What Are the Penalties for Accumulating Too Many Traffic Tickets?

Too many traffic tickets can get expensive with fines and court costs. However, too many traffic tickets can risk a suspended license and take away your driving privileges. Most insurance companies will also increase your auto insurance premiums if you have too many moving violations.

Ignoring the tickets can increase penalties and even result in a warrant for your arrest. Traffic laws vary by state. To understand the penalties for getting too many traffic tickets, talk to a local traffic violation attorney for legal advice.

Understanding Traffic Tickets and Points Accumulation

Most states use a point-based system for a driver’s record. In states with points systems, drivers generally start out with zero points. For each traffic violation, they get points on their driver’s license. The number of points can depend on the type of violations. Generally, minor traffic infractions get fewer points than more serious offenses. 

Points accumulate for a certain time period before falling off your record. After getting enough points on your record, your state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues a driver’s license suspension or revocation. You have to wait out the suspension period to reinstate your driving privileges.

For example, a state suspends a driver’s license after accumulating 6 points in 12 months. A driver gets one point for running a red light, one point for an improper lane change, and 1 point for a speeding ticket 10 mph over the speed limit. After a 2-point speeding violation for driving 15 mph over the limit, the driver’s license is suspended.

States Without Points Systems

A handful of states don’t use a points system. They can base license suspensions on the number of or types of violations. For example, the state DMV may immediately suspend a driver’s license for serious traffic offenses like hit-and-run or reckless driving. Contact your state DMV to find out how your state regulates too many tickets.

Immediate Penalties for Multiple Tickets

If you don’t fight a ticket in traffic court to keep it off your record, you will have to pay the cost of the traffic fine and any additional court costs. The cost of a traffic ticket depends on where you got the ticket and the type of violation. Speeding tickets can cost from about $100 to $1,000 or more.

Long-Term Consequences on Driving Records

The amount of time a traffic violation stays on your driving record depends on the type of violation and your state’s traffic laws. In most states, a minor traffic violation will remain on your driving record for one to five years. However, some states keep a permanent record of your vehicle code violations.

When driving is part of your job, your employer can also look at your driving record. They may not want to hire a driver with a history of drunk driving offenses, even if your DWI happened years ago. Too many traffic violations in a commercial vehicle can also result in losing your commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Impact on Insurance Rates

Insurance companies look at your recent driving record for about three to five years. However, your auto insurance company can drop coverage after getting too many tickets. You may need to shop for another insurance company to take on high-risk driver coverage.

The impact on insurance rates can depend on the type of violation. Parking tickets and non-moving violations generally won’t increase your insurance rates. However, some traffic violations are criminal offenses, with possible jail time. Most first-time DUIs are misdemeanor offenses, and insurance companies will increase your premiums for three years or more.

Penalties for Ignoring Traffic Tickets

Ignoring traffic tickets can make the problem worse. Generally, traffic tickets don’t go away on their own. Ignoring them can lead to a bench warrant for your arrest. If you miss the deadlines to pay traffic fines, they can add penalties and interest. Moving to another state won’t erase the problem. Most states share traffic violation information through the Driver’s License Compact. Talk to a traffic ticket lawyer if you have too many unpaid traffic tickets.

Legal Strategies to Mitigate Penalties

You can avoid traffic ticket penalties if you win your case in traffic court. You can challenge a traffic ticket by mail or request a traffic court hearing. If the judge agrees, you can keep the violation off your driving record and avoid the penalties.

For a first-time violation, many states offer traffic school as a plea bargain to keep the traffic violation off your record. After completing traffic school and paying the fine and fees, the ticket won’t appear on your public driving record.

Seeking Professional Legal Help

You can hire an experienced traffic violation attorney to take your case and fight the traffic ticket. Having a lawyer handle your case has many benefits, including their experience handling cases just like yours. An attorney can also appear in court on your behalf, so you don’t have to appear.

A traffic ticket lawyer can negotiate with the judge and prosecutor to reduce your charges or get traffic school to avoid the penalties. For legal advice on avoiding penalties for too many traffic tickets, talk to a local traffic violation attorney.