The sheer number of speeding tickets issued each year may surprise the average driver. Roughly 41 million people will receive a speeding ticket, indicating how common the moving violation is.
There are several reasons why drivers may exceed the speed limit. They could be running late, impatient, or road raging and decide to step on the gas. Or they may not be paying attention to their odometer and posted speed limit signs, so they drift beyond the speed limit. Others could be outright negligent and choose to deliberately drive recklessly.
No matter the reason why, anyone who drives above the posted speed limit risks getting a citation. When a driver receives a speeding ticket, it appears advisable to follow specific steps in the immediate aftermath.
Staying Calm and Taking Action
While receiving a speeding ticket can be surprising and overwhelming, it is vital to stay calm. Once you calm down and have a clear head, check the personal information on the ticket. This information would include the vehicle details, the date and time, the location of the violation, and any officer’s notes. Look for any errors on the speeding ticket, as they may result in the ticket being dismissed. However, such mistakes can be rare.
In short order, the summons and fine for the speeding ticket will arrive in the mail, although the ticket itself may serve as the summons in some jurisdictions. A key thing to look for is the deadline to pay the fine for the speeding ticket. Typically, people plead guilty, accept the fine, and pay by mail, since paying a speeding ticket or other infraction generally does not require a court appearance. The deadlines may vary from state to state, with 30 days being quite common. Failing to pay the ticket often leads to a bench warrant, which can result in arrest.
Points on a Driving Record and Traffic School
There are consequences beyond the monetary fine. Pleading guilty will also result in points on your license, which commonly results in higher insurance premiums. Accumulating too many points in a specific time period can result in a license suspension.
One way to mitigate the impact of a traffic ticket is to attend traffic school. In traffic school, you would pay the fine and enroll in an approved online or in-person defensive driving or traffic safety course. Successful completion of this course will prevent points from being added to your license, which will keep your insurance rates from going up. Be aware that there may be restrictions on when you can take the classes, with waiting periods, 12 months, for example, between traffic school eligibility. These time restrictions keep reckless drivers from constantly speeding and avoiding any consequences by taking traffic school repeatedly.
Fighting the Ticket
It’s important to understand the legal options following a traffic ticket. Contesting the ticket could be an option. For example, there may be valid excuses for speeding, such as trying to get somewhere in an emergency or navigating harsh weather conditions. Other factors might factor into the defense, such as a radar error that calibrates the wrong speed.
Sometimes the officer who issued the citation doesn’t appear in court, resulting in the dismissal of the traffic ticket. If the officer does not show up and the dismissal occurs, there would be no points on your license. Of course, there’s no way to know whether the officer will or won’t appear. Also, the judge could continue the proceedings without the officer’s testimony.
There can be another benefit to appearing in court. Remember, the fine on the ticket is the maximum amount. It is possible to negotiate a reduction in the amount in court. Usually, the driver will hire a traffic lawyer to negotiate a lower amount or mount a defense.
Following Up on the Ticket
After the ticket is adjudicated, it’s helpful to review your driving record. You can check whether the points were not applied if you attended traffic court, among other things. Knowing which information appears on your driver’s license is valuable knowledge.
