Last month, we featured an article, Driving in the USA: Speeding Tickets, that reviewed what to do if you get pulled over by a police officer. If you’re an Expatriate who is new to the United States and interested in purchasing a vehicle, it’s very important that you learn the rules and laws of driving in America. The most common tickets issued by police officers in the United States are speeding tickets, so as driver in the USA it is important to know what to do if you are issued a speeding ticket.
What to do if you get a speeding ticket?
After being pulled over, if the officer feels that you were driving above the legal speed limit, he will issue you a speeding ticket. A paper ticket, also known as a citation, will be given to you at the site where you were pulled over. You are now obligated to follow through the correct procedure, or you will face harsher consequences.
Traffic ticket fines and penalties will vary depending what state and county issued the speeding ticket in the U.S.
Potential speeding ticket consequences
- Action against your driver’s license
- Points on your driving record
- Traffic court requirements
- Increased car insurance rates
- Mandatory driving school or defensive driving classes
You can choose to either pay the required fine or schedule a date to appear in court to fight the speeding ticket.
Options to Resolve a Speeding Ticket
- As an expat, if you fight the ticket in court and are found to be not guilty, you will not have to pay the fines and will avoid all penalties.
- If you choose to pay your ticket, remember to pay on time! Ticket fines increase if you fail to pay them on time. Contact your local jurisdiction for more information.
- If you are found guilty of the violation, you may be subject to having driver’s license points added to your driving record. This can lead to increases in your car insurance rates and the loss of your American driving privileges. In some extreme cases, such as extreme speeding ticket violations, your license may be revoked.
For more information about speeding ticket consequences, and to learn about specific penalties in your area, visit dmv.org
