What is the worst part of getting at traffic ticket? For many people, the answer is the crushing increase in insurance premiums that they have to pay. Insurance points haunt you for a long time after your ticket; they can cause insurance increases for up to three years. This rise in premiums can cause heartache every time your bill comes in. How can you avoid most of these increases? The best way is to avoid traffic tickets altogether, but if you are reading this blog, you probably have already gotten a traffic ticket. In that case, it may be time to contest your ticket.
One of the biggest considerations for any traffic ticket is the effect it will have on your insurance. A traffic ticket attorney can work to reduce the effects that a traffic ticket could have on your insurance payments. For instance, a speeding ticket may be resolved by pleading to Improper Equipment. While this does result in a fine and requires paying the costs of court, it does not carry any insurance points. Therefore, it should not have any effect on your insurance premiums. As an added bonus, an Improper Equipment does not carry any drivers license points either, so your license is kept safe. It is important to note that no type of resolution is guaranteed, and every case is different based on a person’s driving record and the circumstances of their ticket.
People are often surprised how much their insurance can be effected by a single traffic ticket. With common tickets carrying insurance points ranging from 1 point to 4 points, there is a large variation in how much a traffic ticket can cost you. But according to the North Carolina Safe Driver Incentive Program you could see a 30% increase for one point, a 45% increase for two points, a 60% increase for three points, and an 80% increase for four points. These increases will stay with you for years. If you get another traffic ticket, or have an accident, then you will see further insurance increases. This means that you should take the traffic tickets seriously, and do what you can to minimize your insurance points. If you do so, you may be able to avoid a drastic increase in your insurance costs.
