10 Highest Fines You Can Face on the Road & 10 Ways to Prevent Getting into Trouble
Brake for Safety, Not the Bank
While driving may seem simple, it's just as easy to get ticketed for not following the rules of the road. Whether it's driving under the influence or forgetting to wear your seatbelt, there are countless ways you could lose your license or even face jail time. But which violations come with the steepest penalties? Here are 10 of the highest fines you can face on the road—and 10 ways to stay out of trouble.
1. Driving Under the Influence
Also known as a DUI, this is one of the most serious offenses you can face on the road. In the United States, depending on the state, if you're caught drunk driving or driving under the influence of illegal substances, you can be fined up to $10,000.
2. Driving Distracted
Distracted driving refers to driving while texting, eating, drinking, using a GPS, and anything that pulls your attention away from the road in front of you. Not only does this make accidents more likely to happen, but you'll also see fines of up to $1,000 in the United States and $2,000 in Canada.
3. Speeding
Excessive speeding can also land you a harsh fine—up to $2,500 in the United States—depending on how much faster you're driving over the limit. And the higher your speed, the more time it takes for your car to come to a complete stop, and that's not even factoring in reaction time. It takes the average driver 2.5 seconds to react, meaning if you were driving at 44 mph (70 km/h), it would take you 50 meters or 20 car lengths to react before braking.
4. Hit and Run
More than just facing fines, a hit and run could result in imprisonment—and life imprisonment at that if the victim doesn't survive the accident. In the United States, depending on the severity of the offense, if your charge goes from being deemed as a misdemeanor to a felony, the fines climb up from $1,000 to $10,000, and three years or more in prison.
5. Driving Without Insurance
Driving without insurance is illegal and you can be charged upwards of $1,000 in the United States. However, in certain provinces in Canada, such as Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, you can face fines of up to $25,000—and that's just for the first offense.
6. Driving with a Suspended License
Whether you drive without a valid license or your license has been suspended, this is illegal in all 50 states—and virtually everywhere else in the world. In the US, you can face fines as high as $25,000, along with jail time.
7. Overloading a Vehicle
Believe it or not, you can also be fined for overloading your vehicle. This can be due to having too many passengers or too many items. Penalties depend on a sliding scale but increase by weight, meaning you can face hefty charges the heavier or overfilled your vehicle is.
8. Street Racing or Stunt Driving
If you're convicted for street racing or stunt driving, you'll also see hefty fines: up to $10,000 in the United States, along with possible license suspension, vehicle impoundment, and imprisonment. Charges are similar in Canada.
9. Failure to Stop for School Bus or Emergency Vehicle
If you fail to stop for a school bus, you could face charges up to $1,000 in the United States and $2,000 in Canada. Failure to stop for emergency vehicles results in higher fines—upwards of $4,000. It's important to remember to slow down, yield, or move over when you see these vehicles.
10. Tampering with Emission Systems
Did you know you can get fined for illegally modifying your car? Whether it's due to over-tinted windows or a license plate frame covering important numbers and state names, you can face a ticket. One of the most hefty charges of them all is tampering with vehicle emission systems, which can be upwards of $4,000, as modifications can lead to an increase in pollution and harmful gases released into the environment.
But now that you know what some of the highest fines you can face on the road are, how can you make sure you avoid these charges? Let's jump into that next.
1. Do Not Drink and Drive
This one is easy. Before you get into your car, make sure you're completely sober. This means no alcohol, drugs, or other substances in your body. You may be surprised to know that some prescribed medications you take daily can also make it illegal to drive, so make sure to talk to your doctor.
2. Keep to the Speed Limit
As a driver, you should know the maximum speed you can drive in your jurisdiction, such as within city limits and on highways. Make sure you stick to these restrictions; you never know if you'll get caught going over the limit. Plus, speed kills, so slow down.
3. Always Wear Your Seatbelt
When you get into your car, the first thing you should do even before switching on the ignition is put on your seatbelt. Whether you're going on a short trip to the nearby grocery store or embarking on a road trip, make sure you and your passengers are always buckled in.
Alexandria Gilliott on Unsplash
4. Don't Modify Your Car Illegally
As mentioned, illegally modifying your car can lead to some hefty fines. If you want to kick your car's design up a notch and bedazzle it with unique accessories, read up on what's allowed and what's not before doing so. Sure, a loud exhaust might sound cool to you—but it can also cost you.
5. Keep Your Insurance Up to Date
Make sure you renew your insurance every year and that you never drive without a valid one in your glove compartment. Even if you think you can get away with driving a short length, you're taking an enormous risk. After all, the road is unpredictable, and it's always better safe than sorry.
6. Keep Your License Up to Date
Along with keeping your insurance up to date, it's just as important to keep your driver's license up to date. It's illegal to drive with an artificial or expired license, just as it is to drive without one. When the notice comes for you to renew it, schedule an appointment right away.
7. Don't Drive Distracted
When you're in the driver's seat, your attention should always be focused on the road ahead of you. Engaging in conversations or arguments, looking at your phone, adjusting the radio system, eating or drinking, or doing anything else that distracts you could result in an accident.
8. Don't Participate in Road Rage
We get it—we all have off days, or days where we're stressed and tired, and can't wait to get home. But when you're on the road, you and everyone else are hoping to get home safe, so don't participate in or encourage road rage. Use your signals, keep to the posted limit, and drive safely.
9. Follow the Rules of the Road
Following the rules of the road doesn't just mean making sure you stick in your own lane. It also means understanding the signs in school zones, in construction areas, when to merge, when to yield, when is it your right of way, and more. Make sure you study up on these rules if you've forgotten any.
10. Stay Alert at All Times
If you're tired or don't feel completely like yourself, don't get behind the wheel. You should always be 100% alert when driving so that you're able to react quickly to any potential mishaps on the road. This goes for both busy streets and quiet country roads.
