May 24
Out of State Drivers Might Have Increased Risk of Getting a Traffic Ticket
A new study that was released yesterday from the George Mason University Economics Department shows drivers licensed from out of state are more likely to get a ticket during a traffic stop. The study was conducted in Massachusetts and showed that out-of-town drivers (this may mean out-of-state drivers) were at approximately 2/3 higher risk of getting a ticket. However, police officers in towns that are dependent on tourism dollars might write less citations to out-of-state drivers. I have not seen a similar study conducted in the State of Washington, but the moral of the story is this: be extra careful if you're an out-of-state driver and/or you have out-of-state plates, as your proximity to the courthouse and the officer's perceived ability of whether you will fight the ticket might weigh heavily on the officer's mind when deciding whether to issue you a traffic ticket.
'out of state' 'traffic ticket'
