How A Weird Broken Windshield Ticket Story May Apply To You
by Clifford Patterson
Weird lawsuits and tickets occur throughout the nation every day and each can be used as a warning story. One story that recently made the rounds was that of a Colorado man being ticketed for a broken windshield in the parking lot of a repair shop. What can this story (and its aftermath) teach you?
The Story
A man in Adams County, Colorado had a cracked windshield and was actually heading directly to a windshield repair shop to get it fixed. However, a deputy for the county police noticed the crack while the man was still on the road, driving. The deputy pulled the driver over in the parking lot of the actual repair shop that the driver was heading to. The officer then gave the driver a ticket, despite the fact that he was literally on his way to have the windshield repaired. This story caught on the national news and provoked a lot of negative attention.
The Reaction
After being pressured to discuss the situation for more than two weeks, the county sheriff addressed the problem by saying that the officer behaved properly. He stressed the fact that the ticketing was done to protect the driver: broken windshields may crack and the driver could have been showered with glass.
The Legal Concept
The laws defining broken windshields and what constitutes one is mostly decided by the state. For example, Florida law states that a windshield needs repair if a dollar bill won't cover the damage, if there are more than three chips, and if the chip is in the line of sight of the driver or at the edge of the windshield.
Colorado has no special provisions on windshield and windshield repairs. As a result, the decision to issue a ticket for one is largely at the discretion of the officer. This means that the ticket would probably be difficult for the man to dispute.
The Lesson
This story can serve as a reminder that chipped or broken windshields shouldn't be ignored and must be repaired quickly. Driving with a cracked windshield is not only dangerous but can be a traffic offense that can end up costing you the price of a ticket as well as a repair bill for the windshield.
If your car windshield has developed even small cracks or chips, you should take it to a windshield repair expert immediately. They will help keep this small issue from becoming a costly problem. For quick service, contact the professionals at All Auto Glass.
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About Me
When my windshield was broken due to a falling rock at work, I knew that I had to get it replaced immediately. I didn't want to risk getting a ticket on my way home, so I called a mobile repair service to find out what I could do. When they sent someone out right away, I was surprised. I couldn't believe they could do the work right there in the parking lot. I had to understand how all of it worked, and then I wanted to bring that knowledge to others. The next time your windshield breaks, I hope that the information here helps you to see that you don't need to drop your car off for repairs — there are companies that can come directly to you!