What authority does the federal government have to keep truckers from Mono and Inyo Counties off the road? In most cases, the regulations state that a second conviction for any of the following infractions triggers a 60-day license suspension:

• Speeding more than 15mph over the limit,

• Reckless driving,

• Illegal lane change,

• Following too closely,

• Disregarding a traffic control device, and

• Distracted driving.

The state recently expanded the cellphone law, so that final area may become even more problematic for truckers starting in 2017. Furthermore, if the infraction occurred close to a railroad crossing, the automatic suspension kicks in after one conviction.

SMS Scores

One conviction is also all it takes for Safety Management System scores to essentially skyrocket, which means higher insurance rates for existing owner-operators and an additional hurdle in finding a job for newer truckers. Either way, a high SMS score can be the difference between making money and losing money on each run.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration typically relies on law enforcement information to set the scores. So, if an attorney fights a speeding ticket and gets the charges reduced to coasting, the speeding ticket may still show up on the SMS report.

An attorney can monitor your score for you, which gives you one less thing to do. Additionally, if there are errors, an attorney can cut through the red tape and help ensure that your SMS score accurately reflects your judicial driving record.

Getting Legal Help

The aggressive attorneys at Bigger & Harman, APC, are committed to giving individuals a voice when dealing with speeding and traffic tickets. Call today at 661-349-9300 or email attorney@markbigger.com to receive the personal professional attention you deserve. En español, llame al 661-349-9755.