When you get a speeding ticket, there are a number of consequences that are experienced both in the short and long term. Some can be taken care of in days, some remain with you for the rest of your life. There are several reasons you might get a traffic ticket as well, which are spurred by various violations you can commit while in a motor vehicle. In this essay, we will attempt to go over a few of the causes of traffic tickets, and the effects of getting one.
Traffic tickets are handed out for a variety of offenses. You might be going too far over the speed limit. You might also run a red light. Some states even give you a traffic ticket for not having your seat belt on. There are a multitude of reasons why you might have received a traffic ticket, and many ways in which you can get caught doing them.
Because you have been caught performing some sort of traffic violation, a police officer is obligated to turn on their horns and siren and force you to pull over. Once you pull over, the police officer pulls up behind you and approaches your car, asking for your license and registration. Once you provide them and verify you are legally registered to drive a car, the police officer then looks up your record and can often use his or her discretion to issue a traffic ticket. Due to their adherence to the law, however, they are most often obligated to give you one.
As a result of having a traffic ticket on your record, there are a number of things that happen to you. For one, you have to pay the ticket in the time allotted. With a ticket, a monetary fine is also issued, which you are given a certain amount of time to pay. If you do not pay it in time, there is typically a court date that is administered, and an even stiffer fine is given to you.
Your driving record can also take a hit as a result of getting a traffic ticket. In many states, a points system exists wherein you are penalized on your driving record for each ticket given. Consequently, a sufficient number of traffic points accumulated over time can lead to a suspension of your license for a certain period of time. If you want to avoid that fate, you must be sure to obey all traffic laws.
Your car insurance premiums can increase because of the existence of traffic tickets or traffic points on your record. Insurance companies will desire more money from a driver who is considered high-risk, and every violation you get contributes to your potential insurance risk. Therefore, you end up paying more in the end than just the ticket fine; the higher premiums can clean out your wallet as well.
Given enough tickets and enough points accumulated, you might end up getting your license suspended for a period of time; depending on the severity of the violations, you might even get it revoked completely, never to be returned. As a result of your reckless driving and ignorance of traffic laws, you are considered too great a risk to be put back out on the road again.
If you completely ignore your traffic tickets and continue to gain more of them, you might be issued a warrant for your arrest, so that you can pay the traffic fines which are owed the state. Arrests may also occur on the scene of a traffic violation, as the police officer can deem you in no condition to drive.
In conclusion, there are a number of ways to get a traffic ticket, from improper parking to speeding. Since you disobeyed the law, you must be penalized for it in the form of traffic points and a traffic ticket which you must pay to have taken care of. If you do not do this, it is entirely possible that more severe fines, insurance rate increases, and even arrest and license revocation can occur. Consequently, it is in one’s best interest to make sure all traffic laws are obeyed and adhered to, so that none of these unfortunate circumstances happens to you.
