 a year, it only ranks second to the Santa Fe in the realm of the smaller SUVs.

Saturn Ion. The Ion is also an amazing car to insure, and one that also looks quite attractive. Although this may be a little more than the other cars on the list, people are also finding out that this is also quite affordable in most cases. At around $1,120 as its annual premium along with attractive looks, this is definitely one still to consider.

Mazda 3. As the owner of a Mazda will tell you, the company really does make some impressive looking cars. They are also some of the cheapest as well, and that also goes for the insurance rates as well. With an annual premium of about $1,150, it is also one of the more expensive vehicles on the list, but it is still something that is quite affordable for this sleekly designed vehicle.

There are many cars that are quite cheap to insure, and these are definitely some of the cheapest that are available. People that are looking to save a little money should really look into purchasing some of these vehicles, as they are some of the best on the road, as well. With their sleek designs and new age technology, it makes them something that many people should really not pass up. - 21396

About the Author:

Sometimes, looking for the best car insurance quotes involves starting off with the right vehicle. After that, finding auto insurance online becomes more stress-free.

Careless Driving Law in Ontario

By Amy Nutt

In Ontario, careless driving laws involve strict and serious enforcement. Although a common offence, careless driving infractions can have serious consequences if a driver is convicted of a particular offence. It is important to be aware of the ramifications if you are convicted of a careless driving violation.

Careless Driving as outlined in the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) states:

"130. Every person is guilty of the offence of driving carelessly who drives a vehicle or street car on a highway without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and in addition his or her license or permit may be suspended for a period of not more than two years. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 130."

Penalties in Ontario can include "6 Demerit Points, fine not less than $200 and not more than $1000, imprisonment for a period of not more than 6 months. The Drivers license may also be suspended for a period of up to 2 years." If a driver accrues 15 demerit points, the drivers license will be suspended.

The types of careless driving charges that a driver can receive are careless driving without a fine and careless driving with a fine.

1. Careless Driving with a fine printed on the ticket will result in 6 demerit points applied to a drivers license and a minimum fine of $325. If you receive this fine, you have the option to plead guilty, plead guilty with a reason, or plead not guilty. Six demerit points will be applied to a drivers record when pleading guilty. This will result in an increase in auto insurance premiums. One could end up paying hundreds of dollars or even thousands of dollars a year because the insurance company will consider them a high risk driver. The company may also cancel the drivers insurance policy, even if a driver has just one careless driving offence. Insurance companies have access to your driving record for the past three years, as well as the past six years for claims.

2. A Careless driving ticket without a fine attached is a summons to go to court to answer to the charges. Convictions can result in fines of up to $1000.00, jail time of up to 6 months, or a suspension of a drivers license of up to two years.

It is a serious matter when one is convicted of a careless driving offence. It can raise your insurance costs, result in a drivers license suspension, and even result in jail time. It is important to be aware of the consequences before you drive. If you do receive a careless driving ticket, you should consult with criminal lawyer Toronto so that you will know what your best options are to resolve the problem. A professional such as an attorney will be able to let you know if you should fight the charge. To avoid dealing with a careless driving charge, practice safe and careful driving techniques.

Careless driving is one of the most serious charges under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario. Make sure you take great care when you are on the road. - 21396

About the Author:

If you've been issued a traffic ticket Toronto, we can help. Our experienced team of lawyers and former police officers can provide you with legal help for drunk driving Toronto charges, speeding and other traffic offenses.

Hybrid Car Myths

By Colin Jones

If you are thinking about a hybrid car, you may be hearing quite a bit of "talk". Some people think the hybrid car is the best thing on the market. Some people say it'll just pass. Other people say they think they can save a lot of money, but you're not sure it's really worth it. What's the truth, and how do you separate myth from fact with all of the stuff that is being thrown at you? Below, you can read and understand the common hybrid car myths.

Hybrid cars are just the same as electric cars: This is not true because hybrid vehicles are fuel-powered most of the time. But they have what are called 'battery assists'. The assist is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack that is rechargeable.

You are guaranteed to economize with a hybrid car: If you are doing town driving, you may save fuel and you may not. The same goes for motorway driving. There are just too many different factors involved. It has been said that if everyone bought hybrid vehicles, the fuel consumption would drop by only 10%. That's not a very big decline, is it?

A hybrid cars battery can run out: A hybrid car's battery should not run out when you are actually driving it. The engine of a hybrid car does not idle when stopped (at a red light for example). What does it do instead then? It recharges its battery. So there's no need to worry about a hybrid car stopping on that score.

A hybrid vehicle's rechargeable battery lasts only for 2 years: A hybrid car definitely would not be worth purchasing if this was true. A hybrid vehicle's rechargeable batteries usually come with an eight-year guaranty.

If I run out of fuel, I can keep driving on the hybrid vehicle battery: Bear in mind, a hybrid car's battery is an assist. That means that hybrid car's still run on fuel. After you run out of gas, the battery may keep the car running for a little while. However, the car will stop running very soon.

Hybrid cars will soon put conventional car dealers out of business: This probably won't take place very soon. The reason for the delay has to do with the how much hybrids cost. Most people simply can't afford one. Also, people just aren't certain whether they will really save money on a hybrid car. Therefore, they are slow to join the rush of people who want to own a hybrid vehicle.

Hybrid cars will only save you about 88USD per annum: I did hear something on the news the other day, but it may not be true. If there's something you really want and there's a lot of gossip surrounding it, you simply have got to do of your own research. There are many different types of hybrid car, and many different manufacturers make them. This means that there may be much more involved than we have time to discuss here. A hybrid car may be of use to you, and it may not, but at the end of the day, is up to you.

So, please don't worry too much about what other people say. They probably have only heard other people passing on rumours. Do your own due diligence and think it out for yourself. Use the Internet to get your information. The manufacturer's literature is also quite useful, if you stick to reading the facts and skim over the hype. Check that whatever the literature claims is also in the warranty. - 21396

About the Author:

If you want to find out more about hybrid cars, you ought to go to our website where there is loads of information to help you dispel hybrid car myths