I’m facing a $5k fine because I didn’t understand car feature – only certain vehicles are allowed to explore back roads

A DRIVER has shared a PSA for other car owners warning them not to make the same mistake they did when visiting national parks.

The vehicle owner made a post on Reddit about a notice they received in the mail from the National Park Service threatening them with a $5,000 fine.

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The user known as Greatbigdog69 ( @greatbigdog69 ) discussed the details of the notice they received in a community specifically reserved for users to make national park-based posts.

The Redditor’s post stated: “PSA: All wheel drive vehicles are not considered four-wheel drive by the US Park Service.”

“Received this letter about a month after my visit to Canyonlands,” the user said with a picture of the piece of mail he received.

“I’ve taken my Crosstrek down way sketchier roads before, but wanted to share this as a warning to others – the park service apparently draws a distinction between four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.”

The letter that the adventurer received from the National Park Service addressed the Reddit user about the vehicle connected to his name and address being on a road “restricted to four-wheel-drive.”

“While the vehicle registered to you is an all-wheel drive vehicle,” the letter added.

The Redditor was cited for “violating a closure, designation, use or activity restriction or condition, schedule of visiting hours, or public use limit is prohibited.”

“As stated in the Superintendent’s Compendium:
‘High clearance four-wheel drive is required on motor vehicles traveling on the following roads: Elephant Hill, Salt Creek, Horse Canyon, Lavender Canyon, Lockhart Canyon, and Colorado Overlook Road (emphasis mine),'” the letter went on.

“Future violations may incur a collateral forfeiture, a fine up to $5,000, up to six months imprisonment, and/or other penalties. Your future cooperation is appreciated.”

The driver who had visited the national park in Utah added that their confusion about the car settings led to them doing research into the difference between four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive.

“Looking into it, there is a mechanical difference so this isn’t unjustified,” the post said.

“But if you were like me you might have assumed your vehicle (AWD) was included!”

The conclusion of the post encouraged other adventurers to “stay safe.”

“Happy trails,” the Redditor added.

How to fight a parking ticket

You can avoid being ticketed by following all posted laws and ordinances, but sometimes mistakes are made

Like any form of citation, parking tickets are preventable by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes are made.

Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket is a surprise to you, there are a few things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.

• Carefully read the ticket. Look for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would then make the ticket invalid.
• Take photos. Of the vehicle in the parking space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that weren’t cited for performing the same parking job. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with the time and date are accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or are on bent posts, or aren’t “obvious” are great things to photograph, too.
• Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If not listed, the ticket is not valid.
• Promptly follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have directions for appeal. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
• When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument:
  • “I didn’t know the law.”
  • “I was on my way to move my car.”
  • “I can’t afford this ticket.”
  • “I’ve been doing this for years.”
  • “I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK.”
• Contact a lawyer. If you’re running into roadblocks and feel stuck, it may be best to reach out to a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.

Source: Reader’s Digest

One of the major differences between the two vehicle systems has to do with tires and proper off-road gear, according to Road and Track .

Though the $5,000 citation for not understanding what sets the features apart, the distinction between AWD and 4WD is important when determining what cars are best for certain trails.

The mechanical difference between 4WD and AWD comes down to whether the driver can lock both of the vehicle’s front and rear axles so they can both receive power simultaneously.

That means that cars with four-wheel drive are generally better at applying traction at low speeds on a loose surface, which affects on-road performance.

Meanwhile, a couple’s car was towed while they were on vacation and they had to pay over $600 to get it back.

And another driver claimed his car was unfairly towed .