Everyone knows that sinking feeling in our stomachs when driving down the road and we see police lights in our rearview mirrors. If this happens, it’s safe to assume that you begin to get quite anxious.
A traffic ticket is not the most serious crime, but it can definitely have a negative impact on your life. For example, the cost of a fine may be a financial burden that you can’t take on at this time.
While paying your fine and moving on is your right, it’s not always the best thing you can do. Here are a few other things you need to know about receiving a traffic ticket:
- If you receive too many tickets over a short period of time, you could lose your license altogether.
- You may have the option to attend traffic school as a means of eliminating or reducing fines and other punishments.
- Every state has a point system that assigns a value to each type of traffic offense. If you receive enough points in a certain timeframe, it can result in a license suspension. Any points on your license can also increase your premium.
Can you fight a traffic ticket?
Many people who receive a traffic ticket simply pay the fine and move on with their lives. They don’t want to deal with the hassle of fighting the ticket, and would rather put it behind them as quickly as possible.
While this sounds like a good idea, it’s not always the right strategy. As noted above, too many points can result in a license suspension.
Here’s the question you need to answer: Is fighting a traffic ticket worth the time and aggravation? If you can pay the fine and it won’t have an impact on your record or insurance premium, you may want to do so.
Conversely, if you neglect to fight the ticket and it could cause your premium to rise or result in a license suspension, you’ll want to take action.
Fighting a traffic ticket is within your rights, but it’s not always easy to win. For this reason, you need to understand your legal rights and the type of strategy that will put you in the best position to succeed.