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Careless and Imprudent Driving

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CARELESS AND IMPRUDENT DRIVING TICKET…

CARELESS AND IMPRUDENT DRIVING TICKET…

By Charles Moore

CARELESS AND IMPRUDENT DRIVING TICKET

A careless and imprudent driving ticket is a serious charge issued to Missouri drivers.  A careless and imprudent driving ticket, also known informally as a C&I, can lead to a serious rise in insurance premiums.

This article discusses different examples of careless and imprudent driving tickets in Missouri and why you should hire a traffic ticket attorney St. Charles to resolve them in court for you.

Since Missouri does not have a reckless driving statute, a C&I ticket in Missouri is usually designed to cover situations where the driver acted recklessly.

Examples are as follows:

Driver Dan fails to drive in a careful and prudent manner by weaving in and out of lanes in a 35 mph maximum speed zone.  Or he causes and accident by passing someone in the right lane and not using his turn signal.  Or he has a road rage incident where he ends up tailgating another driver for an excessive distance.

A C&I ticket can have strong penalties in Missouri.  If a driver is ticketed but there was not an accident involved, it is generally charged as a Class B Misdemeanor, with a maximum of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for a conviction.

Where there is an accident related to the careless and imprudent driving, the offense is charged as a Class A Misdemeanor with a maximum of a year in jail and $2,000 fine for a conviction.

Just as important, a conviction for a C&I results in four (4) points added to your license.  In addition to rising insurance premiums, the driver is half way to an administrative suspension of their driving privileges.

Driving While Intoxicated (“DWI”) charges can sometimes be plead down to a careless and imprudent driving ticket, depending on the police report and available evidence.  A DWI that is reduced to a careless and imprudent driving plea is a good outcome compared to a conviction for DWI.  This outcome is often called a “wet reckless”.

It’s very important to hire a St. Charles careless and imprudent ticket lawyer to assist you with resolving your ticket because they are often very subjective.  We successfully had a ticket dismissed completely when I explained to the prosecutor that the sudden move to a right lane from a left lane by our client was not careless and imprudent but the exact opposite.

The officer in that case had not realized that the driver in front of our client had stopped suddenly to avoid hitting an animal in the road.  As a result my client had no time to brake and his only option was to swerve to avoid hitting him.  No accident was caused and the prosecutor dismissed the ticket after I provided this explanation.

CONCLUSION

There are often a variety of reasons people appear to act careless and imprudent while driving here in Missouri that can actually be explained with a valid reason for that action, often which is in fact very careful and prudent driving!

Charles J. Moore is the founder and owner of Traffic Ticket Center.  He has been both a municipal prosecutor and a defense attorney during in his 17 years of practice, experience which greatly enhances his clients in cases where they are charged with a traffic offense, regardless of the charge.

 

 

 

Motorcycle License Issues in Missouri…

Motorcycle License Issues in Missouri…

By Charles Moore

Motorcycle License Issues in Missouri

Being a traffic ticket lawyer near me means that I have to know about different types of license classes.

Motorcyle License Class in Missouri

In Missouri, a Class M motorcycle license or permit, or a driver license with the M endorsement are required if you operate a motorcycle or motortricycle on public roads.

You can apply for a temporary motorcycle instruction permit at 15 ½ years old.  This permit will only be issued if you have successfully completed an approved motorcycle rider training course (MRTC).  You must also have the written consent of your parent or legal guardian, as well as pass the Class F and Class M written, vision, and road sign test.  The cost for this permit is $3.75, of which, $2.75 is applied to the motorcycle rider training course. 

THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO ALL MISSOURI MOTORCYCLE INSTRUCTION PERMIT HOLDERS UNDER THE AGE OF 16:

  • No Passengers
  • Daylight driving only
  • 50 mile limit from the operator’s home address
  • Engine with a displacement of not greater than 250 cc

Applying For A Permit

You may apply for a temporary motorcycle instruction permit at 16 years old.  You must pass the Class M written test, but you are not required to take the motorcycle rider training course.  The cost of the permit is $1.  If you apply for a permit or license at a fee license office, then you must pay an additional $2.50 handling fee.  If you do not have a driver license, you can take the Class F and Class M written tests to receive a motorcycle permit (Class F permit with an M endorsement).

THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO ALL MISSOURI MOTORCYCLE INSTRUCTION PERMIT HOLDERS THAT ARE AGE 16 OR OVER:

 

  • Daylight driving only
  • No passengers
  • When you are ready, you may take the motorcycle skills test (MSHP or MRTC) to be motorcycle qualified.  The cost of a Class M motorcycle license is $7.50 for a 3-year license and $15.00 for a 6-year license.  If you apply for a license or a permit at a fee license office, you must pay an additional $2.50 handling fee for a 3-year license and a $4.00 handling fee for a 6-year license.

 

Motorcycle License Testing

To earn your license, you must pass an on-cycle skill test and a knowledge test.  Knowledge test questions are based on practices, information, and ideas from the Missouri manual.  You are required to understand and know road rules and safe riding practices.  An on-cycle skill test will either be conducted in a controlled, off-street area or in an actual traffic environment. 

Your Driving Test

Basic vehicle control and crash avoidance skills are included in the on-cycle tests to determine your ability to handle hazardous and normal traffic situations.

You may be tested for your ability to:

  • Accelerate, brake and turn safely.
  • See, be seen and communicate with others.
  • Know your motorcycle and your riding limits.
  • Stop, turn and swerve quickly.
  • Make critical decisions and carry them out.
  • Adjust speed and position to traffic situation.

Examiners may score on factors related to:

  • Choosing the correct path and staying within boundaries.
  • Completing normal and quick turns or swerves. 
  • Completing normal and quick stops. 
  • Selecting safe speeds to perform maneuvers.
  • To receive a motorcycle license with full privileges, most states require that maneuvers be performed as designed.  

On-cycle skill tests are not designed for sidecars and three-wheel vehicles.  Those vehicles maneuver differently than a two-wheeled motorcycle.  Depending on the state, a driver examiner may follow you on a car test-route.  Restrictions (sidecar, three-wheeled vehicle) may be added until completion of a two-wheeled cycle test. 

Motorcycle Rider Courses

Motorcycles make sense and so does professional training.  Motorcycles are inexpensive to operate, easy to park and fun to ride.  Unfortunately, many riders never learn critical skills needed to ride safely. Professional training for beginners and experienced riders prepares them for real traffic situations.  Motorcycle Rider Courses teach and improve skills, such as:

  • Braking maneuvers
  • Obstacle avoidance
  • Effective turning
  • Maintenance
  • Protective apparel selection
  • Traffic strategies

Motorcycle Traffic Tickets

While most law enforcement officers won’t admit it, the truth is that riding on a motorcycle will attract more attention from cops.  Drive a bike long enough and you’ll be more likely to get a speeding ticket O’Fallon Missouri or a careless imprudent ticket lawyer.  So be extra vigilant about driving safely and within the rules of the road.

*PLEASE NOTE: If you plan to take a Motorcycle Rider Training Course, either in addition to or in lieu of testing by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, only Missouri Motorcycle Safety Program courses are acceptable for the purpose of obtaining a Missouri motorcycle permit/license.  To locate an approved course in your area, contact the Missouri Motorcycle Safety Program (MMSP) at (800) 801-3588, or online at www.mmsp.org. 

Traffic Ticket Center in St. Charles County Missouri can assist you with any traffic violation you get on your motorcycle.  Call us today at (636) 486-2669. 

 

Traffic tickets and points…

Traffic tickets and points…

By Charles Moore

You probably know that when you receive a traffic ticket for a moving violation in Missouri, including a speeding ticket, pleading guilty to that ticket means you have “points” imposed on your driver’s record.  That’s why you want to hire a firm like Traffic Ticket Center to handle any ticket you receive.  Accumulating points not only could lead to a suspension of your driver’s license, but also increase your insurance premiums because your insurance company views you as riskier to insure.

What you probably do not know is how many points are assessed for certain violations.  Let’s take a look at point totals for specific traffic ticket violations in Missouri*:

  •  Leaving Scene of an Accident:  State Violation 12 / County Ordinance Violation 6 / Municipal Violation 6 points
  • Careless and Imprudent Driving:  State / County / Municipal = 2 points
  • Careless and Imprudent Driving (RSMo. 304.016) (passing on right side of the highway) for State Violation Only = 4 points
  • Failure to Produce Insurance:  State / County / Municipal = 4 points
  • Speeding (5 + MPH over):  State 3 / County 2/ Municipal 2 points
  • No Driver’s License (different than driving without proof of a license):  State / County / Municipal 2 (note that under state law a second violation is 4 points and a third or subsequent violation is 6 points)
  • Stop Sign Violation (running a stop sign):  State 2 / County 2 / Municipal 1 (if no accident) – 2 points (if accident)
  • Driving While Suspended Revoked:  State / County / Municipal = 12 points
  • Driving While Intoxicated (DWI):  State / County Municipal = 8 points (first violation) / 12 points (subsequent)
  • Improper Turn:  State / County / Municipal = 2 points
  • Driving Too Fast For Conditions:  State / County / Municipal = 2 points
  • Failure to Maintain Lane: State / County / Municipal = 2 points

Here is the link to review the Missouri points chart yourself:  http://dor.mo.gov/forms/899.pd

*This article refers to non-CDL drivers.  Some of the above violations can result of CDL privileges for one violation and generally speaking, any moving violation has much more serious consequences for the CDL driver versus the non-CDL driver.

Careless and Imprudent Driving in Missouri…

Careless and Imprudent Driving in Missouri…

By Charles Moore

Careless and Imprudent Driving in Missouri

Careless and imprudent driving is a common charge in Missouri.  This charge is sometimes referred to as a "C&I" ticket.  It is a four (4) point violation if it is charged by the officer on the scene as a violation of Missouri state law and a two (2) point ticket if charged under municipal law.

These tickets should be taken seriously because they are considered to be a more serious violation than an ordinary speeding ticket.  In my practice, I often see these tickets issued to younger drivers for lane weaving, driving at a high rate of speed or for drag racing at a stop light.  They are often given by an officer who witnesses a driver squeal his tires or run a stop light or stop sign at a high rate of speed.

Additionally, drivers should understand that a careless and imprudent driving ticket can be given in conjunction with another ticket.  Let's say that a driver speeds through a stop sign at a high rate of speed.  The driver can and probably will be given a ticket for careless and imprudent driving plus a ticket for speeding, which carries either three (3) points for a state law violation or two (2) for a municipal law violation.

Careless and Imprudent Driving tickets are often given to a driver when there is an accident that occurs.  Often the officer will cite the driver for Careless and Imprudent Driving for doing something to cause or not avoid an accident.

Traffic Ticket Center can and often do get these tickets amended to non-moving violations, saving clients increased insurance premiums and points on their license.

If you've received a careless and imprudent driving ticket, call us today so we can help.