Hi, I just got a speeding ticket that I am debating on fighting. The officer confirmed with me several times that this ticket would not put points on my license. He claimed that since he reduced it 5MPH that I would be spared on this. However, since I don't have any points on it already, I am not concerned about points on my license. I am concerned about points on my insurance which will screw my rates. The officer told me that the points should not show up on my insurance as well since it was not going to show up on my license. I wanted to be clear on this so I asked him and confirmed what he said several times. Is this true? Can they really decide whether to put points on your license? If they don't show up on the license, does that mean that you are safe to assume that they will not show up on your insurance?

Thanks for the help!!!!!

Jon

 

I think it depends on the state you're in. I've gotten 3 tickets and never gotten any points or had an insurance increase. I took the traffic class twice and got the other ticket out of state which aparently didn't effect my Florida license.

 

Number one, ALWAYS FIGHT A SPEEDING TICKET. It doesn't matter if you are going 5 over or 50 over - always fight to keep your record clean, and its easier (and cheaper) to keep it clean the next time.

Now, if you walked into traffic court and explained to the judge that there was any good reason you were going 5 over, there's a good chance you can get it thrown dropped.

Here in NC, usually the DA will drop the ticket to 9 over once you get to court for this "no points" deal, but it still shows up on your record and insurance companies do notice, points or not, and can raise your rates at their discretion. We don't have traffic court, but the state does hand out probation sentences so the ticket will go away if you are clean for three years, but who wants that hanging over your head for three years?

Personally, I find the $2-300 for a traffic lawyer to get any moving violation changed to a non-moving violation or dropped outright is worth it. Gets you out of a day in court, dealing with DAs, paying for parking, and the ticket fine and court costs. I consider it the price I pay for speeding, and its cheaper than letting your rates go up for 3 years.

 

What do you mean 'fight'? Contest you weren't guilty?

I like how you did not tell use your speed over. By your dialogue, I'm guessing it is less than 25mph over. In that case, in most states, you can take defensive driving or deffered judification, which puts you on a 6 month warning and you pay a fine. For D.J. you must not get any traffic violations during that 6 month time period [or in one of my cases I was going 32mph over and they extended that sentence to one full year] and it doesn't go on your record.

If you are a cali resident, look up ticketassasin.com.

 

I got a red light ticket recently ( by camera) at a right turn (didn't fully stop), fined $380. As long as I go to traffic school for this ticket, there won't be any impact on my insurance since there won't be any point on my record. This is because this is only ticket over last 18 month. If I get another moving voilation ticket within next 18 months, then I will get point on my record which will impact my insurance.

The good news is my insurance dropped from $1000 to $800 for next year, which is nice!

 

Here in California, I know you can only get 1 moving violation ticket within 18 months. You can go to traffic school to clear it up. But if more than 1 within 18 months, u get a point on ur record per ticket after the first one and cant go to traffic school to clear it up. Some states dont offer traffic school though to clear it up. I got a nasty 80 in a 40 ticket at like 3am on a weeknight, but luckily it was my first within 18 months. So I went to traffic school for a day and it was cleared. No point, no rate increase. But since it was only 6 months ago, I gotta really watch my ass for now

 

I got a $25 ticket for no seatbelt, which carries zero points, and it affected me when I was shopping for new insurance for my S. I imagine it would have an effect on my old rate when I was up for renewal as well.

 

I actually was going 18 over and he reduced it to 13. I was on a four lane hwy and was listening to fox news on XM about Zarquawi and not paying attention. Two motorcycle cops sitting down the side of the road behind some bushes got off their bikes and pointed at me to pull over. I had no clue what the hell was going on. Talking about a speed trap. I thought the speed limit was 55, not from that county and like I said, it was a four lane hwy. Come to find out, the speed limit was 45. It caught me by surprise and pisses me off. These guys were so...... hiding behind the bushes. Oh well. I just don't want it to go on my insurance.

Thanks for the replies so far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Jon

 

In GA, if you are doing 12mph or below, it doesn't show up on your record. Hence, this won't show up to the insurance company. Like the person said above, this is state dependent.