For some reason, it always seems that traffic tickets are a little easier to get when you are traveling out of state. When you are unfamiliar with roads and the speed limit, it makes it easier to violate traffic laws and land yourself a ticket. Getting a ticket while you are out of state may give you a bit more hassle than one received in your home state.
What Happens to My Insurance Rates?
More often than not when you receive a traffic ticket — even one that’s out of state- – your insurance rates will be affected. Any traffic ticket you receive will get listed on your driver’s license and will be reported to your insurance company. Tickets that you receive while traveling out of state are generally handled the same way as violations received in your state.
You may be able to avoid points being assigned to your license, however. Some law enforcement will allow you to pay an additional fine for the ticket to achieve this. Even if you avoid the points being issued to your license, however, your insurance carrier may still raise your rates for receiving the ticket in the first place. Car insurance points are not the same as your driver’s license points. It’s best to contact your insurance agency for their policy on traffic violations and insurance rates.
Traffic Tickets Defense
The best way to avoid traffic tickets is to simply obey all the laws of the road. Use your cruise control when you can, and make sure to pay attention to all traffic signs. A few insurance carriers may offer coverage to protect you against minor violations raising your insurance rates, so it’s a good idea to check. Additionally, your state may even offer to dismiss or reduce your traffic ticket in exchange for you attending traffic school.
It’s best to take traffic violations seriously. Any procrastination can get you into trouble, especially with an out of state ticket. Leaving these tickets unpaid may result in your arrest if you are pulled over in the state again.
Traffic tickets can stay on your record for several years. It’s not easy to estimate how much it will cost you on your car insurance. If points are issued to your license, this can even result in your license privileges being suspended. If you receive a ticket while out of state and you would like to fight it, it’s a good idea to consult a traffic ticket attorney in that state. This may help you avoid the ticket entirely and save your license from getting points assigned to it.
Contact a Lawyer
If you or someone you know is fighting a traffic ticket, or something more serious like a DUI, contact an attorney, like a criminal defense attorney from The Morales Law Firm, today.