5 Effects of Receiving Speeding Tickets

Speeding tickets are some of the least feared consequences of lawbreaking in America. In fact, few people fully understand the repercussions of receiving speeding tickets until they finally suffer the consequences themselves. This is probably because speeding tickets are handed out to speeding drivers so often that they have stopped being scary. However, you should know these five ways in which receiving speeding tickets can affect your life.

Some of the Consequences of Receiving Speeding Tickets

Whether you were intentionally driving faster than the required limit on a particular road or you did it without intending to, here are some of the consequences of speeding.

Heavy Fines

When handed a ticket for speeding, you are expected to pay a fine as an acknowledgment of your guilt. The amount you may be fined varies depending on your speed and the extent to which you broke the speed limit. In most cases, the average fine ranges from $70 to $400.

It is essential always to remember that paying for a ticket will have it on your driver’s record for a particular period. Depending on your state’s regulations, speeding tickets may reflect on your license for any length of time up to three years.

Court Fees

If you choose to challenge your speeding ticket rather than pay off the fine, you will be required to face a judge and prove your innocence. However, if you lose the case, you will have to pay the fines associated with your tickets and the court costs that you will be directed to by the court.

Revoked License

In some extreme cases, speeding could lead to the revoking of your driver’s license. This is dependent on the speed at which you were driving at the time you were stopped. It also depends on where you were driving and whether you have received prior speeding tickets. Speeding in restricted areas, such as schools, could also lead to your license being revoked.

Increased Insurance Rates

Speeding tickets are bound to hurt your insurance rates. Insurance companies determine their rates based on the potential accident risks involved. Speeding is one of these risks. Therefore, if your ticket leads to points on your driver’s license, you will face an increase in the insurance rates your insurance company expects you to pay.

Traffic School

Most states allow for drivers who are caught speeding to request the option of enrolling into a traffic school. Here, they take a course on traffic safety. The benefit of this option is that you get to have your violation cleared from your driver’s record.

Having your speeding ticket points cleared off is very beneficial. It means that your insurance premiums get to stay the same as they were. It also means that you get to keep your license without the risk of its suspension.

It is, however, essential to request this as early as possible. Once you appear in court, the traffic school option is no longer available for you. Choosing this option is very advisable since it holds more benefits than it makes losses. If anything, the course equips you with proper safety skills.

What to Do when You Receive a Ticket You Do Not Deserve

Most of the time, tickets are handed out to drivers who deserve them. However, for one reason or another, you may be handed a ticket you don’t deserve. In this case, it is highly advisable to contact a speeding ticket attorney to petition your case. With a seasoned attorney to battle it out for you, you may evade some or all the consequences of receiving a speeding ticket.