Many people think of traffic violations or tickets as a basic risk of the road. Quite a few drivers routinely bend or break Georgia traffic laws during their daily commute. Most of the time, they don't end up caught.
Occasionally, law enforcement will happen to observe when someone is driving too quickly or perhaps forgetting to use a blinker: A citation or ticket is likely. You may think that if you're not facing a DUI, it's not worth fighting a traffic infraction in court. However, there are a couple of very good reasons why you might want to push back against the citation you received on the road.
Each new citation adds points to your license
You might think that the minor fine that accompanies a traffic citation is merely an inconvenience. In reality, every time you get a ticket or citation, there are points applied to your license. The state of Georgia tracks infractions and the number of points you have accrued. When the total number of points reaches or exceeds 25, you will face the suspension of your license.
Charges such as reckless or aggressive driving, unlawfully passing a school bus or going substantially over the speed limit can all add quite a few points to your license. If you find yourself facing a citation that will put you over or close to that limit, it is probably a very wise decision to defend yourself against the pending ticket. In fact, even if you have not had a previous citation, defending yourself against the citation can help ensure you won't face suspension of your license in the future.
Tickets usually mean higher insurance premiums
In order to legally operate a motor vehicle in Georgia, you need to have a liability insurance policy on your vehicle. This policy protects you from liability related to injuries suffered by people and property damage caused by a crash. When your insurance company renews your policy every six or 12 months, they will look at your driving record.
The number of points you have on your license and the number of crashes you have caused will directly impact how much you pay for insurance. In other words, a ticket could mean that you're paying extra money for many months, even after you pay the ticket itself. Fighting a ticket or citation helps you avoid an increase to your policy premium. It also helps ensure that you can still receive the best possible coverage for your vehicle.
While traffic infractions may not seem like a serious offense, they can have serious consequences on your freedom and finances. You should carefully consider the potential consequences of any pending citation and determine whether you should push back against it in court.