Getting a traffic ticket for speeding or running a red light may not seem like a big deal. After all, you can pay the fine and put everything behind you. However, there is more than meets the eye.
A traffic ticket can have other undesirable effects beyond the fine. You may have to deal with problems you had not anticipated.
Your insurance premiums could go up
Getting a traffic ticket will likely result in points against your driving record. As a result, you are likely to pay higher insurance premiums, given that you are considered at a higher risk of causing a crash. For instance, your auto insurance costs can spike by more than 40% if you earn 4 points for reckless driving.
License suspension
Your driver’s license will be suspended if you accumulate too many points. The duration of your suspension will depend on the number of points and how fast you have accumulated them.
A suspension could come with other inconveniences, such as unplanned transportation expenses, while you could face legal penalties for driving on a suspended license. Remember, paying a ticket fine does not prevent the points from being added to your license.
You can contest a traffic ticket in court
Instead of pleading guilty as most people do, you can choose to fight your traffic ticket in court and avoid the potential legal and financial penalties. If the traffic ticket could lead to many points on your license or its suspension, it may be worthwhile to contest it.
However, every case is different. It is therefore advisable to first have an informed evaluation of the circumstances that led to your ticket before contesting it. Doing so will help you determine the best defense strategy.