Driving is an important part of American society, and there is a lot to learn about it. After immigrating to the United States, it is best to learn the local traffic laws. Below, we will briefly discuss the differences between driving in the United States and in China, as well as how to handle police traffic tickets.
American traffic regulations are basically the same as those in China; for example, both countries drive on the right side of the road, which is the opposite of Commonwealth countries. If you are accustomed to the "squeezing in" style of driving in China, you must be careful to be courteous and law-abiding after arriving in the United States, otherwise you will be ticketed, or even end up in court or jail. Driving rules in the United States are more comprehensive than those in China, and driving also requires drivers to be cautious. Some friends who have been driving in China for more than a decade fail their road tests in the United States several times, mainly due to differences in driving awareness, habits, and rules.
It is inevitable to deal with traffic police when driving in the United States. They like to lurk in sections of the road prone to speeding, using radar guns behind bushes to patrol. If they spot a speeding flow of traffic, the lead car will certainly be pulled over to receive a ticket. What should you do in this situation?
Follow instructions, slow down, and pull over to the side of the road. When you realize there is a police car directly behind you with lights flashing but no siren, it means they may be pursuing another vehicle; in this case, please move your car to the adjacent lane. If the siren also sounds after the lights are on and the car continues to follow you, it is nine times out of ten that you have violated traffic rules. (If you do not notice, the police will start flashing lights and speak to you via a loudspeaker.) At this point, please follow the police instructions, slow down, and pull your car over to the side of the road. This action is called "Pull Over" in English.
After parking, keep your hands on the steering wheel or in a place easily visible to the police. Once the car is parked, relax; nervousness will only complicate matters. Have your driver's license (U.S. or international), passport (only required for those without a U.S. driver's license), and vehicle insurance records (the U.S. requires cars to be insured; otherwise, you will face an additional charge if caught) ready, then keep your hands on the steering wheel or in a place easily visible to the police and wait.
At this time, please do not unbuckle your seatbelt, or you may be fined additionally.
Face and explain the situation sincerely. In the United States, the authority of the police is very significant. Unlike in Taiwan, where you might argue and bring up a legislator to potentially dismiss the case, arguing with an American police officer with a bad attitude is a huge mistake! For example, in the case of speeding, the police have already measured your speed before pulling you over. Arguing at this point that you were driving slowly or within the speed limit will only be seen as unreasonable and will reduce your chances of getting a reduced fine.
After the police officer begins questioning, you can slowly and clearly explain your situation. If you have committed a violation, admit your mistake and plead for leniency; if you are lucky, you may receive a verbal warning instead of a fine. If you feel you have not committed a violation, you can briefly explain your situation. If the police officer is not convinced, wait until you receive the ticket to handle it further.
Sign for the temporary yellow ticket. This document is the "Notice to appear." Once the police officer has registered your information, they will issue this temporary ticket to you. The formal ticket and fine notification issued by the local court will also be mailed to your address in about a month.
After signing for a traffic ticket, one day you might suddenly find a "Courtesy Notice" from the court in your mailbox. Seeing the dense English and many technical terms inside, what should you do? Many friends who receive traffic tickets often fail to make the most favorable decisions for their situation because they do not fully understand the procedures and regulations.
Of course, since you have chosen to immigrate to the United States, learning local traffic laws and following the rules will always be your first choice to stay out of trouble.
In addition, I would like to remind everyone to pay attention to several driving details that are often overlooked in China: When traffic jams occur at intersections in the United States, even if your direction has a green light, you must ensure that you will not be stuck in the middle of the intersection before proceeding; otherwise, you will be ticketed for obstructing traffic. This is not the case in China, where you often see intersections completely gridlocked. In the United States, park with the front of the car facing in and the rear facing out; in China, people like to back the car in, which may be related to the smaller size of parking lots in China, where not backing in might make it impossible to get out. When changing lanes, you must turn your head to ensure with your peripheral vision that there are no cars in your blind spot. Do not use high beams casually. Do not honk your horn indiscriminately; this will cause resentment among locals.