Even if you consider yourself a safe driver, there’s always a possibility you could receive a traffic ticket. For example, if an officer sees you change lanes on the highway without signaling, they’re within their rights to pull you over and issue a ticket.
It’s your hope that you never have to contend with the aftermath of a traffic ticket, but most people find themselves in this position at some point in their life. Common reasons for a ticket include:
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Rolling a stop sign
- Failure to stop at a red light
- Aggressive driving
You get the point. Police officers are on the lookout for any mistake that you make.
While a traffic ticket isn’t the most serious violation of the law, it can still impact your life in many ways. And that’s particularly true if you already have several tickets on your driving record.
Here are some of the potential consequences:
- Large fine
- License suspension
- Points on your driving record
- Increase in insurance premium
- Disqualification from some types of employment
- Imprisonment (typically when associated with a more serious crime)
Take, for example, someone who has several tickets on their driving record. If they receive any more points, it could result in a license suspension and the cancellation of their insurance policy. Should that happen, they won’t have the means necessary to commute to and from work, thus putting their employment in jeopardy.
If you’re pulled over for a traffic violation, follow the lead of the officer while carefully considering everything you say. You don’t want to let anything slip that could harm your ability to reduce the penalties against you.
If you’re lucky, the officer will let you go with a warning. Should that happen, you don’t have to concern yourself with the consequences.
However, if you receive a ticket, don’t pay it just yet. First consider what it will mean to you now and in the future. You may realize that it’s best to fight it in traffic court, as doing so can result in it being thrown out or at the very least not having as big an impact on your life.