Bucks County Improper Passing Ticket

In order for a vehicle to pass another vehicle, proper precaution and protocol must be applied. There should be enough space between the vehicles to safely complete a pass, the driver must make sure that they are in a passing zone, and the vehicle passing should also put on their indicators to inform the other driver and motorists that they are planning on switching lanes. Improper passing is most commonly issued when other incidents occur as the result of an improper pass, such as accidents. Performing a pass in a blind spot, passing a vehicle on the right and executing a pass that can potentially endanger another driver are all examples of why people are pulled over for improper passing. Many Bucks County residents don’t realize that they could receive a ticket for just passing another vehicle improperly. Many of us are not aware that Pennsylvania has multiple Improper Passing laws. You may have passed a vehicle in a safe manner many times before, but were surprised when today you were issued a ticket by a police officer. There are passing regulations in Pennsylvania which require that you do so in a certain manner based on either the situation or rules of the particular road. Local law enforcement knows these laws, and have repeatedly ticketed drivers for the improper passing of other vehicles. While this violation does not sound as bad as other motor vehicle violations, the consequences of a guilty plea will have a serious impact on your driver’s license.

When Can I Pass Another Vehicle?

According to the language of the law, the rules governing the overtaking and passing of vehicles traveling in the same direction are:
  • (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding the same direction shall pass to the left of the other vehicle at a safe distance, and shall stay to the left of the other vehicle until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.
  • (2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall not increase the speed of the vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle and shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on suitable signal.
Many of us never knew these rules until we were stopped by the police. Unfortunately, by this point, the damage is already done.

How Many Improper Passing Violations Are There?

As mentioned before, there are multiple statutes in the Motor Vehicle Code governing Improper Passing. They are:
  • 3303. Improper passing on the left (3 points)
  • 3304. Improper passing on the right (3 points)
  • 3305. Improper passing where the driver does not maintain speed (3 points)
  • 3306(a)(1). Improper passing on a hill (4 points)
  • 3306(a)(2). Improper passing at a railroad crossing or intersection (3 points)
  • 3306(a)(3). Improper passing at a bridge or tunnel (3 points)
  • 3307. Improper passing in a no-passing zone (3 points)
None of these are zero point violations. They will result in points, fines, and increases in insurance premiums. Moreover, if you accumulate six points or more, you will be required to take the PennDOT Special Examination or face Suspension. As you can see, facing three to four points is no laughing matter. At The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. our experienced Bucks County attorneys have handled all types of Improper Passing tickets from Ivyland to Newtown and everywhere in between, at both the Magisterial District Court level and the Common Pleas level. While this may be a new experience for you, rest assured in knowing that we have successfully handled and routinely see situations just like yours. With offices in Southampton, we are ready to help this community stay on the road. When faced with Improper Passing tickets, hiring an intelligent and experienced defense attorney is a good first step in protecting your rights and your license. This content was written on behalf of Greg Prosmushkin.