There are many ways for people to break the law. Some of them are more serious than others. People who harm others or steal property are at risk of criminal prosecution. Depending on the circumstances, individuals accused of illegal activity could face misdemeanor or felony criminal charges.
Traffic violations are also a common way that people break the law in Hawaii. Most of the time, those violations are less serious than misdemeanor or felony offenses. Instead of getting arrested, drivers are instead at risk of a citation that can cost them money and affect their driving privileges.
What types of traffic offenses are the most common in Hawaii?
Unsafe driving is relatively common
While even small mistakes on the road can lead to fatal collisions, drivers often fail to give driving the respect it deserves. Instead of focusing on safety, motorists instead try to reach their destinations as quickly as possible in many cases. That may lead to them breaking the law.
The most common citations issued in Hawaii are usually speeding citations. State police officers issue tens of thousands of speeding tickets every year. A small but noteworthy percentage of those citations are for excessive speeding, which involves driving at a speed substantially over the posted speed limit.
Distracted driving is another common traffic infraction. Police officers also issue thousands of tickets annually for the inappropriate and unsafe use of a mobile device while driving. Seat belt violations are another common source of citations. Finally, failing to stop at a sign is another top-cited traffic infraction in Hawaii.
While it isn’t a ticket but rather a criminal offense, there are also usually hundreds of drunk driving arrests in Hawaii every year. Police officers also arrest many people for driving while under the influence of drugs. People also get arrested for reckless driving, driving without a license or disrupting funeral processions.
Paying a traffic ticket is the equivalent of pleading guilty to the allegations at issue. Drivers in Hawaii have the option of fighting back against their pending citations. Those who successfully defend against a ticket can avoid a fine and other long-term consequences, such as increased insurance costs.