Traffic Lawyer
Getting a traffic ticket can be an annoying occurrence. Getting a traffic ticket when visiting a different state can be downright frustrating. It can be difficult to track the ticket due to differing laws, and it may be hard to contest it while traveling. While a ticket given in a different state always follows the laws and rules of the state it was given in, it may have consequences in your home state. There are two main ways a traffic violation affects you at home:
- Insurance
- Points
It is important to understand how this process works if you are planning a road trip through a state other than the one you live in.
Insurance
Unfortunately, there is essentially no way to prevent a ticket from affecting your insurance rates, including when a ticket is gained in a different state. There are a few reasons a ticket will not go on your record, but being in a foreign state is not one of them. As long as the ticket does go on your record, your insurance company will know about it. However, this does not necessarily mean your rates will go up. Some insurance companies or state policies say that a single violation cannot affect insurance rates. However, a violation in another state does still count against your limit before your rates do begin to rise.
Points
Chances are very high that a traffic violation in one state will assign points just like a violation in your home state. If you receive enough points in a set amount of time, you may be at risk of losing your license. Nearly all states and Washington D.C. have signed an agreement to share traffic violation points between them, although there are a few states which do not:
- Georgia
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
Unless you get a ticket in one of these few states, you should expect the earned points to affect your license.
Contesting
There are a few ways you can avoid a ticket, whether it is earned in or out of state. You have the right to content any ticket, and it may be possible to do this remotely if you travel to your home state. You also almost always have the option to attend traffic school, which removes violations from your record. Attending traffic school cannot get you out of paying the fine, however. Additionally, some states offer the option to pay an additional fine to keep the ticket off your record. If you plan to contest your ticket, it may be a good idea to speak with a traffic ticket attorney.
Source: Traffic Lawyer Wytheville, VA, The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt