When you get an unsafe lane change ticket up there on the Donner Pass on I-80 in Truckee, CA, you must challenge the ticket in Nevada County Traffic Court with a CA traffic attorney.

First, It Would Be Best to Avoid All Traffic Tickets

Easier said than done, right? Especially when you’re sitting behind the wheel of an eighteen-wheel truck that weighs about 40 tons or more and can’t stop on a dime because someone pulled back in too soon. 

Sure, CA Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 22107, Turning and Stopping and Turning Signals, says, “No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate signal…” However, sometimes, you cannot avoid turning left or right quickly when someone pulls back in front of you too close. 

You probably won’t have much time to check to see if you can move over without hitting something along the side, let alone wait to move until you can put on your blinker long enough for other drivers to see it. 

The worst of it is if you don’t hit anyone, the law enforcement officer (LEO) behind you will only see your quick movement left or right and not the actions of the vehicle ahead of you that cause you to take evasive actions to keep from rear-ending them.

So, who gets the ticket? Usually, it’s the most prominent vehicle the LEO can see, not necessarily the one who made an unsafe lane change and cut off the 18-wheeler. 

The DOT FMCSA & Serious Offenses Such as an Unsafe Lane Change

The FMCSA makes several traffic violations “serious offenses” that will trigger a driver disqualification after a second conviction within three years of the first. The second offense will get a driver disqualified for 60 days, and a third conviction will get you a 120 driver disqualification. 

Therefore, it is always wise to look down the road and hire a traffic attorney to challenge the first conviction because you never know the conditions of a second offense. Plus, you’ll avoid the steep CA traffic fines if your attorney can get a dismissal or a reduced no-point charge. 

A no-point conviction is the same as a parking ticket. Once you pay the fine, it’s over. There are no negligent operator treatment system (NOTS) points, so no notification is sent to the FMCSA. 

Avoid Serious Consequences from the FMCSA, Challenge Your Unsafe Lane Change in Truckee, CA Traffic Court with a CA Traffic Attorney 

When you get ticketed on I-80 in Truckee, CA, call Bigger & Harman, (661) 349-9300. Se habla Español (661) 349-9755.

We offer commercial drivers a free, no-obligation call or email consultation to discuss your traffic ticket. Plus, we challenge every traffic ticket using a flat fee so that you always know how much our services are before you agree to use them.

Email: attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com. 

References:

The 2019-2021 CA Commercial Driver Handbook.pdf

The FMCSA CFR 49 Part 383.51, Driver Disqualifications