Check out The Ticket Clinic’s Ted Hollander talking with Money Talk News about the true cost of a DUI. While you might think a DUI will never happen to you, one drink too many at happy hour can change your life. Check out what Ted has to say, and if you received a DUI and want to talk to an attorney, consider contacting The Ticket Clinic at 1.800.CITATION. We have handled over 1 million traffic-related offenses, including DUI.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s annual “Click It Or Ticket” campaign runs from May 20 – June 2. Local law enforcement agencies nationwide will be cracking down this Memorial Day weekend on violators of seat belt and child restraint laws as part of a nationwide effort to enforce these laws.

In Florida, anyone in the front seat must be wearing a seat belt. The driver is responsible for all passengers under 16. Passengers over 16 not wearing their seat belt may be ticketed individually. While a seat belt violation for adults does not carry points, failure to properly secure a child carries three points.

Wherever you are this holiday weekend, make sure to buckle up before you hit the road. And of course if there are kids in the car, be sure they are properly buckled, too. If you do receive a ticket for violating the seat belt law, consider contacting The Ticket Clinic. We have been handling solely traffic-related offenses since 1987. Call us at 1.800.CITATION.

The Ticket Clinic had a busy week. First, we watched our hometown Miami Heat beat the Bulls to clinch a spot in the conference finals:

Then, we took our talents to South Beach and showcased The Ticket Clinic at the DUB Show, the world’s largest custom car show, at the Miami Beach Convention Center:

A friend of The Ticket Clinic reached out to us to clear up this urban legend that has made its way around the internet. There are several versions of the tale floating around, but here is the one we received:

If you get a speeding ticket speeding ticket or went through a red light, or whatever the case may be, you’re going to get points on your license and an increase in your auto insurance. This is a method to insure that you do not get the points. When you get your fine, send in a check to pay for it. If the fine is $79.00, make the check out for $82.00, some small amount over the fine. The system will then have to send you back a check for the difference. However, here is the trick: DO NOT CASH THE REFUND CHECK! Throw it away! THAT’S RIGHT…THROW IT AWAY…Points are not assessed to your license until all financial transactions are complete. If you do not cash the check, then the transactions are NOT complete. The system has received its money and is satisfied and will no longer bother you.

THIS IS NOT TRUE. Read it again: This is not true. This is an urban legend, which can cost you money, earn you points on your license or worse – get your license suspended. If you get a traffic ticket your options are to pay it or to fight it – yourself or by hiring an experienced traffic ticket attorney. Gimmicks such as this one sound too good to be true because they are!

If you have received a traffic ticket and would like to speak with an attorney, consider calling us at 1.800.CITATION. The Ticket Clinic has defended over 1 million traffic-related tickets, including DUI, since 1987. We handle exclusively , traffic-related tickets in Florida California and nationwide.

At The Ticket Clinic, we are at the forefront of the red light camera issue. We believe that the cameras are an unconstitutional violation of drivers’ rights that serve only to generate revenue for cash-strapped cities.

This handy link from Photoenforced.com allows you to see where the red light cameras are in your cities. Check it out and drive safely. Studies have shown an increase in rear-end collisions at intersections with red light cameras.

If you have received a red light camera citation, you can fight it. Many people assume that because the ticket does not incur points, there is no harm in paying it. But paying it means you are admitting guilt and paying a hefty fine. In Florida, the citations start at $158! Consider first talking to an experienced traffic ticket attorney. At The Ticket Clinic, we are at the forefront of red light camera litigation and legislation. Call us today at 1.800.CITATION.

Imagine this scenario: You are cruising down the highway to work one morning when you glance over at the car next to you where the driver is…reading the newspaper? If Google has its way, driverless cars will be the way of the future. Currently, three states permit the use of electronic, self-driving cars. Two, California and Florida, allow the use of these cars for testing purposes only. In 2011, Nevada passed a law permitting the use of driverless cars and in 2012, the state issued the first license for a self-driven car.

While it’s too soon to say that driverless cars are the way of the future, it is clear that the current traffic laws in most states would not be sufficient to handle a car with no driver. For example, can you read a book? Knit a sweater? Take a nap? California legislators are currently trying to draft laws that will incorporate self-driving cars if and when they make their way onto the roads en masse. It is fair to say that even laws that seem to make sense now will need to be revised if hundreds, thousands or even millions of drivers have their cars on auto-pilot. Science fiction may be closer to reality than you think! At The Ticket Clinic, we will be watching the self-driving cars and will bring the latest news to you.

At The Ticket Clinic, we have been closely following Florida’s proposed bills banning texting and driving. Florida is currently one of only five states that does not have some type of law regarding texting and driving. But it looks like that is about to change. The Florida Senate unanimously passed SB 52, a bill that would make Florida the 40th state to enact legislation banning texting and driving. The proposed bill will now travel to the House where it is expected to pass.

This bill would make texting and driving a secondary offense, meaning an officer would have to pull you over for something other than texting, such as speeding or careless driving and then issue an additional ticket for texting while driving. Some critics complain that the ban does not go far enough because texting while driving alone is not enough to warrant a ticket. Currently 36 of the 45 U.S. states with texting laws make texting while driving a primary offense.

In Florida, if the law passes, it is on track to go into effect October 1, 2013. A first time offense would result in a $30 fine, a second, $60.

It is good practice to get in the habit of putting your phone away while driving. While we all know the downsides of distracted driving, sometimes the temptation is too great if the phone is nearby so before you get on the highway, consider tossing your phone into the glove compartment or the trunk. Whatever it is can wait until you arrive at your destination.

The Ticket Clinic is one of the few firms in Florida that handles solely traffic-related offenses, including DUI. We are closely monitoring the texting and driving ban as it makes its way through the legislature. Have a question about a traffic ticket you received? Call us at 1.800.CITATION

We previously blogged about Florida’s proposed legislation to ban texting and driving. This week, a proposed bill sailed through the Florida Senate, paving the way for the bill to become a law if it is passed by the House.

The proposed bill will making texting and driving a secondary offense, which means that you have to get pulled over for some other traffic violation. Under the current proposed law, texting at red lights is still allowed. If this bill makes its way into law, Florida will finally join the 39 other states that ban texting while driving.

Over the weekend, a Miami Beach runner was issued a Uniform Traffic Citation for obstructing traffic. His “crime?” Running backwards on South Beach, something runner Alex Mesa has been doing for the last six years.

Of course Mesa will be fighting his $77.50 traffic ticket in court. We will be monitoring the case and bringing you updates. In the meantime, check out this cool video of Mesa doing his backwards run:

The Ticket Clinic’s Ted Hollander spoke to Stacy Johnson about how to handle traffic tickets. Check out this great video!