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Media post: Do Fast Cars Get More Tickets?
Whenever youβre in traffic, and you see a sports car or a heavily tuned one, you naturally presume that theyβre probably getting pulled over all the time. And, thatβs a fair assumption β that fast cars equal more tickets. But itβs not THAT simple.
The thing is, actual traffic stops donβt work in such a straight line and wouldnβt be fair if they did. There are plenty of people who drive powerful cars without ever seeing flashing lights in the mirror.Β
There are also plenty of people driving basic sedans that rack up citations. So what is it that actually triggers enforcement?Β
Thereβs this gray space between what a car can do and what a driver does with that ability.Β
Thatβs your answer. Quick acceleration, heavy traffic, short speed zones, impatient passes, crowded exitsβ¦Β
These are the moments where tickets usually start. And you need to remember that fast cars simply stand out more, so of course, everyone will notice them. Law enforcement included.Β
That means that, potentially, they might get stopped more, but ultimately, itβs the behavior that decides the outcome and whether you get a ticket or not.Β
Why Fast Cars Get Stopped More Often
Youβd think that performance cars get stopped more often just because theyβre fast. But does that really make sense? Well, it does, but there are also unanswered questions there. So is it really?
Well, to keep it simple, itβs a mix of these three: the car, the driver, and how much it stands out.
Standing Out
A big part of performance cars is ego. They WANT to be noticed. Sure, theyβre also meant to be fast. But how often do you really get to go fast? Not much. So, whatβs the point then? Getting noticed. To stand out from the crowd. And, well, whether you like it or not, the DO stands out. A lot.
And thatβs usually how theyβre designed visually, not just in terms of performance. Bright paintwork, loud exhaust (well, not so much today when it comes from the factory because of all the noise pollution laws), low ride height, wide grippy tires, and visible upgrades such as spoilers and fancy bumpers all make them stick out the second they hit the road.Β
Theyβre basically screaming attention.
Even when the driver isnβt doing anything wrong, the car itself is just flashy, and nobody can help but look at it. In a line of plain sedans and SUVs, a loud sports car naturally draws eyes, and that extra attention alone makes it more likely that a cop will be watching them closely.Β
Acceleration
These cars donβt need much pedal to move fast.
Just a light press and the carβs flying. If you press the pedal a bit harder, itβll jerk you, and you might even get a bit of wheel spin (especially if the road is wet).
This is (usually) where the trouble often starts.Β
The driver just wanted to seize the opportunity and get a head of traffic because they saw a sudden opening, or perhaps they felt frustrated moving so sluggish in such a powerful car β there could be lots of reason why, but the point is that this type of reckless behavior often turns into a ticket before the driver has even noticed how fast they were going.
These types of cars become fast, fast. And if you arenβt used to that, or you arenβt paying attention, youβre likely already breaking the law.
A lot of stops come from these short moments.Β
The Driver
The car stands out, sure. But what usually seals the stop is the way the driver behaves.Β
Weaving through lanes, riding someoneβs bumper, braking hard, and forcing passes all draw attention in an instant. If you drive a fast car in a calm manner, you can still sort of.Β
But if youβre going crazy with it? Youβll get stopped the moment a cop is nearby.Β
And keep in mind that you donβt necessarily.Β
City Enforcement vs Highway Enforcement
Thereβs no room for mistakes in the city.Β
Youβre surrounded by other drivers, there are pedestrians on the sidewalk, and in some cities, you have to deal with tight lanes and/or constant stop-and-go traffic. So even if you accelerate too hard, you might get pulled over. No, you might not have gone over the speed limit, but reckless driving is still reckless.
And keep in mind that each state will deal with these situations differently based on its specific laws.
Hereβs a fast example:Β
Maryland (usually) builds penalties through points and repeat violations, so it can be a great help to contact an aggressive driving lawyer in Maryland.Β
Virginia moves towards criminal charges much faster, which means that in states like Virginia, aggressive drivers get punished more easily.
When Traffic Tickets Turn into Legal Trouble
A ticket is nothing more than a minor setback for most people, and if you stop at that one ticket, thatβs all itβll be.Β
The problem comes when you donβt stop at one violation. Speeding can quickly turn into speeding plus unsafe lane changes, plus following too close. So what started out as one mistake can turn into several charges, all from a single stop.Β
And when this starts happening all the time, youβre no longer a person who had a bad moment, youβre someone with a pattern. And that is incredibly important because everybody notices it. Officers, courts, insurance, possibly even your employer.Β
Once youβre at this point, each new stop has more potential to be problematic than the last one.Β
Every ticket will add a few points to your license. And once the points accumulate, do people start taking things seriously? Because if they arenβt careful, thereβll come a line where suspensions and revocations come into play β and itβll come at you faster than your fast car.
Some tickets you handle simply by paying the fine. But if youβre reckless too often, or are reckless too much, then just paying that fine wonβt be enough. In those situations, youβll also have to deal with the court.
The more serious the charge, the more likely you are to stand in front of a judge instead of making an online payment and forgetting about it.Β
Conclusion
The tricky thing is that none of these tickets or even violations seems that dramatic while theyβre happening. A quick pass here, a late brake there, whatβs the big deal? But records donβt care about feelings.Β
Performance cars are road legal for a reason. They donβt cause issues on their own. It takes a driver to drive that car first. Fast cars just make it easier to make those seemingly small choices that have a way of stacking up (and doing so fast).
