The True Cost of a Speeding Ticket

Have you noticed more autos on the side of the road with an
officer issuing the driver a speeding ticket? Have you seen
more trucks surrounded by DOT transport police? I sure
have. There are several reasons for this increased activity.

One is that after 9/11 many departments have increased
patrols. The additional police presence is to assure the
public that efforts are being taken to prevent terrorist
attacks like the recent sniper killings. The other reason is
that cities and states are faced with budget deficits in
these tough economic times. Since traffic tickets are a
politically correct form of taxation, many jurisdictions are
increasing fines as a means of balancing the books.

A traffic officer will cost his department the average of
$75,000 per year while he can be expected to issue between
$150,000 to $200,000 in speeding ticket citations. There are
few businesses that can equal that rate of return. Some
towns like New Rome, Ohio and Waldo, Florida take in over
70% of their entire town budget through speeding tickets.

What does this mean to you, the safe driver who has not
received a traffic citation in years? It means that you are
now more likely than ever to see those dreaded blue lights
flashing in your rear view. If that does happen you need to
know that the true cost of a speeding ticket has changed
drastically in the last few years.

Consider Mary, a successful sales representative who enjoys
the perk of a company car. She travels extensively and has
received four speeding tickets in the last three years. She
considers herself a safe driver and in each instance was
traveling with the flow of traffic on the interstate. She
has 9 out of the 12 points on her driver's license. Imagine
her surprise when her company's insurance carrier refused to
allow Mary to drive a company car. The company obtained
supplemental insurance but Mary had to pay the extra $1600.

Then there is Jeffrey, a CDL truck driver from Ohio who is
an independent operator and owns his own truck. He drives
150,000 miles per year and has five tickets on his record,
none a serious violation. He is unable to obtain insurance
that he can afford. He is in the process of losing his truck
to the finance company and does not know how he will support
his family.

Families with teenagers may face an economic disaster if the
teen driver receives a citation. One traffic ticket for
rolling through a stop sign could cost as much as $3000 in
increased premiums over the three years it remains on their
record. The insurance industry considers young adults as
teenagers until the age of 23.

The purpose of relating Mary and Jeffrey's stories is not
for you to feel sorry for them. It is to impress upon you
the severe consequences that may result from a traffic
ticket. It is important to obey all traffic laws, not just
for your physical protection but also for the health of your
pocketbook. I have found that many people are more concerned
about their pocketbook than their personal safety.

What should you do if you receive a citation? Never just
pay a speeding ticket. Check with the clerk of court to see
if you are eligible for traffic school, even if it is an
out-of-state citation. Many states now accept online traffic
school. Check to see if this is available in your state at
http://www.trafficschoolonline.com/?lcode=4013

If traffic school is not available then you or your attorney
need to appear in court to contest the speeding ticket.
Hiring an attorney may be your cheapest option when you
consider the additional cost of you insurance. Check with
your insurance agent to find out the consequences of the
original charge being entered on your driving record. The
American Bar Association says: "The best way for the
majority of Americans to be able to assure themselves of
legal assistance when they need it... is through a prepaid
legal plan." For nationwide legal services contact
http://www.prepaidlegal.com/info/carolynpatterson

Drive safe and stay out of the "No Zone." Remember if you
got it a truck brought it.

The author is not an attorney and this is not legal advice.