Penalties for traffic offences in Los Angeles
If you hired a car in Los Angeles and were stopped by a police officer, do not get out of the car; keep your hands on the wheel. The police officer will approach you, check your documents and, in the case of violations, will issue a fine. You can pay the fine through the bank or on the Internet. Fines are not collected on the spot.
Traffic offences and penalties
| Exceeding the speed limit |
от $70 to $500 |
| Driving on shoulders |
$450 |
| Parking in areas reserved for the disabled |
$250 |
| Failure to fasten seatbelt (passenger or driver seat belt) |
$50 |
| Endangering the safety of traffic officers |
driving ban |
| Drunk driving |
$390 to $1000, driving ban, imprisonment |
| Crossing a red traffic light or ignoring the traffic controller’s signals |
$50 |
| Parking violations |
$35 and above |
Speed limits
The U.S. has the following speed limits:
- 15 mph in alleys;
- 20-25 mph in business and residential districts;
- 55-75 mph on freeways.
Parking
Having rented a vehicle in Los Angeles, you can park in designated areas. All parking spaces are marked with different colors:
- blue color means that the parking space is meant for the disabled people only;
- red color means that stopping is prohibited;
- yellow color means that stopping is allowed for a limited time – only for passenger pick-up and drop-off;
- green color means that parking is allowed for a limited time (details can be found on a curb or special sign);
- white color means that stopping is allowed for passenger pick-up and drop-off.
The average parking cost is about $4 for 2 hours in downtown Los Angeles and about $12 for the entire day.
Permissible blood alcohol levels
The maximum permissible level of alcohol in the blood is 0.08 ‰. Exceeding this level incurs not only severe fines but other penalties such as a long driving ban and even an imprisonment.
Traffic regulations
Unlike road signs in Russia, signs in the United States are duplicated as inscriptions, and visual images are often absent. Speed limits are indicated in miles and are accompanied by the inscription “Speed Limit”. You low-beam headlamps should be switched on at any time of the day. It is not allowed to carry an open container of alcohol inside a vehicle. Overtaking school buses picking up or dropping off children is strictly prohibited.
Fuel cost
Gas stations in Los Angeles sell 87 (Regular), 89 (Midgrade) and 92 (Premium) gasoline. The first is suitable for almost all vehicles. Prices are per gallon, which is equal to approximately 3.79 liters. Refueling can be paid for by credit card. The sequence of actions is usually shown on a board. When using a credit card at some gas stations, you will be required to specify the zip code where the card was issued. The cost of a gallon of fuel is about $3.30 per gallon. To pay for gasoline using a credit card issued in Russia, you can contact a cashier at the spot.
Toll roads
In the United States, there are some toll roads and they are designated as “Toll Road”. To pay the toll, you need to move out from the main road into a side lane. When renting a car in Los Angeles, you can ask for the EZ Pass device. With this device, you can use a toll road without stopping to pay. Data in this device are read automatically and the bill will be sent to the car rental company, which will in turn charge your credit card for this amount.
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