Sandra: Recently, my mother failed to put her current insurance card in the car, and she is fearful of driving without it. I initially thought she did not have it, but I was uncertain whether she would be violating any laws if she could not present it. Is it against the law to drive with an expired insurance card?
Presently, police require individuals to show a valid insurance card, which can be displayed on a mobile device or as a photograph. In situations where a parent’s insurance card is expired, many law enforcement agencies are connected to the state insurance system, allowing for immediate verification of a vehicle's insurance status. If the police can confirm the validity of the insurance through this system, it is not necessary to issue a citation.
Ty: Acknowledging that it is legal to own a radar detector in Texas, are there any devices that cannot be operated in conjunction with a vehicle's radar detector?
Yes, there are devices called radar jammers or laser jammer that are completely illegal in Texas. The Texas Traffic Code states: (b) No person shall use, attempt to use, install, operate, or attempt to operate a radar jammer in a motor vehicle except when a law enforcement officer is performing his or her official duties. So, in Texas, if you have a radar jammer, it's best to keep it on your bookshelf at home next to your best read novel! These radar signal jammers cannot be legally purchased anywhere in Texas. Because the statute further states: (c) No person shall purchase, sell, or offer for sale a radar jamming device. Of course, these devices are only for the benefit of extreme speed offenders. Drivers need to be notified that these devices may not work as advertised. Thank you, life would be a lot simpler if we followed the law.
Asks: I pray every day for the protection of all police officers. I know you have a dangerous job, looking out for the safety and welfare of all citizens, not just those in your local community, but those throughout the state of Texas. I have parking problems on the street every day. As I was trying to back out of my driveway, there was a car parked directly behind my driveway across the street. I had previously spoken to my neighbor about parking issues. I don't want to cause trouble for anyone by parking improperly. What to do? What violation is this?
Parking issues have been an ongoing problem, and your dilemma, as well as many others, should be addressed. First, I must remind you that your neighbor did nothing wrong when they parked their car on the other side of the street behind your driveway. I understand the stress and difficulty that it can take to carefully pull out of a driveway, but the law does not require drivers to park any differently. Your best conclusion is to continue talking to your neighbors, and rather than asking them to do it, you would appreciate them not parking there because you don't want to damage anyone's vehicle. Keep in mind that if you hit one of these vehicles while backing up, you could be charged for unsafe backing. That being said, if you can't back up safely, don't back up.