Facing a speeding ticket is not a new thing. If you find yourself in this situation, do not fret over it because you are not alone in it.
No doubt, if you are receiving your speeding ticket for the first time, you can’t dodge the emotional attachment that comes with it. The financial burden is also another thing to get you worried. The rules and regulations can be different, depending on the state and municipality you are in.
When you receive a citation from an officer concerning your speeding violation, it is good to read the instructions in the citation. However, there are other things you need to know that will help you during the process. We have put together 5 laws anyone facing a speeding ticket needs to know.
1. You Are Not The First And Most Definitely Won’t Be The Last
Going above the speed limit is a common offense in the United States. Although it is not a good thing to do, most people find themselves breaking the rules at some point. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 100, 000 people receive speeding tickets every day.
Of all the traffic violations in America, overspeeding is one of the most common. It is also a dangerous practice because you can put your life, people’s lives, and properties at stake. Unfortunately, millions of people keep violating the rule every year. It is never a good thing to do, but if it happens, know that you are not alone. Having this at the back of your mind will take away every emotional burden.
2. Stay Calm And Be Prepared For It
You don’t have to stress over it when you are pulled over by an officer. It is a standard process that pretty much happens every day on the road. Staying calm can prevent any further problems between you and the officer.
The first thing that happens when you are pulled over for speeding is that the officer takes your license and registration number to his/her vehicle. After a few minutes, the officer returns with your ticket. You don’t need to persuade the officer not to ticket you or try to create a scene. Just be calm and respectful and allow him/her to do what is needed to be done.
You will need to sign a copy of the ticket. Again, this doesn’t mean you concur with the ticket. You are just being polite and acknowledging that you are being pulled over. After signing the ticket, you will get a copy for reference. Below is the key information a typical speeding ticket contains:
- Personal and contact address
- Vehicle information
- Where the offense took place
- The name of the officer in charge
- Posted speed limit
- Your current speed when you were pulled over
- Preliminary court sitting date for the violation
In most cases, the officer will tell you how to go about the ticket. Otherwise, you can read through the instructions carefully and you will find every detail.
3. Don’t Ever Think Of Disregarding The Speeding Ticket
You will be making a grievous mistake if you think you can just receive the ticket and ignore it. Waiting too long before acting on the ticket can compound the consequences that come with it. If you disregard a speeding ticket, below are the things you could face:
- Your license will be suspended
- Your fines will increase
- You will be tracked down and arrested
- More points will be added to your license
Trust me, it is not worth it at all because it is almost impossible to get away with it. You will be given a certain period (usually 30 days) to handle the ticket issue. The common penalties that accompany a speeding ticket include paying a fine, attending a traffic school, or requesting a court appearance. Not taking any of the three actions will cause your license to be suspended. In case you don’t know, driving in the United States without a license is a serious offense that could land you in jail.
Therefore, the earlier you act on the ticket, the fewer troubles you will have to face.
4. Notify Your Car Insurance Company
It is a good thing to let your auto insurance company know whenever you receive a speeding ticket. This may cause your car insurance rate to increase, but the increase won’t be drastic. However, if you keep violating the speeding rule and keep accumulating speeding tickets within a short period, you are likely to face higher insurance rates and the company may decide to drop your policy.
There are some discounts you can enjoy in the automobile industry. With too many speeding tickets, you might miss out on some of the discounts.
5. Choose Your Option
Depending on your driving record and your state, you can respond to your speeding ticket in different ways. Typically, you can decide to pay a fine, take a course on road traffic, or battle it out in the court.
Paying the fine
In some cases, a court appearance is mandatory when you are issued a speeding ticket. If your ticket doesn’t involve a mandatory court appearance, you can simply make a payment either via mail, online or by visiting the office in person. Also, note that there is a due date for payments to be made. Go through the instructions on your ticket to confirm every information it contains. The grace period for payment is between 30 to 90 days, depending on your state.
Attending a traffic school
In many cases, you can reduce your fine or even get it totally removed by attending an approved traffic school. The good thing is that the ticket won’t have any impact on your insurance rate or driving record.
Fighting it out in court
You can counter the speeding ticket in court and have the whole issue completely wiped off. However, you need to be sure of what you are doing if you want to fight the ticket in court.
If you think you have a case but feel overwhelmed by the whole process, get in touch with My Ticket RX for a free consultation and complete handling of your speeding ticket.
