It’s easy to get stressed out by speeding tickets or traffic citations, especially if it’s your first time through the motions. There’s much to consider, such as paying for the ticket, driver’s license points, a new mark on your driving history, and insurance rates.
Consider this your guide to speeding tickets –how to handle them, what they could mean for you, ways to save money, and the best way to approach traffic violations. While speeding tickets are preventable, statistics show that 70% of drivers are issued tickets yearly. Many of us find ourselves part of the 70%, so it helps to be prepared and know what to do in the event of a ticket.
What Happens When You Get A Speeding Ticket?
It happens to many people. There’s no traffic at this time of day, so you book it a smidge over the speed limit to save time. However, you may or may not have seen the patrol car stationed over on the side of the road. The flashing lights and sirens come on, and you must pull over. The officer will request your license and registration while asking how fast you were going and inform you why they pulled you over.
When in this situation, always remain level-headed and non-confrontational. Your parents probably told you in the past to be respectful to police officers when you were younger. Now is the time.
Your signature will be required when the officer returns from their car, along with your documentation and ticket. The signature doesn’t function as a confession or anything like that; instead, it’s a legal agreement that you have received the ticket and are responsible for resolving it.
A speeding ticket costs $150, with added fines if you miss the payment deadline. The officer will tell you how to pay for your ticket in person, which requires you to go to a specific location in town. Of course, in today’s day and age, paying a speeding ticket can quickly be done online. Instructions are also written on the back of the ticket in case you need to remember.
What are the Consequences of a Speeding Ticket?
Speeding tickets are no small fees. As previously mentioned, they average around $150. A preliminary court date will also be set with the payment due date. In addition to the deadlines you now have to meet, a speeding ticket can also:
- Affect your driving record - A first-time speeding ticket can cause a mark-up on your driving record or history. Depending on the severity of the ticket or whether it’s your first one, you may be able to expunge it from the record later.
- Add DMV points to your license - The DMV applies points to your driver’s license whenever you have a traffic violation. It’s like golf; you want the least amount of points possible, or your license may be revoked. Points stay on your license for a certain period, depending on your state.
- Raise car insurance rates - A marked-up driving record and points on your license after a speeding ticket are grounds for your insurance company to increase your rates.
- Cost a significant amount - Paying the ticket amount is getting off easy compared to the court fees and overdue penalties.
- Assign a preliminary court date - All traffic violations have a court date with the municipal traffic division. If you decide to fight the ticket, this is another date to keep in mind, along with your ticket payment due date.
What Are Ways to Resolve a Speeding Ticket?
There are three sure-fire ways to resolve a speeding ticket. Even if it’s your first, the process remains constant. You can pay the ticket, fight it in court, or seek mitigation. We’ll start by paying for the ticket before or during its due date. While the average cost is $150, some states may have higher fines for exceeding the speed limit. Regardless of state, the instructions on paying are printed on the back of the citation. You can head to a traffic division location or pay through their website. It’s as simple as that. We’ll get into the specifics of an unpaid ticket later.
You’d take a speeding ticket to court and fight it when you’re sure you weren’t speeding or the ticket is unjustified. People do this to lower the fine or even add points to their license. It’s not about excusing the ticket but minimizing the cost. You’d be expected to pay court fees and hire a lawyer. There are specialized traffic attorneys. You can prepare for a traffic court hearing by knowing the circumstances of your ticket, asking to see the ticketing officer’s paperwork, and knowing what device they used to track your speed. You can present these as evidence for your case.
The third option you have is to seek mitigation. However, it works much better when it’s your first speeding ticket or you haven’t had one in several years. While you admit to the ticket, you explain the circumstances leading up to the citation. Some judges are lenient if you’re a safe driver and could extend the time to pay it or lower the fine.
Another way to reduce the penalty is to take an approved defensive driving course. Like how insurance companies give safe driver bonuses to those who complete the course, the judge may reduce your penalty or fine. Taking driving classes or lessons shows that you are taking steps to become a better driver. Even if you choose not to seek mitigation, you may still take a driving class to lower your ticket fine.
Do Speeding Tickets Affect My Insurance?
Speeding tickets and any other kind of traffic violation will directly impact your insurance rates. Upon first receiving the speeding ticket from an officer, you’ll need to contact your insurance company and inform them. One citation is all it takes to add points to your license and increase car insurance rates.
Insurance companies reserve the right to cancel a policy if multiple citations are issued in a short period. At that point, the only way to lower your premiums is to take a driving class to get those points off your license. License points signify an at-risk driver, which insurance companies don’t particularly like insuring.
Remember that speeding tickets are 100% avoidable traffic offenses. Not only will being a safer and more mindful driver save you on insurance, but it’ll also save you on citations. Monitor your speedometer closely, brake when you see the car in front of you break, and remember to pass other drivers safely.
Does a First-time Speeding Ticket Affect Car Insurance?
If this is your first speeding ticket, the penalties may be more lenient. However, they’re not to be taken lightly. The fine would be consistent with that of a driver with multiple tickets, but seeking mitigation or dismissing the citation is way easier. A judge would be more likely to grant leniency to a first-time traffic offender than a repeat one.
Taking the approved defensive driving courses works wonders for those looking for more straightforward penalties for their first speeding ticket. You should only contest citations in court if you genuinely feel you received one undeservedly. Otherwise, you’d be on the line for all sorts of court fees for nothing.
If it’s your first time in traffic court, always remember to explain your case in a detailed matter. Remember to discuss the weather, traffic, and speed limit sign conditions and explain how they contributed to your ticketing. If you were only going five to ten miles over the speed limit, please mention that, as many drivers often do. Also, use proper traffic court verbiage like “not guilty” and “absence of” when referring to something that wasn’t there as a traffic signal.
Just a few minutes of your time can get you a better rate on your auto insurance coverage. Contact Insurance Navy today for free cheap car insurance quotes. Call 888-949-6289 or visit us online to apply for a quote.
