What to Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket
Posted by Guest on Jun 29, 2012 in Recommendations | 18 comments
The following is a guest post by financial writer Dale Cooper.
Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Traffic Tickets
Few things have the ability to ruin your day like a traffic ticket. Getting pulled over will delay your schedule, and the fines can seem outrageously expensive. If you are issued a traffic citation, you probably have a few questions. The officer who pulls you over will explain what you should do next, but in case you miss a few details, here’s a guide to understanding your traffic ticket.
How much do you owe?
The first question you probably have after getting a traffic ticket is how much it will cost. Each state and municipality has its own laws dictating traffic violation fines, so the amount you owe will depend on where you are pulled over. The traffic violation fine is usually not included on the ticket itself. That’s because fines are calculated based on the circumstances under which you were pulled over. For example, if you are issued a speeding ticket, the fine will depend on your speed, the speed limit, whether you were in a school or construction zone, and possibly things like weather conditions. To find out how much your traffic ticket will cost, you usually have to call a phone number printed on the back of the citation. You’ll find out how much you owe, when the fine is due and how you are able to pay.
Do you have to go to court?
Most traffic citations can be paid without appearing before a judge, but there are exceptions. For more serious legal violations, such as going much faster than the speed limit or speeding in a school zone, a court appearance may be required. If you are found guilty in court, you will be responsible for the cost of the traffic ticket plus an additional fee for court costs. Even if you are not required to go to court, you always have the option to go. Most traffic tickets include a court date when they are issued. If you decide to pay the fine before the court date, the court date will be automatically canceled. However, if you feel that you were unfairly issued a traffic citation, you can opt to appear at court and plead your case. If the judge finds you not guilty, the traffic fine will be waived; but if you are found guilty, or plead no contest, you will be responsible for the traffic fine plus court costs.
Is your driving record affected?
Most states have a system of points that can be applied to your license when you violate traffic laws. Each traffic violation will cause you to incur a set number of points, the accumulation of which can lead to higher car insurance rates and potentially a driver’s license suspension. If you’re not sure how many points are on your license, call your state’s department of motor vehicles. If you’re looking for better insurance rates or discount car insurance, compare auto insurance quotes from several providers, and choose the policy that fits your budget.
18 Comments
Leave a Reply
eBook with Michelle & Jefferson for only $4.99!
As Seen On
About Us
Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media | © 2013 See Debt Run
Business
Ugh, traffic tickets. I definitely hate them. Usually, in Canada, if you pay it off within a certain amount of days, its much cheaper though.
Daisy recently posted..Celebrity Tax Avoidance
That’s awesome. Ours isn’t cheaper, but if you’re past the due date you do get hit up with crazy fines and they can put a bench warrant out for you. (At least in my state.)
I drive like a grandma. But one time I got caught in a speed trap. (It went from 45 to 25 around a slight bend where the cop was waiting for me.) I opted to hire a lawyer, who appeared in my stead (I didn’t have to go to court.) It cost more money, but I didn’t get any points on my license and I saved potential insurance premium increases because she was wicked good at her job. I didn’t have the confidence I could have done the same. Apparently this cop had been issuing tickets just to get the fees into the town’s treasury. So I wasn’t the only one being abused lol.
femmefrugality recently posted..Guest Post on Canadian Budget Binder
Wow. I love that cops are there to protect us, so I have no problem with the law. But when I hear about bad cops like that, it’s sickening! Those guys are really ruining it for all other police officers who are doing their job and not just targeting people in speed traps. They might think they’re only making money for that city, but they’re also raising the rates of the individual who might have permanently higher insurance rates because of the ticket.
Traffic tickets are the worst! I’ve never had one, but the bf has plenty. We just get them fixed. However, now my good friend is a police officer, and whenever my friends get pulled over, they just say his name and get out of the ticket.
Oh the power of police officers…
Michelle recently posted..Why You Need Home Insurance
I tried that, Michelle! I said I knew the mayor of bla bla bla and this cop from over here and this other one over there….and the cop just laughed at me. He said “are you dropping names?” I said “yes, sir” and pouted as he continued to write out the ticket.
Haha that’s funny! It’s my good friend’s boyfriend (they’ve been together for 5 years) who is the cop. She’s been pulled over numerous times (she is a SCARY driver) and every time she just says “my boyfriend is cop bla bla and he works in St. Ann.”
She gets off the hook EVERY TIME.
Michelle recently posted..Why You Need Home Insurance
Good thing I don’t get pulled over often…geez.
Knock on wood, but thankfully that has not happened to me. Hopefully, it never does. It doesn’t help that they are expensive too. They are annoying all the way around.
Roshawn @ Watson Inc recently posted..The Price of Eliminating Failure
You’ve never once been pulled over?! Wow. I’m a good driver, but used to drive too fast. It’s been years, but I’ve honestly been pulled over…a few times. *hangs head in shame*
I haven’t had a ticket in a long time. I drive mostly at the speed limit now and really slow down around constructions and hills.
Joe @ Retire By 40 recently posted..2012 Goals and Resolutions – Midyear Update
I do, too. I wonder if it has anything to do with the precious cargo we’re toting?
What I really hate is how speed limits are used as a political tool to extort money from motorists, rather than used as a safety indicator. I’ve seen many big roads around here unjustifiably reduced from 70km/h to 50km/h, or 60km/h to 50km/h, and little surprise to see a bunch of cops hiding out on the road, busting people driving a reasonable 70-80 and giving them huge fines. You’ll see the cops themselves driving the same 70-80 that they were just pulling over people for.
I have the same pet peeve with stop signs, though that is more NIMBYism than cops trying to collect money since you see this in residential areas, though it can be both.
My own personal tool for avoiding tickets has been to slow down around the kind of areas they like to cluster around, learn where it’s safe to go a fast “safe” driving speed and not the posted one, and I’ll go extra slow around pedestrians and kids because it’s the safe thing to do, speed limit or not.
Invest It Wisely recently posted..Zen Personal Finance: My Philosphy, and What It Means to Invest It Wisely
I wish it was explicit, but there are some violations that are often thrown out of court so long as you address the issue quickly. I’ve seen tickets for burned out lights, expired inspections and registrations all forgiven so long as the problem was fixed in 24 hours of the ticket. However, this isn’t a given.
JP @ My Family Finances recently posted..Should Your Family Switch to Verizon’s Share Everything Plan
Good to know, JP!
I’ve never got a traffic ticket before but I did get a ticket for taking public transit with an expired train pass, which in my city is dealt with the same way as a speeding ticket. Our system up here is a little different than yours. I’m going to a court hearing next month and hopefully the cop who gave me the ticket won’t show up, in which case I don’t have to pay anything. But if he does come, I’ll try my best to ask for a discount on my fine.
Being respectful and honest is the best approach when asking for a discount. Hopefully, you’ll never have to try out my advice!
Timely post! I recently received a speeding ticket, my first one in 12 years! Here’s what I did in order to reduce the fine – http://mreverydaydollar.com/how-to-beat-a-speeding-ticket/
Mr. Everyday Dollar
LOL, I’m the wife of a deputy sheriff, so usually I just remind the officer to look at my blue line sticker on my rear windshield… that usually gets me off. Law enforcement protects their own (it’s the ONLY perk to having a spouse who works nights, weekends, and just about every major holiday).
Elizabeth @ Simple Finance recently posted..In A World With No Vacation Days…