I got a Speeding Ticket what should I do?
Usually, when a ticket is given in California, nothing happens until the court date. What can be expected first and foremost is the person is going to have to appear in court.
The first thing to expect is a court date and it appears on the face of the summons that tells the person is summoned to appear on such date to serve for the charge. There will be a date, time, and a location for where the person should report. At that court date, a hearing takes place where there will be a chance for the officer to relay what happened and a chance for the person to explain or to present any defenses.
Upon conclusion, if the person is charged with that traffic infraction, there will be a fine. On the other side of the DMV, there will be points that are assessed onto that person DMV record.
You can avoid having any points on your DMV record by taking traffic school for your ticket. There are two ways to get traffic school. You can go to your courts website, pay for your ticket, and opt-in to take traffic school. Otherwise you can appear in front of the judge and ask for traffic school.
We understand getting inundated with endless charges for your ticket and maybe traffic school is the straw that breaks the camels back. But there is one more thing, your insurance will skyrocket if you just skip out on traffic school like ditching class on the last day of school!
How many points is a speeding ticket?
Most speeding tickets in California will result in one point on your license, with a few exceptions: If you are speeding over 100 mph, the first offense will result in 2 points. If you are convicted of speeding while driving under the influence, your license will be immediately suspending regardless of point history.
How long will the point stay on my record?
That point stays on your record for 39 months — or three years and three months. Every single one of those months your auto insurance company will be charging you HIGH RATES if you don’t do traffic school. If you skip traffic school and let the point on your record there is no way to go back and un-do that action. So if you choose not to do traffic school be prepared to live with your choice for a long time!
Should I Drive Just Over the Speed Limit?
Though we all know speeding is illegal, virtually every driver will break the limit at some time or another. We’re not talking about the really flagrant cases here. Instead, it’s often the times we go one mile per hour too quickly that catch us out. This, then, begs an important question: is it ever okay to drive just over the speed limit?
Let’s start with the reality: even if you drive just 1 mph over the limit, you’re still breaking the law. Speed limits are there for a reason, so don’t ignore them! Furthermore, speed limits are just that—a limit, rather than a recommended speed.
“The speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of conditions. Driving at speeds too fast for the road and traffic conditions is dangerous. You should always reduce your speed when:
- The road layout or condition presents hazards, such as bends
- Sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, particularly children, and motorcyclists
- Weather conditions make it safer to do so
- Driving at night as it is more difficult to see other road users”
Police officers are under no obligation to ignore your offense, even if you were only just above the speed limit. That is why we advise drivers not to risk it. Though it’s true that you could get away with speeding, breaking the law is more hassle than it’s worth. Getting to your destination a few minutes earlier simply isn’t worth it.
Speeding Ticket FAQ
How long does it take to receive a speeding ticket?
It will often take as long as two weeks to get into the courts system. Visit our page with court website links and you can lookup your ticket, pay it, opt-to take traffic school all without ever setting foot inside of a court!
Will my insurance premiums be affected if I'm caught speeding?
If you think your going to save money by skipping traffic school then yes your premiums are now in the hands of the corporation that handles your auto-insurance. Don’t worry that corporation is really looking out for you and won’t charge you much more. Well, in your dreams, reality they will gouge you to the fullest extent of the law, and they wrote the law and your congressperson is probably at lunch on their credit card right now… so best to take traffic school!
Do I have to tell my insurer if I take traffic school?
Nope! Taking a traffic school course means that you don’t have to take the penalty points usually handed to drivers caught speeding. As such, your insurer doesn’t need to know.
There is a law that insurers offer a “defensive driving course” discount. You can get a discount on your insurance. Ask your insurance agent about the defensive driving course discount. Now you can have your cake and eat it to. Keep your good driver discount and get another discount on top of that. Not bad!
I signed up for traffic school but forgot about it.
Best to try to get an extension from your court because you are entering territory you can’t exit from. Best to treat this like it is important… even urgent. Take two hours, get it done.
Am I Eligible for Traffic School?
he court may grant a request to attend traffic school for an eligible violation if you have not attended for a previous violation that was committed within 18 months of your present violation. You are not eligible for traffic school if you have a commercial driver’s license and were driving a commercial vehicle when you were cited. Seat belt and other zero point violations are not eligible to attend traffic school. Speeding greater than 25 mph over the posted speed limit is also ineligible for traffic school.
Notice: If you are eligible and decide not to attend traffic school your automobile insurance may be adversely affected. One conviction in any 18-month period will be held confidential and not show on your driving record if you complete a traffic violator school program. The 18-month eligibility period for a confidential conviction after completion of Traffic School is determined from violation date to violation date. (Vehicle Code Section 1803.5, 1808.7, 41501, 42005 and 42007)
If I Fight My Ticket and Loose Can I Take Traffic School?
Yes.
Aside from contesting a citation successfully, there is one other way to keep a traffic ticket from being recorded as a conviction on your DMV record—attend a DMV licensed online Traffic Violator School. Upon completion of traffic school, your citation will be dismissed for traffic school attendance. The ticket will not be reported as a conviction on your record and your insurance will not increase. Traffic school is a viable option for people who are too busy to contest their ticket or who just want to keep a clean record without further interaction with the traffic court.
If you simply pay your fine amount, you’ll have spent over a hundred dollars and have a conviction recorded on your DMV record for five years. When you attend traffic school, you still have to pay an administrative fee to the court roughly equivalent to your fine amount. However, since your case is dismissed through traffic school attendance, you will save approximately $250 per year in insurance costs for three years.
Even if you contest your citation and lose, the judge will usually allow you to attend traffic school. Upon completion of traffic school, your conviction will be set aside and reported to the DMV as a dismissal. This is why fighting your ticket is a low-risk option. Even if you lose, you can still keep your driving record clean through traffic school.