TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013
This fall my daughter called me up & told me she had gotten "a traffic citation" or in other words a speeding ticket. She was worried I would be mad at her. I told her that I wasn't mad at her but neither would I pay the ticket for her. I also told her that she would need to go to traffic court & ask for it to be kept off her driving record. As an insurance agent I have seen huge increases in people's car insurance premiums from small driving violations. Minor violations will typically stay on your driving record for insurance purposes for 3 years.
She had to take time off work & since the ticket was issued in Hennepin County it took two trips to settle the ticket. It was simple - she plead guilty & had to pay a little more than she would've if she had simply paid the ticket. She is on probation for 12 months. As long as she doesn't get another traffic ticket the speeding ticket will not show up on her driving record. More importantly our insurance company will not "see" the ticket & she still has her violation free discount on our insurance.
I have seen car insurance premiums rise dramatically from traffic tickets. Two of my insured's premiums doubled from one speeding ticket. As an independent agent I was able to shop different insurance companies & move their insurance to a company where it wasn't as expensive, but it still wasn't as cheap as if they hadn't had the ticket.
My advice to you- take the time to go to traffic court & keep any ticket possible off your driving record. Your car insurance will be mcuh cheaper as a result.