No one wants the police to stop them while driving. Drivers, regardless of their record, need to take each driving violation seriously.
By taking steps to address the charge, you can save yourself a lot of potential trouble. Consider these steps to make driving after a ticket less of a hassle.
1. Understand the Charges and Cooperate
When the police stop you, you are welcome to ask questions and inquire about the citation. However, never become argumentative or combative with police.
It seems cliché but a little understanding goes a long way. First, argumentative suspects may elicit additional charges besides just the moving violation. Furthermore, they are likely to illicit very little sympathy from the officer. The officer may be able to use a driver’s conduct against them should they have to appear in traffic court.
2. Contact Your Proper Authorities
After you’ve received a charge, infrequent offenders may have to pay a fine or appear in traffic court. However, as moving violations often go a driver’s record, they often have a chance to appeal the citation. If you decide to appeal your citation to the courts, contact your lawyer to begin the proceedings. You will likely have to gather evidence and present your case before the court to have the charge waived.
Regardless of whether you decide to appeal, you still have to face the penalties. Pay all of your fines, and appear at all your court hearings.
3. Understand Penalties
A ticket or driving violation isn’t exactly the most fun experience in the world. For infrequent offenders, the consequences are likely relatively minimal. However, frequent traffic offenders may face much tougher penalties. Depending on your driving record and offense history, you may face tougher penalties. The most severe penalties may include the loss of driving privileges, and even potential jail time.
4. Protect Your Car Insurance
A moving violation often signifies that you take unsafe risks while driving. Auto insurance companies routinely consider applicants’ driving records when they issue coverage. Therefore, the existence of moving violations on your record may lead an insurer to consider you a high-risk driver. Insurers may penalize high risk drivers in the following ways:
· Classifying the driver as non-standard operator, forcing the driver to look for new coverage. Often, non-standard coverage comes at a higher cost.
· Increasing the premiums of the driver’s existing auto insurance.
· Cancelling the driver’s existing coverage. They may have to seek a new policy that better addresses their risks.
Furthermore, driving charges may not allow drivers to qualify for discounts or cost reductions. Therefore, it is best for all drivers to avoid moving violations as best they can. Paying careful attention to the rules of the road is often all you need to remain safe.
We’ve got you covered. Call Barnette and Coates Insurance at (828) 692-8277 for a fast, free auto insurance quote.