How much are traffic fines in America?

[Smartman5]

What are the penalties for crossing a red light, exceeding the speed limit, parking incorrectly, driving under the influence of alcohol and without a license? Are they all fined or sometimes jail time? How often do traffic cops check?

[slatyb]

It varies by state. In Seattle it's about $35 for failing to pay for parking. The result of parking illegally may be a ticket but more likely in the city your car will be towed and it will cost quite a lot to get it back, like $200 or more. Speeding, running a red light, and similar offenses will be about $150. Driving under the influence is very serious:

First Offense DUI BAC less than.15%
• Minimum Jail Time Or Electronic Home Or Monitoring (EHM) 24 hours consecutively
• Jail time maximum 364 days
• Fines & Fees $823 to $5,000 $1,015 to $5,000
• License Suspension 90 days
• Ignition Interlock One year after suspension
• Alcohol/drug assessment Yes
• Probation Five years

[slatyb]

Also there's an installation fee (~$100) and a rental fee ($100/month) for the ignition interlock, and a fee for that alcohol/drug assessment, and a fee for the EHM. All in all figure about $10,000 or more for a DUI.

[Smartman5]

Do you think such punishments are a deterrent?

[slatyb]

The are deterrents to people like me. I'm careful to not drive when I'm buzzed because the consequences are severe.

[Smartman5]

Yes true

[OddBeMe]

Firstly, no jail time unless you're wanted.
Second, we have more crime so depending where you're driving and how badly. Why are you expecting to break our laws?

[Smartman5]

It is not my intention to break the law. I am a law abiding person.

[OddBeMe]

You should have nothing to worry about. Unless you're coming from a country that drives on the opposite side. I broke quite a few laws in the UK….

[Smartman5]

Actually, I haven't been to America yet. Is the traffic flow there from the right or the left? Is the steering wheel of the cars on the right or on the left? In my country, the traffic flow continues from the right and the steering wheel of the cars is on the left.

[OddBeMe]

you're good. Same here. I think only stupid UK colonies like India and Philllipines has left hand driving.

[Smartman5]

Yes true. And in Cyprus, the steering wheels are on the right. but there is something i don't understand. America is a country mainly made up of British colonies. why aren't the steering wheels on the right there like in the UK? though the colonies had declared independence from the United Kingdom.

[OddBeMe]

Because fck the Brits!

Yeah i dont know. India and the US are alike in that regard. Canada too, but they drive on the right. Opposite of UK.

A lot of euro countries drove on the left and then made the switch, which caused a lot of issues if you can imagine. I think driving on the left was more prevalent. But not now. Only a handful drive on the left.

[Smartman5]

Yeah

[DryGermanGuy]

You do realize that each and every one of the fifty states does things differently, right? Do you expect people writing a Master‘s thesis here?

[Smartman5]

I don't live in America so I don't know anything. In general, some examples can be given.