Everyone gets a ticket at some point in their lives and many people simply pay the fine so they can move on with their lives. However, it may not always be a good idea to do this — the problems that paying a ticket create can often be bigger than whatever problems may be solved. Here’s what you need to know about paying a ticket and how you can get help fighting to keep traffic tickets off your record.
You Plead Guilty or Nolo Contendere
When you pay a ticket, you’re essentially pleading no contest or admitting guilt to whatever offense you are being accused of. This may not seem like a big deal for something as simple as speeding or failure to yield, but having more than one ticket on your record that you plead guilty to can add up.
You Accumulate Points Against Your License
The Georgia DMV assigns points for every traffic offense conviction, ranging from 2 to 6 points. An accumulation of 15 points in a two year period will result in a driver having their license suspended. Drivers under the age of 21 should be especially careful not to accumulate points. Young drivers may have their license suspended if they are convicted of a single 4-point offense.
Your Auto Insurance Rates Go Up
When you are convicted of a traffic offense, auto insurance companies consider you to be an unsafe driver. While one or two tickets over a long stretch of time will be unlikely to affect your rates dramatically, more tickets in a shorter time frame can cause auto insurance rates to go up significantly.
Mandatory Traffic School
In some cases, you may be able to volunteer for traffic school to have a ticket dismissed. However, for certain offenses or after the accumulation of a number of points, you may be required to attend mandatory traffic school. Traffic courses are generally about 6 hours long and cost $95.
Did You Get a Ticket? Contact an Experienced Traffic Lawyer Today
If you were ticketed, don’t pay the fine until you discuss your options with a seasoned traffic ticket lawyer. It may not be in your best interest to plead guilty or no contest to a ticket, especially if you’ve already gotten a few tickets under your belt or have accumulated enough points to be close to a license suspension.
Contact the Atlanta Traffic Ticket Lawyers at The Kimbrel Law Firm today for a consultation at (770) 349-9219 to learn more about your options.