moving violation
A moving violation is any violation of the law, committed by the driver of a vehicle, while it is in motion. The term "motion" distinguishes it from parking violations. While parking violations are charged against a vehicle (which will be towed if violations go unpaid or are frequent), moving violations are charged against the person driving. Moving violations are usually classified as infractions or misdemeanors, but serious violations can be considered felonies.
In most places, moving violations involve fines which must be paid as well as punitive points assessed to the license of the driver. As a driver accumulates points, he or she may be required to attend defensive driving lessons, re-take his or her driving test, or even surrender his or her license.
While the original intention of the fines was punitive, sometimes tickets are used for fundraising. For example, a local government that is suffering a budget shortfall may ticket more aggressively within its jurisdiction to increase revenue. See: speed trap.
In the United States, citation fines are nominal dollar amounts which can vary widely between jurisdictions for the same behaviour, usually between $25 and $1000. In countries such as Finland, however, they are specific proportions of the violator's income, and fines in excess of $100,000 can be assessed to wealthy individuals. In Canada each province is individual in how they treat similar behaviour and each violation usually includes a set fine and demerit points against your licence. For example, a speeding ticket in Ontaro of 50+ km over is 6 demerit points against your licence with the approximent fine calculated as follows (km over x 9.75) x 1.25. In Manitoba speeding in excess of 49 km is 8 demerit points and a fine of 557 dollars.
Demerit Points
- Canada
- Ontario - List of demerit points
Common moving violations
- exceeding the speed limit (speeding) (easily by far the most common violation)
- driving too slowly for road conditions, particularly in a left-hand lane
- running a stop sign or red traffic light
- failure to yield to another vehicle with the right-of-way
- failure to signal for turns or lane changes
- failing to maintain a single lane
- crossing over a center divider, median or gore
- driving on the shoulder where it is considered illegal under certain conditions
- failure to use a seat belt
- failure to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk
- failure to stop for a school bus when children are boarding or exiting
- failure to secure a load to a truck or lorry
- driving in a car pool lane illegally
More serious violations include:
See also
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