Don’t let a well-tuned engine turn into traffic tickets

%b %31 %2012, %Rauto maintenance northern Illinois, auto repair McHenry, auto tuneup, moving violation, speeding ticket

That tune up really did the trick, didn’t it? Gas mileage is up and the engine even seems to have a little more power now that it’s running smoothly. You may feel tempted to give it a little extra gas now and then. But, if you have too much fun with that extra power, it may not save you any money at all. It might even wind up costing you money.

How? Well, first of all, those jack-rabbit starts and that lead foot will eat up that extra gas mileage in a hurry. Worse than that, one day you’ll find yourself cruising along, not paying close enough attention and, suddenly, you’ll see flashing lights in the rearview mirror.

What’s the fine on a speeding ticket these days? It’s better not to know. But, whatever it costs, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Next, you’ll have the residual cost of speeding tickets – increased auto insurance premiums. Those can be really painful.

At Performance Unlimited, they love the look of satisfaction on the faces of clients when they pick up their cars. When they brought the car in, it was knocking, pinging and otherwise running poorly. When they pick the car up, that smooth, sweet sound they once knew so well has returned.

The folks at Performance Unlimited just wouldn’t want to think that they did such a good job of tuning a car that its driver went out and got a ticket. So, they decided to put together a list of tips to avoid tickets – not just speeding tickets but tickets in general:

· Of course, doing the speed limit is one obvious way to avoid a ticket. In some cases, though you don’t mean to speed, you may run a little late for your destination and push it a little to try to make up time. Our suggestion is to try to give yourself enough time that you can comfortably drive to your destination on time and at the posted speed limit. Some would suggest that you drive within 5 mph of the limit and stick to the middle of the pack or follow a semi-tractor (they usually know where the radar traps are). These tricks, however, are not as sure to save you a visit to a courtroom as simply driving the speed limit.

· Be particularly careful about your speed and driving at night and when there are fewer cars on the road. The civilian vehicle to squad car ratio is better during the day.

· Pay attention. Even when you’re trying to follow all the rules of the road you may find yourself on the side of the road while a peace officer writes a ticket if you’re paying enough attention. Remember, “I’m sorry, officer, I didn’t notice the stop sign,” usually won’t help. It’s your job to notice things like stop signs, red lights and other traffic signals.

· Be alert for changes in speed, school zones, construction zones and other factors that can require you to adjust your driving accordingly. Remember, most states are very defensive of school and construction zones and they make their feelings felt by charging a lot of money to violators. Texting and speaking on cell phones can distract you from your driving. Doing so is also a major ticket in construction and school zones in some states, such as Illinois.

· Regularly check your headlights, brake lights, turn signals and emergency lights. Some officers will let you off with a warning if they pull you over with a turn signal out. However, even if they do, they will expect you to fix the problem promptly. It’s really embarrassing to have a police officer who let you off two weeks ago after you promised to fix that light, pull you over again and it’s still not fixed.

· Try not to attract undue attention. The term to consider is ‘probable cause.’ Items that could block your vision, parts hanging off of your car – things like this are noticeable.

· Wear your seatbelt. Sometimes, police officers will have special roadside checks to watch for passengers in cars who are not wearing seatbelts. Buckle up if, for no other reason, to avoid a ticket.

· Don’t panic when you see an officer. Even if you realize you’re over the speed limit, it won’t help to jam on the brakes. Maybe the officer didn’t notice you were speeding. If you hit the brakes hard, he or she will almost certainly notice that.

· Make sure the license-plate sticker on your car is up to date. When a police officer pulls you over for one thing, he or she usually checks you out for other possible infractions, too.

· It’s considered a good idea to keep your car relatively clean. Why? It makes a good impression on the person with the badge, gun, pen and pad of tickets. They may or may not decide to let you off with a warning. Presenting yourself as a responsible member of society won’t hurt.

· And, if you are pulled over, be nice. If there’s any chance the officer will let you slide that hope will fall like a lead balloon if you antagonize the nice police officer.

· If you receive a ticket, just as you would if you’re in an accident, write down everything you can about the location, vehicles in the area, their direction and rate of travel, weather conditions – anything to help keep your memory fresh when you get to court or speak with an attorney.

As we said, here at Performance Unlimited, we hope your driving experiences are safe and happy. If you need any help keeping your car in good shape, we’re here to help – just call 815-728-0343 or visit www.4performanceunlimited.com.

Denny Norton

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