Many drivers are dismissive about tickets. Motorists in Georgia may convince themselves that tickets are a non-issue. They simply pay the fine imposed for the citation and move on with their lives. However, the drivers who promptly pay their tickets may then end up facing lasting repercussions, especially if they receive multiple citations in a relatively brief amount of time. What drivers often fail to understand is that paying a ticket is the equivalent of entering a guilty plea for a traffic citation.
Anyone accused of a traffic ticket has the option of defending against the citation to protect themselves from the fine imposed and other secondary consequences. Learning about the penalties beyond the financial consequence of a fine can help drivers see the value in fighting a traffic citation.
What secondary penalties could a ticket carry?
1. A driver’s license suspension
Every citation in Georgia carries a certain number of points. State authorities track the number of recent tickets individuals have received and the number of points accrued on their license. Eventually, motorists can lose their driving privileges temporarily due to accruing an excessive number of points on their license, all because they paid all of the tickets they received. Losing driving privileges can be costly.
2. Increased insurance costs
Insurance companies consider statistical risk when deciding what people pay for their coverage. Multiple recent citations are indicative of unsafe traffic behavior that could ultimately lead to liability for the company if a crash occurs. Every citation may increase what a driver pays for insurance. Eventually, they may even lose their current policy.
3. Career consequences
Many people drive for work. Transportation professionals often need to maintain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). They can become ineligible for a CDL due to citations received in their own vehicles. Even if drivers do not need a CDL for work, their employers might question the costs associated with insuring a driver with repeated citations on their record. Traffic tickets could potentially cost a professional their job or make it more difficult for them to secure promotions. For those who need a CDL, citations could make them ineligible and could render them unable to continue working for a year or even longer.
Defending against a traffic ticket is frequently the best solution available for those accused of significant moving violations. The assistance of a traffic ticket lawyer can prove beneficial for those dealing with citations that could otherwise impact their careers and their finances.