Did you know that almost fifteen percent of all moving violations in the country come from Florida alone? Knowing the strictness with which the Florida police approach traffic violations, cautious driving is essential anytime you are on the road. But even the best of drivers can still get caught for one violation of a Florida traffic law or another.
Much different than criminal cases in which there is often a state of mind requirement the prosecution must prove as part of the crime, the majority of traffic tickets issued in Florida do not require any type of mental intent on the part of the driver at all, just proof that he or she actually committed the act. A legal concept known as strict liability, when the police and/or prosecution can prove that the driver acted in particular manners (i.e. speeding) then they have also proved guilt. Strict liability traffic offenses in Florida includes:
- Speeding
- Overdue parking meters
- Not using turn signals
- Parking in a handicapped zone without authorization
Defenses for any of the above mentioned strict liability traffic offenses are fairly straightforward—proof that the driver did not commit the act. When a Florida driver receives a traffic citation or ticket, it will indicate the nature of the violations as well as information on how and when to respond to the ticket.…