Cost of traffic ticket? (Austin: legally, moving, cars)

[pwherman512]

Hey all,
Every morning I drive north on 360 to get to work. And like everyone else I see all of the people who think they are more important than the rest of us driving on the improved shoulder. As everyone should know this is illegal. Luckily the Travis County Sheriff's office has started ticketing these drivers!!! I am dying to know what the cost of this ticket is!? Anyone have any clue? Go get 'em Officers!!!

[Trainwreck20]

Most moving violations you can take defensive driving classes for and have them removed from your record. You still have to pay a 'filing fee' and 'processing fee', or something like that, so that, along with the classes, usually runs between 150-200 dollars. I think they set it up so it is about the same as paying the ticket, but you just don't have anything on your record. I also think that most normal violations cost about the same.

Most of the time (and I usually agree with it) the police will let you drive on the shoulder if you are about to turn off. In many cases (though not all), they will let you pass STOPPED cars in the main lane as long as you are just getting to the turn. You will get a ticket if you blast down the shoulder without any common sense. Anyhoo, the police can give you a ticket anytime you drive on the shoulder, but generally apply common sense. If they are writing tickets, it is probably 'cause people are driving too fast or passing MOVING cars in the main lane.

[pwherman512]

I understand that people can drive on the shoulder to turn, however, I am talking about the ones that drive sometimes for miles! As a cyclist I love it when someone is illegally driving on the shoulder and then they start honking at me- that really makes me move over and ride faster let me tell you.

Just found out that APD hits them with a ticket for $163. Not sure about TCS.

[PeacePlease]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Most moving violations you can take defensive driving classes for and have them removed from your record. You still have to pay a 'filing fee' and 'processing fee', or something like that, so that, along with the classes, usually runs between 150-200 dollars. I think they set it up so it is about the same as paying the ticket, but you just don't have anything on your record. I also think that most normal violations cost about the same.

That is only for one ticket per 1 year period:

https://www.ci.austin.tx.us/court/defdrive.htm

I see a lot of people driving aggressively in Austin these days.. and sometimes I wish I can give people tickets..

[Driftwood1]

Not to defend these people, but, in many larger cities, they post signs so as to ALLOW travel in the hard shoulder during peak rush our to ease things up a bit. I remember rt128 in Boston had "travel in the breakdown lane permitted 4-6pm.." or something like that .. on signs..Such a simple way to ease rush hour congestion... since at that time, no-one is going over 10mph anyway!

As for you on bikes, well, IMO you guys are risking life and limb on these roads, Austin is the only city where I have seen bikes riding roads with speed limits of 55 and higher A couple hundred cars passing 3 feet from me @ 70mph , my life's too short for that risk.. I sure wish there were more true bike paths, the ones that steer clear of the major roads...

[another_hot-day]

The bicyclists who i think are completley insane are the ones who peddle down Volente. I mean WTF are you thinking?