For many, traffic tickets are more of a headache that anything else. After getting pulled over, having to pay a ticket may seem like you can finally put an end to the annoying ordeal. But not so fast! Did you know that when you pay a ticket and do not attend traffic school (either by choice or because it was not offered), you will have points placed on your Florida driving record? And the more points you have the bigger loser you become in the driving game. This is why it is important to always keep track of your Florida driving record—you may have points on there you did not know about! Paying your Florida traffic ticket is an automatic admission of guilt, a little known fact by many Florida drivers.
Your Florida auto insurance rates are influenced by a variety of factors, including: vehicle type, age and where you live. Some insurance companies even offer special discounts for being a good student. But nothing causes your rates to go up or down the way a good or bad driving record does. And usually when your rates go up, they stay there for a while.
Points can not only lead to a suspended Florida driver’s license, they also cause your car insurance premiums to go up. Why you ask? Because the points indicate to your insurance company that you are a traffic offender and at a higher risk for a car accidents, among other offenses. Maybe that logic does not apply to you, but that is what the insurance company thinks when they get notice of your record. Unfortunately, points stay on your driving record for three years.
There are two basic scenarios that occur after you are involved in a chargeable accident with points:
- Your car insurance rates skyrocket—and if you want to keep your insurance (which the state of Florida requires a certain minimum coverage) then you need to pay or find a new carrier.
- Your car insurance company drops you completely.
Neither of those scenarios are very appealing, we know. The first way to prevent this from happening is to take traffic school, if available. Traffic school is like a gift from the court—it gives you a chance to erase any points that would have been placed on your record. The time you spend in traffic school will pay off big time! If traffic school is not an option, then you should consider fighting the ticket. It may be possible to either drop the charges against you completely or lessen them.
The attorneys at Finebloom & Haenel do not want you to see your rates skyrockets because of a couple driving mistakes. We are familiar with the way driving points and insurance premiums work and would love to chat with you further about the details of your case. Give us a call anytime for a free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
