Even safe drivers can violate the law every now and again. For example, you’re not paying attention to how fast you’re driving, and soon enough you’re pulled to the side of the road and questioned about why you were speeding.
If you receive a traffic ticket, don’t jump the gun and pay it without thinking about the potential impact on your life. Even though it’s the best way to quickly put it behind you, the consequences could have you regretting this decision soon enough.
Here are some of the many ways a traffic ticket can impact you:
- Fine: The fine for a traffic ticket depends on the type of violation and severity. For example, the fine for driving five miles per hour over the speed limit will be lower than if you were driving 20 miles per hour over the speed limit. Regardless, you can expect most fines to exceed $100.
- Insurance premium: One traffic ticket may not do much, if anything, to your insurance premium, but you never know how your insurance company will react. Furthermore, if you’re a repeat offender, you can expect your premium to increase.
- Insurance cancellation: Insurance companies would much rather provide coverage to safe drivers, as they’re not as likely to be part of an accident. So, if you have too many tickets on your record, your insurance company may cancel your policy.
- License suspension: If your license is suspended for any period of time, it will affect the way you live. How will you get to and from work and/or school? How will you pick your children up from activities?
- Traffic school: On the plus side, you may be able to attend traffic school to have the violation removed from your record. However, you must find the time to attend traffic school or complete an online course. Not to mention the fact that it will cost money to do so.
If you’re concerned about the impact of a traffic ticket, learn more about your legal rights and the defense strategies you can use to protect them in traffic court. You can fight to have the ticket thrown out or your penalties reduced.
