Driving Safe with Pets in the Car
This week, we celebrate National Pet Day, so in addition to giving your furry friends some extra attention, let’s go over some practices while driving with pets that will ensure their safety as well as keeping you safe from
taking traffic school.
Use a Harness
The first time you put a harness on your dog, your dog may object. However, if you make it a habit, your pets will quickly adjust to the new system, especially as the proper harness for your dog will fit comfortably and will still provide some room to move around.
Properly securing your dogs will also help protect them in the event of an accident, much in the way your seatbelt protects you. It will also prevent your dogs from jumping into your lap while you’re driving, which would cause an immediate distraction that could endanger both you and your fur babies.
The Window: Up or Down?
Everyone knows dogs love sticking their heads out the windows of moving cars, and they just look so cute and happy when they do. However, what your dog wants and what is best for your dog are not always the same thing. First, breathing in all that rushing air can be bad for your dog’s lungs. There is also the danger of debris kicked up by wind or other vehicles. Driving at 65 miles an hour, a tiny rock can make a crack in your windshield, which is made of glass meant to withstand the impact.
Your dog is not meant to withstand that impact, so the debris of the road can be a definite health hazard. Many dogs would enjoy a compromise instead. Keep the windows down an inch or two so they’ve got the fresh air coming in, but don’t roll the windows down so far they can stick their heads out.
Driving with Cats
The absolute best advice I’ve ever heard for driving with cats is DON’T. But if you absolutely must drive with your cat to somewhere farther than the vet’s office, you’ll want to take some precautions. Your cat probably hates the cat carrier, but it’s still the best tool to protect him or her while driving. Even if the inevitable ear-piercing meowing drives you crazy, the cat carrier is necessary to keep your feline friend in good health.
If you’re driving a long distance, you should also keep a small litter box in the car and allow your cat access to it whenever you stop, which should be frequently. You’ll also want to make sure your kitty has water available. Finally, be patient with your cat when the trip is over. He or she might not like you very much for a few days.
DON’T LEAVE YOUR ANIMALS IN A HOT CAR
This is fairly common knowledge at this point, but it still happens, so it still bears repeating. A car that is not running air conditioning and has the windows up on a hot day can be twenty degrees hotter than the outside temperature within 10 minutes. As a human, you wouldn’t want to be trapped in a small space at 120 degrees. Now imagine doing that in a fur coat. Every year, thousands of pets (and children) die in hot cars. This can even happen with the windows cracked if the day is hot enough.
Several states have even taken action about this issue by enacting “Good Samaritan” laws that will allow passerby to break the windows of unattended cars with dogs inside. So keep both your dog and your car safe by taking your dog with you when you leave the car, or leaving your dog at home, where it’s cool and safe.
How to Keep Your SUV Safe
SUVs are built to survive punishing roads, reckless drivers, and family road trips. Therefore, you should do everything you can to keep your SUV safe. That way it can withstand the biggest challenge: time itself! Below is a guide to keeping your sport utility vehicle as safe as possible, without locking it in your garage for the rest of eternity.
Be wary of road conditions
You don’t want to be caught off guard when you encounter strange and unusual road conditions. Whether it’s ice on a bridge or construction detours, always be cautious of the roads you drive on. Also, never underestimate the relentless, destructive power of a single pot hole.
Check your brakes
Brakes are – arguably – one of the most important features of an SUV. They can prevent you from driving through your garage or plunging off the side of a cliff. Routinely check your brakes and replace them if they’re bad. Knowing your SUV is safe will give your conscious a much-needed break.
Know the weather forecast
You don’t need to be a meteorologist to drive your SUV. But, it couldn’t hurt! Checking the forecast for storms, snow, acid rain, or fog, before you leave your home can mentally prepare you to drive in extreme weather conditions. The last thing you want is to be caught outside in acid rain without an umbrella!
Keep a spare tire
Always keep a spare tire in your SUV. In the instance you blow out a tire on the road, you will always have a back-up to keep you from being stranded. Also, something you should add to your repertoire: learn how to change a tire!
Lock your SUV
Locking your SUV is a quick and simple way to ensure its safety when parked. Just like your front door, keeping it locked-up will keep people locked-out. It’s hard to steal an SUV from the outside.
Use a turn signal
You may know this from acing your online traffic school course, but using turn signals is the best means of communication with fellow drivers. However, turn signals often are the car’s most underutilized feature. They’re the most important way two drivers can communicate – outside of giving each other the middle finger.
Don’t Rage
While driving, never let yourself fall into a fury that makes Mad Max jealous. Staying cool behind the wheel is just as important to your SUV’s safety as it is to other’s safety. It could feel cathartic to rear-end the person who just cut you off, but the ones that suffer will be your SUV and your driving record.
Know where you’re going
Always know where you’re going. You can drive the same route to work every day or map your road trip in advance with a GPS. When you know where you’re going, you will have a better idea of what to expect. This is also helpful advice for living your life.
Headlights and brake lights are important
Double check those headlights and brake lights with a friend before long road trips. Broken lights make it difficult for other drivers to see you. More importantly, it’s a reason to get pulled over by the police. Driving without lights isn’t a bright decision.
Keep an emergency kit
First aid kit, flashlight, road flares, blanket, and a gallon of water is a recommendation of what to include in your emergency kit. Being prepared for the worst is always the smart decision. Accidents are unpredictable and can happen anytime and anywhere, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared for them.
What to Do When Your Car Gets Trapped
Loving your car is one thing but being buried alive as it sinks in quicksand is another. When you’re traveling on tough terrain, you can run the risk of getting your car stuck in anything. When your car gets trapped in snow, mud, or a bayou it can cause serious damage to your vehicle and your self-esteem.
We’ve compiled a guide to aide you whenever you’re stuck in a sticky – or snowy – situation. Following the guide below, will help you escape any entrapment – except for quicksand. You’ll need a whip and a low hanging branch to get yourself out of quicksand.
Remain Calm
A trapped car can launch you into panic mode. Even more of a panic than trying to pass your online traffic school course. Keeping calm helps you make smart, rational decisions without the frenzy of being in panic mode. You want to stay cool, like the snow you might be trapped in.
Keep the Tires Straight
When you’re stuck in mud or snow, you can make your escape easier by keeping your tires straight. Twisting your wheels back and forth will cause your car to sink deeper, which will make it a challenge to become unstuck. The more you move, the worst it gets. Yes, we’re getting all our advice from watching movies about quicksand.
Clear the Exhaust Pipe of Debris
By clearing the exhaust pipe of debris, you can prevent engine fumes from filling up your car. We don’t need to tell you the repercussion of a car full of exhaust. But, it’s your death. The repercussion is your death, because there is too much carbon monoxide.
Light Your Car on Fire
If your car is trapped, one quick way to get it unstuck is lighting it on fire. The billowing smoke from your car’s raging fire should alert nearby emergency personnel, which will lead them to aid you. When they see the scorched remains of your car, they will assist with calling a tow-truck. It’s the perfect plan.
Life Hack: Use Your Floor Mats as Leverage
One quick and simple life hack tool, to help you escape the perils of being trapped in mud or snow, are the floor mats in your car. When your wheels are spinning, but you’re not going anywhere, you need more friction. Placing a floor mat under your wheels can supply enough friction to leave your trap.
Accelerate Slowly
Accelerating slowly helps you gain some much-needed traction. Your first reaction to becoming trapped is to peel your way out. However, that’s one of the worst things you can do in this situation. Calmly place your foot on the gas and let your car build up traction to escape. Bonus points if you get your friend to push the car while you do it.
Get a Chain and Big Truck
If you got a friend with a big truck, a chain, and, potentially, a red neck, then give them a call. Getting help from someone else is extremely beneficial, such as a tow truck, an emergency personnel, or your friend who just installed semi-truck wheels on their pickup. We’re not yanking your chain, but your buddy might, because they want to help you get unstuck.
Be Prepared for the Worst
Always be prepared for the worst situation possible. Keep snacks, bottled water, first aid kits, and blankets in your car in case you are ever trapped and can’t get out. Whether you’re caught in an avalanche, stuck in a bayou, or slowly sinking in a quicksand, having a preparation kit can help make the situation better. You don’t want to be stranded in a quicksand without a granola bar!
Beaumont, Texas Traffic VS Houston, Texas Traffic
Every Texan knows the horrendous stories of driving around Beaumont, Texas or Houston, Texas. The terrifying road conditions and gridlock traffic would leave anyone turning in their sleep. Moreover, when two cities in Texas are similar, in whatever way possible, they must duke it out to discover who’s the best.
In this case, which city is the best at having the worst traffic: Beaumont, Texas or Houston, Texas? To answer this perplexing question, we have to weigh the contributions to traffic build up. Below is your guide on which city has the worst traffic conditions in Texas.
Beaumont, Texas Traffic
Rush Hour
Rush Hour traffic is a plague on the idea of a timely arrival. For several hours in a day, the roads of Beaumont fill up with anxious drivers leaving for work or speeding home. Between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM, Beaumont experiences high volumes of traffic, because, apparently, a lot of people work the ol’ 9 to 5 grind.
Traffic Accidents
Traffic Accidents can cause major congestion and worsen peak busy hours. In 2014, Beaumont experienced nearly 642 traffic accidents. It could have been less, but people didn’t enroll in their Texas online defensive driving course. With statistics like this, the biggest accident is choosing to drive in the city.
Road Conditions
Road Conditions can bring traffic to a screeching halt. Whether there’s hindering construction, or you drive over a camouflaged pothole that destroys your tires, the condition of the road contributes greatly to the flow of traffic. Beaumont receives countless complaints of the poor road conditions and not enough on the lack of Whataburgers.
Speed Traps
Speed Traps will ruin anyone’s day. Getting slapped with a speeding ticket will force you to cough up hundreds of dollars. It will also make getting through traffic worse. Littered along I-10 are traps set to catch anyone exceeding the speed limit. Drive the speed limit or break your wallet’s limit.
Houston, Texas Traffic
Rush Hour
Rush Hour is expected in large cities. What isn’t expected is how much longer it lasts in Houston than it does in smaller cities, like Beaumont. From 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the city of Houston experiences massive delays in traffic, because of car congestion from busy commuters. Rush hour is longer in the evening, because Houston has a great selection of Whataburgers.
Downtown Traffic
Downtown Traffic is a whole other story. When rush hour stops everywhere else, downtown traffic continues to persevere. Instead of calling it “rush hour,” in downtown Houston, they just call it “rush forever.”
Road Conditions
Road Conditions in Houston are… not the worst. Despite the massive number of commuters, the infrastructure around Space City is in pretty good condition. However, that doesn’t account for road construction, which adds time to anyone’s commute.
Speed Traps
Speed Traps are set up around the city. Except trapping season is all year long. Specifically, police like to target highways when setting up a speed trap. This is to catch people running late for work or trying to get home in a hurry. If you have a honey butter chicken biscuit from Whataburger in your passenger seat, who wouldn’t be in a hurry.
It’s hard to compare the two cities. However, when it comes to traffic, they both have a notorious reputation. The only true way to discover which city has the worst traffic is by visiting the areas. Except we’ve been checking the traffic radar for downtown Houston all day and it’s STILL considered rush hour.
Which States Don’t Allow You to Pump Your Own Gas
The subtle art of being ridiculously lazy is challenging for some people. Not for you, because you have dedicated your life to being comatose. You’re not one of those normal functioning people. That’s why you can’t be bothered to perform mundane tasks. But, there’s just some responsibilities you can’t escape – like pumping your own gas.
Why can’t you live in a state where people do work for you? How can you be lazy, if you don’t have the cornerstone of all laziness? Why do YOU have to pump YOUR gas? These are questions that any logical – and lethargic – person would ask themselves. That’s why we’ve compiled the most extensive list of states and cities that will pump your gas for you. These are the last remaining U.S. locations that understand your mission to be carelessly lackadaisical.
New Jersey
Also known as the “mecca of full service gas retailers,” New Jersey is most notably recognized for having gas station pump attendants. In 1949, congress passed a statute titled the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act, which prohibited gas retail customers from pumping their own gas. To this day, New Jersey is the lone state that maintains this law, and requires a professional to pump your car’s gasoline.
When you’re caught violating this law, you could experience some pricey consequences. People who break the 1949 statute will be fined $50 to $250, and up to $500 for any proceeding offenses. If you thought gas prices were expensive, then you haven’t been caught pumping your own gas in New Jersey. There is good news for New Jersey drivers! You can save a lot of money, hundreds each year, on car insurance by taking a NJ Defensive Driving course!
Oregon
An honorable mention should be given to the ex-lazy state of Oregon. Recently, Oregon passed a law that gives customers the right to pump their own gas. This is bad news for the state’s professionally exhausted people. If you wanted to do actual work, you wouldn’t have taken online traffic school courses, or bought that text to speech converter so you could listen instead of reading this article.
Despite these challenging times, there’s an apathetic light at the end of the tunnel. The law only takes effect on counties with population less than 40,000 residents. In other words, densely populated regions of the state will still have their full-service pumps. This means Portland will become the west coast home for all lazy drivers. For the un-lazy, you can take a quick and easy OR Auto Insurance discount course.
Huntington, New York
Just like a pond of freshwater in a scathing desert wasteland, Huntington, New York is a lazy oasis in the bustling state of New York. Huntington escaped the thwarting grasps of responsibility and allows full-service gas retailers in the city. The reason why this old law is still around is a bit foggy, but we know the real reason. The city is just a proponent of putting in the least amount of effort as possible.
During the 1980’s, fire safety became a major concern for the Huntington Fire Department. Pumping your own gasoline was believed to be a fire hazard. Therefore, not long after, Huntington passed a city-wide regulation that would require gas retailers to offer full-service pumps. Any driver who is caught fueling their own vehicle would experience the repercussions of heavy fine payments. It doesn’t matter what NY city you live in to take advantage of the mandated 3-year savings you’ll receive when completing a NY Defensive Driving Course. Check it out now.
Whether you’re living in the west coast or the east coast, there’s plenty of opportunity to exert your laziness. If these states or cities aren’t nearby, then consider hiring your own personal gas station attendant, because being lazy is an often-overlooked bliss.
How to Protect Your Car from Car Theft
Chances are your livelihood is your car. This might be especially true if you live in a Californian metropolitan area. Therefore, experiencing car theft could leave a devastating impact on your life. With something so precious, it makes sense to take the necessary precautions to protect your vehicle.
Now that you’ve passed the best traffic school online, you may want to drive the extra mile to protect your vehicle. You can learn how to protect your car from theft by following the guide below.
Purchase an anti-theft system
Steering wheel locks, tire locks, kill switches, and electronic immobilizers are a few of the anti-theft systems for cars. There are hundreds of anti-theft system brands to choose from. You can even make your friends think you’re a hit-man if you tell them you have a kill switch.
Don’t leave your keys in the ignition
This sounds obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Leaving your keys in the ignition makes stealing your car easy. You want to save time by leaving the keys in the ignition, but this method turns you into a giant target for theft. Unless your R. Kelly, keep your keys with you.
Let a bobcat live in your car
Letting a bobcat live in your car is a lesser known anti-theft protection system. Bobcats, also known as the Lynx Rufus, are members of the giant cat family. This means they’re extremely territorial. With one glance at the bobcat in the back seat, car thieves will know not to steal your car. Be sure to crack a window and leave out small rodents, as that’s their preferred diet.
Keep your car locked
We all wish we can trust others, but we can’t in today’s car theft infested world. Keeping your car doors locked is a small way to crack down on thefts. A simple barrier goes a long way when protecting your car.
Avoid leaving valuables in eyesight
Whether it’s your brand-new laptop computer or a Lou Bega album, keeping your most valuable possessions out of sight will deter thieves from breaking into your car. If someone catches a glimpse at something valuable, they could steal it… or your car.
Drive an undesirable car
Nobody wants to steal a car that looks ugly. Next time you’re purchasing a car, look for the ugliest piece of metal you can lay your eyes on. You’ll get extra protection points if the car has a vibrant green and yellow color.
Park in well-lit areas
Well-lit areas are the bane of car thieves’ existence. Most thefts happen in areas that are dimly lit to decrease chances of being seen. Always look for areas that very well lit. It’s like a spotlight for your car.
Paint “Look at me, I’m a dumb idiot!” into the side of your car
Nothing will embarrass a car thief more than driving a car that says, “Look at me, I’m a dumb idiot.” Car thieves care a lot about what other people think of them. That’s why embarrassing a thief by painting “look at me, I’m a dumb idiot” will keep anyone from stealing your car.
Don’t leave the car unattended and running
If you’re running into the store for a moment, keeping your car running while unattended is a dangerous decision. In those split moments, anyone could walk by and steal your car. Even if you have a bobcat in the back seat.
By following the guide above, you won’t just be a defensive driver, but a defensive car owner too.
Riding With Uber From Your Uber Driver’s Perspective
Is your car in the shop, but you need to get to work? Do you want to party into the wee hours of the morning then get home safely? Is your license suspended until you complete your
online traffic school? Is owning a car just unfeasible for you right now? If the answer to any of those is yes, you’re probably already familiar with ride-sharing companies, the biggest of which is Uber.
Easy to Apply
For those new to this idea, or those who have just been devoted to taxis their whole lives, Uber is the company that is putting taxis out of business. Their prices are usually cheaper because the drivers are using their own cars, and in most states, just about anyone can become an Uber driver with minimal effort. In fact, when I signed up almost five years ago, I simply filled out a very quick and simple form online, with just enough details for Uber to run a background check. One week later, I was on the road making money! I only had to go through a half an hour of online training without ever talking to another human being.
If you’re not comforted by how easy it is to become an Uber driver, you’re not alone. However, let me assure you, the sign-up process is the last easy thing about being an Uber driver. The hours are long, and the pay is far from guaranteed. In fact, once you factor in depreciation and all the extra gas, maintenance, and car washes, the driver is really only making pocket change. Also, because what the driver makes is a percentage of the total cost of the ride, every time Uber drops the prices for the customers, it’s a pay cut for the drivers. In other words, if your driver is grouchy, it’s not without cause.
However, there are a few things riders can do to ensure a smooth ride and a happier driver. Remember, drivers must rate their riders, and your rating can affect how quickly you get picked up next time you call, so try to remain on their good side!
Be on Time
Time is money, and your driver is not getting paid until you’re in the car. And here’s a fun fact not many people know: if you take a very short ride with Uber, your driver gets about $2.40 after Uber takes their cut. However, if you don’t show up after the driver has waited the required five minutes, your driver cancels the ride and collects the cancellation fee, which nets them a whole $4.
This means that if you made your driver wait four minutes and then took a short ride with the minimum fare, your driver would have made more money had you taken another minute and they’d cancelled. If your driver is already having a bad day, they’re not going to give you a good rating at that point.
The AUX Cord
Maybe you’re taking a longer ride and want to enjoy some music. That’s totally understandable. I highly recommend headphones. If you want it to play through the car’s speakers, you’re going to have to ask your driver to use their AUX (or auxiliary) cord. This is a question that fills drivers with a sense of overwhelming dread. At the end of the day, not everyone likes the same music. If you demand the AUX cord and then put on music your driver doesn’t like, I can guarantee you’re not getting five stars.
Even though I consider my music taste to be eclectic, after three years of listening to other people’s music, I was handing out one-star ratings like candy. Eventually I tried to negotiate with the riders, politely saying something along the lines of, “Yes, I have an AUX cord, but please, for the sake of my head not exploding, I beg you to put on anything but [whatever music genre I was avoiding that day].” The riders would sometimes comply (five stars!) and sometimes put on that genre seemingly just for spite (one star!). After enough bad experiences, I’d just lie and say the cord was broken.
Luckily, there’s a simple fix for this one: talk to your driver. Most of them would probably also like to have music on. There are countless genres of music out there. With a simple conversation, you and your driver are bound to find at least one genre of music that you enjoy and that doesn’t make your driver want to jump out of the moving car.
Don’t Throw Up
This one should be a no-brainer, but somehow it still happens enough that it needs to be said. Not only will you be charged a cleaning fee that can range from $50 to $200, but your driver will lose all wages for the rest of the night because their car will be out of commission until it’s cleaned. Even the most compassionate driver is still going to give a one-star rating to someone who pukes in their car. In fact, even someone who looks like they might puke is likely to earn a low rating (I’d usually give two or three stars) because of the tension the driver feels as they pray the rider can make it just a couple more blocks and out of their car before the inevitable explosion.
Tip
Apart from hurling, there’s not much bad behavior a cash tip won’t make up for. Just recently Uber has allowed tipping through the app, and it’s highly likely the driver won’t see that you tipped them until long after they’ve rated your ride. Even if you end your ride by saying, “I’ll tip you, I promise,” your Uber driver is tired and has been lied to many times.
If you like to listen to a specific artist that the driver might not like, or if you’re going to be riding with friends and you don’t want one of them to badly affect your rating, carry cash. A couple bucks, maybe $5 on a long ride, will absolutely guarantee your driver remains content and will not post a story about you on one of our secret rideshare driver forums.
Follow these guidelines, and your driver will be happier, and your ride will be less of a chore for both of you. Check back next week to learn some things Uber will never tell you about the rating system!
How Much Do You Save with Costco Travel?
Let’s face it; we are a scam-paranoid bunch of consumers. And rightly, so. This is especially true since scammers are mastering the art of appearing like legitimate companies offering legitimate deals. Those buying a car have to walk a tightrope through the entire purchasing process, so as not to drive off the lot feeling emotionally nauseous. Such is the case with the now well-known Costco Travel Auto Program.
While it has received national acclaim for being able to save you money while buying a car, many a consumer has added it to their blacklist. Let’s take a closer look at the Costco Travel Auto Program so that you can determine if it’s right for you.
Costco’s Mega Auto Savings Claims
Visit the Costco Travel website, and you’ll see that they make some bold claims on how their program can work in your favor. Up front, here’s what they offer:
• Low, prearranged Costco member pricing
• All available national manufacturer incentives
• More than 3,000 hand-selected dealerships nationwide
• Trained Authorized Dealer Contacts to serve you
• Smooth, seamless buying experience
On the outset, it sounds like a great deal. After all, who wouldn’t want low member pricing, incentives, instant access to dealerships, trained experts, and the most accessible buying experience ever? You sign up for the program. You get to choose the vehicle make and model you want. Costco refers you to a local dealer and then you experience a no-hassle purchase with all the bells and whistles.
Some Red Flags with the Savings Plan
Do some digging around on the web, however, and you’re likely to find a plethora of problems that customers have reported in either trying to understand the program or apply to a recent purchase. Some of the reports include the following:
• The program doesn’t keep car sales associates from pressuring you into buying a car.
• Costco’s price and the dealership bottom line price often does not line up.
• The customer service is horrid, as customers complain of no-return phone calls and emails.
• Costco does not control the underlying sticker price on the car.
It seems that the bottom line on the bottom line is that there is a chasm far and wide between how much money Costco can save you and how much you can talk the car salesman down to before you sign the papers.
How to Effectively and Accurately Determine Savings with Costco
So now we’re back to the original question: how much money can you save with Costco? As the adage goes, “There’s only one way to find out.”
Here’s what you do:
First, call Costco. Don’t email the company or send a message on their contact page. Pick up the phone and talk to a warm body. Tell the Trained Authorized Dealer what you are looking for and then ask him or her how much money the Auto Savings Program will save you. Do not hang up until you get an actual numerical estimate. Then call your local dealership and ask the salesman the same thing.
Careful, the salesperson’s job is to convince you to visit the dealership. But stand your ground and be firm. Do not hang up until the person on the other end of the line gives you a quote. From there you can make an informed decision if Costco’s savings plan is worth it. The good news is that you can save anywhere from $2,000-$5,000 on a car by using the program.
Is the Savings Plan a scam? Probably not. Will it save you money? Probably. Should you do your homework first before committing? Absolutely!
Sign Up for Florida Online Traffic School
If you are looking for an online traffic school, then contact Improv today. We provide a wide range of courses and resources for traffic education and testing. To find out more, contact us at 800-660-8908, or you can chat live with one of our testing experts!
Kentucky Traffic Cameras
You’ve seen them when passing through intersections and strung alongside the road. No, we’re not talking about the wild turkeys rampantly running around in Kentucky. We’re talking about traffic cameras.
When you’re stopped at a traffic light, you see them. You might wonder if they actually work or not – even recalling a story about a friend who sped through a red light and nothing happened. You need better friends. Surely, they must be a scare tactic to keep drivers from speeding or running red lights.
Traffic cameras are alive and well. They enforce the rules of the road when drivers break them. We’re dispelling the myths behind the notorious Kentucky traffic cameras and telling you everything you need to know about them.
Traffic Cameras
You see them scattered along major roads and intersections. Part of the intelligent transportation system, the equipment are smart devices that operate remotely. Despite sounding like something out of a spy film, traffic cameras are common devices part of everyday life.
In short, yes, they work. Traffic cameras help enforce the speed limit and prevent drivers from running red lights at intersections. Using sensors located in the front of the camera, they predict the vehicle’s speed limit while approaching the red light. The cameras have scanners that track the speed of your car and inform the camera when to record if you’re driving too fast.
When running the red light, the traffic cameras will record the movement of your vehicle and snap a photo of you. This is where the notable bright flash of light comes from when you’re speeding through the intersection. Contrary to your belief that it’s a white flash of euphoria from a dopamine release because you broke the law.
Receiving a Traffic Ticket
After your vehicle information is recorded by the traffic camera, the data is sent to a 3rd party to be reviewed. While here, support will assess the recorded information to determine that a car violated the traffic laws, and not a deer running very fast through an intersection. After approval, the data is sent to the city government for further escalation. The recorded data is reviewed and a ticket will, at this point, be issued to the vehicle owner through the mail.
Then, one day, you open your mailbox to see an envelope from the city, who has just issued you a traffic citation. The rumors are true. Traffic lights work, and your friend was wrong. They’re watching you when nobody else is looking – not even the Kentuckian turkeys.
What to do with your Traffic Ticket
Now that you have a traffic ticket, what do you do now? You can pay the ticket and receive points on your record. You can fight it in court. Or, the most popular option, ask the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet if you can take Kentucky traffic school to dismiss the ticket and avoid getting points on your record. This will also prevent your annual auto insurance rate from increasing, by proving you’re a defensive driver.
Myimprov.com makes it easier for you to take traffic school and defensive driving courses, because we offer comedy-filled courses online! Instead of enrolling in a mundane, generic traffic school, where students find it hard staying awake, you can enroll in a comedy traffic school, where nobody wants to be there, but in a funny way.
If it sounds too good to be true, it’s not. We just designed it that way. Check out some of the courses we offer at Myimprov.com. Don’t be a turkey, be a defensive driver.
Florida Tourist Traffic Traps
For tourist and speeders, traffic traps are the bane of highway travels. Lurking in the shadows, highway patrol waits for their unsuspecting victim to speed through their trap. But, the victims aren’t so much victims as they are perpetrators for violating the traffic laws. Once they get a ticket, they usually opt to take online FL traffic school to dismiss the ticket.
However, some highway patrol takes it too far. One example of excessive speeding traps is the scheme that occurred in Waldo, Florida. An investigation began in the tiny village after 7 police officers wrote 12,000 speeding tickets in one year.
Speeding is always bad, but speeding traps are worst. The investigation led to the disbandment of the entire Waldo police force. Florida has the reputation of excessive speeding traps throughout the state, so we’re listing some of the top traffic traps for Florida tourist.
Lawtey
Like Waldo, this small shanty town is notorious for its high rate of speed traps. Be on the lookout for signs that quickly reduce speeds, school zones, and how fast you’re going through the town. When driving through this town, remember you can’t spell Lawtey without “Law” – as in, follow it.
Miami
One of the biggest cities in Florida, Miami has countless reports of speeding traps. Most reports note turnpikes, streets throughout the city, and occasionally on the highways. When visiting this town, remember you can catch some sun, beach fun, and some traffic tickets.
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg has its fair share of traffic traps. When passing through the city, watch out for school zones and speed limit signs that fluctuate quickly. The police are relentless with issuing tickets. Instead of calling it St. Petersburg, it should be called St. Speedersburg.
Tampa
You can find yourself falling into a traffic trap whenever you take an exit in Tampa. Drive the speed limit, or a few below, when you leave a highway. Police like to pull over unsuspecting speeders who are adjusting their speed.
Lady Lake
In this small town, reduce speed signs are littered throughout the area. This makes the land ripe for ticketing. You’ll pass through this town when you’re taking US 441.
Sarasota
When you’re visiting Sarasota, be sure to check out the Big Cat Habitat or the Marine Laboratory, because you’ll need to do something happy after accumulating all your traffic tickets. Sarasota has an abundance of traffic traps. Be wary of traveling through this city; especially around bridges and school zones.
Gulf Breeze
When you’re vacationing to Destin (everyone loves Destin) watch out for speeding traps around Gulf Breeze on US 98. This area is known for the traffic traps set to catch you unsuspectingly. Which, everyone will be caught unsuspectingly, because the only thing people will be thinking about is their awesome vacation in Destin.
Orlando
Orland has one of the densest and unforgiving traffic traps in the state. Disney World can’t supply enough magic and wonder to make these traffic traps vanish. Some police officers like to catch tourist, who are unfamiliar with the area, when they least expect it: right outside Mickey Mouse’s Kingdom. That’s how Disney World works, right? Don’t fall victim to the tourist traffic traps around Orlando.
When you slip up and exceed the speed limit, you’ll be slapped with an expensive traffic ticket. Getting a traffic violation will result in a higher annual car insurance rate. But, there’s a solution to this problem.
Enrolling in an online traffic school and passing your Florida driving test will keep your insurance rates from skyrocketing when you, unfairly, get ticketed. So, enroll in one of our online traffic school course to get started taking your test.
Roadkill TV Show vs Reality
Roadkill is an automotive restoration television show that transforms trashed up beaters into modified road demons. What we love most about this show is creating something so beautiful out of nothing. Coincidentally, it’s the perfect metaphor we see in our students who enroll in our traffic school online.
The projects seen on the show vary from downright challenging to goofy and absurdly fun. But, don’t you think it’s odd that every project ends on a positive note? It seems almost suspicious. That’s why we’ve done some investigative journalism to pull back the curtains on this popular T.V show. We’re diving deep to discover what really happens to the cars on Roadkill.
The Ranchero
This 1968 Ford Ranchero restoration was a very familiar project for fans of the show. This car’s “notable achievement” was its long journey from Alaska to Los Angeles. But, if you ask us – they might as well call it the 1968 Ford Mentiroso (Spanish for liar.)
But, after doing some research and questioning, we concluded that David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan did, in fact, conduct heavy restoration to the original vehicle. That’s not stopping us from diving deeper!
Big Pen
Do you really expect us to believe that they took a broken down 1950 GMC Pick-Up Truck and drove it off the lot, where it sat for 30 years? Likely story, Roadkill. Instead of calling the show Roadkill, they should rename it to Road Fibbers, because that’s all they do to the viewers.
However, again, after a careful examination of the research, we discovered they were able to the beater running. Something still smells off, so the sting story continues!
The General Mayhem
Here is a prime example of what really happens on Roadkill. Freiburger and Finnegan just so happened to be sitting on a ‘68 Dodge Charger, which, was essentially, three pieces of scrap metal attached to wheels. Then, they somehow put a transmission in from a literal motorhome. Supposedly they created it over 6 months – the perfect amount of time to get a brand-new car delivered.
Editor note: after rereading the notes taken during several credible interviews, we have concluded this car was actually restored on the show.
The Blasphemi
Come on, really? Do they honestly think viewers will believe the hosts brought the bare body of a ‘55 Chevy Bel Air Sedan to a shop and had it restored with a 530ci Mopar Performance Hemi? That idea is – ahem – blasphemy!
Seriously? They did that? That’s so cool! I mean – the search continues to find the real answers.
The Rotsun
Finally – the truth you’ve all been waiting for! They were given a 1971 Datsun 240Z that was rustier than your little league throwing arm. It was a valiant attempt, but after doing some hard-hitting research we discovered what really happened. After they successfully rebuilt the car to near perfect operating condition, the engine gave out when the hosts drove back from Arizona “after filming.”
There you have it. Nearly all the cars they built on Roadkill continue to work. You can clearly see this is another example of Hollywood Reality TV elites us feeding us fabricated lies.
If you’re ever conducting your own car restoration, and get a ticket for violating a traffic law, you should enroll in traffic school online. It’s the easier way to keep your insurance rate from skyrocketing for being a reckless driver. But, you’ll never be as reckless as the hosts from Roadkill.
What Happens at a DUI Checkpoint
For those curious about the on goings of a DUI checkpoint, we’re exhaling the process of a DUI checkpoint for you. That was an example of some good word play! You didn’t come here for the word play, so here’s what happens during a DUI Checkpoint.
How They Work
DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) checkpoints can pop up just about anywhere and anytime. You can spot them, because traffic officers create a road block and close off all lanes except for one. This is to check on the status of drivers by filtering them through one, single lane.
The goal is to catch and remove any drivers who may be operating their vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Therefore, any suspicious behavior is often a sign of someone who is under the influence.
What To Do
Not if, but when you find yourself in the middle of a DUI or DWI checkpoint, the important thing to remember is to comply with traffic police during this process. Creating any kind of confrontation or suspicious behavior is often a red flag. Especially when officers just want to keep the roads safe for everyone.
More often than not, officers ask for your driver’s license and car registration form. Following this, you are asked to briefly answer a series of questions. This will help determine the sobriety of any drivers behind the wheel. Any unusual behavior will encourage the police officers to conduct a field sobriety test.
So, what’s there to expect if you’re expecting a field sobriety test?
Field Sobriety Tests
The Field Sobriety Test is a in depth process to determine the sobriety of the driver. This test is broken into three different physical challenges. But, it’s not like competing in a game show, like how I just described it.
During the first phase of the test, you will be asked to balance yourself on one leg while stretching with the other. If you are under the influence, finding balance will be difficult.
The second step is the notorious walk-in-a-straight-line test. This will challenge your ability to, well, walk in a straight line. Which, when you’re under the influence is extremely challenging to do.
If you’ve made it this far in the test, then get ready for the eye gaze test. This final step tests your ability to follow an object with your eyes while holding your head still. Which, in case you haven’t seen the pattern, is extremely challenging to do while under the influence.
Because it’s designed to be that way.
These tests have been tested to be accurate, since they are standard across the country. So, forget about trying to learn the alphabet backwards, because that’s a sobriety test that nobody can pass. Not even people who are sober.
When you find yourself stuck in a DUI checkpoint, just remember that the traffic officers are keeping the roads safe. You should always comply and make their job easier, because nobody enjoys dealing with difficult people. Finally, never operate a vehicle while under the influence.
If you know someone who is a first time Nevada DUI offender, they will be required to take a NV 8 hour DUI course. Other states may order offenders to take traffic school to lessen the charges.
Keep a clean driving record and never get sloppy behind the wheel!
California Times to Travel
Welcome to California, time traveler! Since you’re traveling through space and California times to vacation in the Golden State, it’s clear you’ve figured out how to manipulate our linear timeline. Congratulations on achieving something impossible!
On your way to prevent the birth of a future military dictator or investing in the stock market, you may have the need to vacation in 2018 California. We have a list of the best times to visit California, so you don’t have to stress out about bending the space time continuum and planning on when you should get a tan on Venice beach!
Beach Time – May through October
If there’s one thing that everyone in the world knows about California, it’s that we have, at least, one beach. Something they might not know is that it, in fact, has thousands of beaches! The best time to visit the coast and soak up the rays (Californian for sun rays) is between the months of May and October. You’ll get to bake in the summer heat while having the opportunity to dip in the refreshing Pacific Ocean.
Fog and Wind – July to August
If you’re traveling from the dreary, pollution filled post-apocalyptic future and need something that reminds you of home, then check out San Francisco between the July and August. During this time, you’ll see the dreary side of central California. An early wake up will help you check out the thick fog rolling in from the ocean and the experience of heavy winds that will send you in a spiral of depression – just like the future!
Small Budget – Thanksgiving!
The best time to travel to California, when you’re on a budget, is during the week of Thanksgiving. All the locals are flying out to the Midwest, where they’re from coincidentally! You’ll get great deals on travel, because nobody expects the vacationer during a family holiday. Since you’re coming from the far future, after holidays have been eradicated by the government, you probably don’t even know what Thanksgiving is!
Northern California – Spring or Fall Seasons
Northern California is great for wine connoisseurs and outdoor adventures. You can bask in the beauty of the state’s mountains capes, forests, and ocean coasts with vibrant spring and fall foliage. It’s not only a beautiful time to visit the state, but you will also miss the commotion from summer tourism. So, if the beaches aren’t your speed, then check out Northern California during everyone’s favorite transitional seasons.
For Everything Else – September
If you don’t know what you want to do in the great state of California, then visit in September. This is the golden month for the golden state, because you have your summer heat in the south and cooler days in the north. You can catch the beginning of seasonal change on a nice hike or you can kayak with sea lions off the coast of San Diego. Everyone loves variety!
Wanna Strike it Rich – January 1848
Since you have a time machine, then it’s probably a good idea to just travel back to the year 1848 during the California gold rush, so you can strike it rich with GOLD. That’s, right! I said GOLD! You can join the rest of the old timey prospectors and start digging in the mountains. That’s the perfect get-away from your stressful life as a time traveler!
Whether you’re traveling through time and space, remember the one thing that’s more valuable than time itself – a good, quality driving record. If you’re worried about your driving history, you can always enroll in
traffic school online with Myimprov.com. When you do, you can lower the rates of your insurance plan and get a clean record to your name.
TOP 5 SIGNS YOU HAD A ROCKIN’ CA NEW YEAR’S BUT SHOULD NOT DRIVE HOME YET
Wow, what a great New Year’s party in Los Angeles, California! You made so many friends at your swanky Hollywood party in Chris Hemsworth’s mansion. Everyone loved your fantastic new outfit, and thought all your jokes were hilarious and interesting! You even gave a New Years smooch to your celebrity crush Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and/or Jessica Chastain.
This was a party for the books.
Now it’s time to drive home before everyone else clogs up the roads in L.A’s notorious traffic. But if you feel dizzy and you’re seeing double, even after your nap in the bathtub, do not get behind the wheel. Even all the knowledge from your CA traffic school education cannot help you drive!
The truth is, you could still be drunk or impaired.
Lucky for you, you’ve developed the critical thinking skills to determine whether you’re too drunk to drive thanks to your favorite traffic school teaching you that you should allow at least one hour for every standard drink consumed and to carry a trusty Blood Alcohol Level Chart wherever you go. You recount your night and remember:
1. You just took a shot with Adam Driver
“Hey! You’re Kylo Ren from Star Wars!” you belted out at your favorite celebrity. “You’re a superb actor and I’m a huge Star Wars fan!” Flattered by your sincere compliment, Adam Driver offers you a shot of Grey Goose and then proceeds to get to you know you on a personal level.
1 shot = 1 hour before you can drive home.
The only Driver at this party should be Adam, who’s listening to how much you love traffic school.
2. Arnold Schwarzenegger helped you with a keg stand
Extending his hand to you, Arnold Schwarzenegger says “Come with me if you want to get drunk!” It’s a special occasion, so you happily oblige as he lifts you upside down and places you on top of a beer keg. The next thing you hear are your wonderful peers counting the seconds as you chug.
You make it to 16 seconds and Arnold flips you over onto your feet. The blood rushes from your head as the room spins. You thank him for the help and you meet your friends in the other room.
“You’ll be back,” Arnold mutters. “I think you just consumed three beeers.”
3 beers = 3 additional hours until you are ok to drive home.
3. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling put you into their reenactment of La La Land
The city of stars just gained another star, and it’s you! At least it was for the 2-hours and 8-minutes when Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling used you as a third when they broke out into their song and dance. You couldn’t have remembered every dance step and song lyric from the movie La La Land, so you had to be drunk!
It looks like someone in the crowd gave you another drink after your performance. Just wait until your friends at traffic school hear this!
1 standard drink = 1 more solid hour until you sober up.
4. You held a 30-minute conversation with Bjork
Manifesting from Chris Hemsworth’s botanical garden, Bjork starts a conversation with you. Unbeknownst to you, she can only speak using metaphors and symbolism in the form of music from stringed instruments and trash can lids. You’ve always been fascinated by the Scandinavian singer & songwriter, so why not give this conversation a shot?
The next 30-minutes, although not understanding it, enlightened you to the point of developing a natural drunkenness. You realize that talking to Bjork is the equivalent of taking five shots (you actually had 5 shots while talking with her). You politely end the conversation as the Scandinavian Goddess is carried away by a pack of forest creatures and fairies.
5 shots = 5 more hours you need to sober up!
5. You spent the last hour drinking wine with Meryl Streep
Flabbergasted by your regal New Years outfit, Meryl Streep shimmies you over to the fireplace where she talks to you about love, happiness, and traffic school. She pours you a glass of wine from her bottle of Armand de Brignac. It’s a $16,000 bottle of wine and how could you say “no” to Meryl?
For the next 2-hours you and Meryl slam a few bottles as she recites her life story to you. After praising your ability to listen, Meryl is whisked away to do a solo reenactment of Mamma Mia!
How many drinks was that?
If you have to ask yourself that question, the answer is probably too much. When you’re still feeling the side effects of alcohol in the morning, don’t drive. It’s always safer to find another way home.
Remember what your favorite traffic school always says, “Don’t drink and drive!”
Steps to Pay Online Florida Traffic Ticket
So, you’ve got yourself a traffic ticket in Florida. Congratulations on joining a special club that stretches from Pensacola to Miami – and to plenty of tourists as well!
The Sunshine State may even lead the country in terms of numbers of speeding tickets, according to the National Motorists Association. And it makes sense — drivers can encounter everything from theme park parking lots as large as some states; some of the most crowded urban interstates in the country, and all sorts of coastal highways and byways where it’s easier to watch the beautiful scenery instead of a rapidly-rising speedometer.
What to do with your Florida Traffic Ticket
Be patient.
Do not pay it right away. You have 30 days to think over your options. But don’t wait too long, after 30 days, the state begins applying fines and other possible penalties!
Be certain.
Paying can, however, lead to more “points” on your license. Too many points over a certain amount of time can lead to a suspension or revocation of your license from Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. If you’re at this point or getting close, consider finding an online traffic school, which can reduce the number of points.
Make Payment.
You will also however, have to pay the ticket along with attending traffic school. Luckily, Florida makes it easy to pay tickets. Payment can be mailed in, dropped off at a county courthouse or a state Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles office, or online in some counties.
Steps To Pay Online Payments
Step 1. Check County
Check County with the county where the ticket was incurred if this service is available. If you can’t remember, the county name and instructions will be printed on the ticket. If you can’t find your ticket, contact the county where you believe it happened, and they’ll assist and either send you a reprint or at least tell you the payment procedure.
Step 2. Check Clerk List
Look at list of all 67 county clerk offices, provided by Florida’s Division of Library and Information Services. Here, you can get a geographic address, phone number and other contact information, such as email, fax or web site. The list doesn’t say whether any particular office offers online payment; this requires browsing or calling the office to ask about payment, the process and what site to visit.
Counties that do offer online processing make it fairly easy to find this information, such as Bay County, which provides a well-organized menu of fees and services, everything from license reinstatement costs to late fees.
As with most legal situations, the burden to properly comply is up to the person with facing the penalty, so excuses like “my email bounced back” or “my Internet was down” are rarely adequate.
3. Provide Info
If a county can securely process online payments through its site, it generally requests information from ticket-holders such as:
• Your valid recognized credit card
• Your ticket citation number and other information about it (day/time)
• Your driver’s license info
• Your full name
• The amount to be paid
Counties may also charge their own surcharge for local court/processing fees beyond the standard citation fee. This is usually no more than a few dollars.
By the way, those who don’t want to pay their ticket online, or at all, don’t have too many good options. Ignoring it can lead to a suspension of your license within a month and bigger fines as time goes by.
You can also contest it, which includes requesting a hearing, calling witnesses, discussing the law and presenting evidence on your behalf to a judge. It can be time-consuming and ultimately more expensive in terms or time and effort, even if it’s dismissed.
How Long Do Points Stay on FL Driving Record?
Maintaining a clean FL driving record and taking a FL traffic school to dismiss a ticket is important for many distinct reasons. One of the main reasons is so that you can continue to drive without the risk of getting your license suspended. Another is so that you can get lower auto insurance costs on a monthly basis. The way that Florida keeps track of how well people have been driving over a set period of time is through the points system.
How Does the FL Points System Work?
Points are added to a driving record based on the type of traffic infraction that occurs. Most of the common ones, and some others, are assigned a points value and if a driver is given a traffic violation, the number of points that are assigned to that type of infraction is placed on their driving record. The points system is in place to help keep safe drivers on the road because if a certain number of points are on a license or if multiple infractions of the same kind occur within a given period, then some or all driving privileges may be lost by the driver.
The way it is set up is that the more severe the infraction is, the more points are added to the driving record of the individual. There are some infractions that can lead to an automatic suspension as well such as offenses that are drug or alcohol-related, failure to pay child support, street racing, and failure to pay fines for traffic violations. Otherwise, license suspension is specifically outlined in the law as follows:
• If 12 points are added to a record within 12 months, then driving privileges are suspended for 30 days.
• If 18 points are added to a record within 18 months, then driving privileges are suspended for 3 months.
• If 24 points are added to a record within 36 months, then driving privileges are suspended for one year.
What are the common point values and how long do they stay on the driving record?
It is important to understand what some of the common violations are and their point values, so you can not only know what to avoid on the roads but also try to determine what your current points are, if any. These are some of the most common traffic infractions and their corresponding points value for driver’s in Florida.
• Speeding up to 15 miles per hour over the posted limit – 3 points
• Speeding over 15 miles per hour over the posted limit – 4 points
• Speeding that results in an accident – 6 points
• Littering – 3 points
• Violating child safety restraining laws – 3 points
• Driving with an open alcohol container in your vehicle – 3 points
• Driving recklessly – 4 points
• Having a collision that resulted from a standard moving violation – 4 points
• Leaving the scene of an accident that has property damage over $50 – 6 points
• Illegally passing a stopped school bus – 4 points
Of course, these are just some of the more common violations but there are many more that have corresponding point values. The severity of the violation will determine how long the points will stay on your driving record. Most of the time, they will stay on your record anywhere from 3 to 5 years but violations that are more serious can stay on your record for up to 10 years. You can have some points removed by taking a course from an online traffic school FL, however. You should find out how many points you have from your official driving record and if you wish to get some removed, sign up for our FL traffic school.