My Fleep:
Finance
Finance
What Does A Traffic Ticket REALLY Cost You
Every day you see some unlucky person pulled over on a
street or freeway being given a speeding ticket or some
other kind of moving violation. When it happens to a truck
driver there are even more serious consequences because
they can lose their license if they have enough, even
minor, Department of Transportation violations. It is no
secret that a lot of communities use ticketing as a revenue
enhancement activity to add to the local coffers.
In many places, since 9/11, there has been an increased
police presence in order to detect potential terrorist
activity or in some areas to catch illegal aliens. But
let's face it, most cities are faced with budget deficits
and in these tough economic times traffic tickets are an
easy form of taxation to balance the books. The reality is
that in many communities when the police see an out of
state driver, they can pretty much count on the uncontested
fine being paid because the tourist isn't coming back to
fight it.
The cost of hiring and training a traffic officer is
approximately $75,000 per year but he or she can issue
between $150,000 to $200,000 in citations. How many
businesses can equal that rate of return? There are many
towns like New Rome, Ohio and Waldo, Florida where over 70%
of their entire operating budget comes from the fines
generated by moving violations.
You may be thinking, "How does this affect me? I am a good
driver and I hardly ever get tickets." Just because you
haven't done anything wrong doesn't mean you won't see
those dreaded blue lights flashing in your rear view
mirror. If that does happen you need to know that the true
cost of a moving violation has drastically changed in the
last few years.
As examples of the effects of receiving tickets let's look
at some real world examples. Mary is a busy sales
representative who has 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 freeway. She has 9 out of the 12 points on her driver's
license. She was shocked 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.
Our next victim 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 can't get affordable
insurance so he is in the process of losing his truck to
the finance company and doesn't 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.
Relating Mary and Jeffrey's stories is not about you
feeling sorry for them, it is to impress upon you the
severe consequences that can come from receiving a traffic
ticket. Of course you should obey all traffic laws, not
just for your physical protection but also to protect your
wallet. But how often are drivers following the laws but
are just in the wrong place at the wrong time and are going
to be used to help balance the local budget? It is
happening more and more often and you or someone in your
family could be next.
What should you do if you receive a citation? Never just
pay a ticket. Check with the clerk of the 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 most cost effective
option when you consider the additional cost of your
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." Legal insurance works for your legal bills the
same way medical insurance works for your medical expenses.
Some things are covered for no extra cost and others are
available for a discount. When I saw how this insurance
worked in July of 2006, I immediately got it for my family
and am very impressed at how it delivers liberty and
justice for all and not just for those who can afford it.
----------------------------------------------------
Ms. Rachman has been an attorney since 1996 and is just
flat out excited that she discovered legal insurance. When
clients ask for referrals she always tells them to look at
legal insurance. For more information go to
http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/brachman
Every day you see some unlucky person pulled over on a
street or freeway being given a speeding ticket or some
other kind of moving violation. When it happens to a truck
driver there are even more serious consequences because
they can lose their license if they have enough, even
minor, Department of Transportation violations. It is no
secret that a lot of communities use ticketing as a revenue
enhancement activity to add to the local coffers.
In many places, since 9/11, there has been an increased
police presence in order to detect potential terrorist
activity or in some areas to catch illegal aliens. But
let's face it, most cities are faced with budget deficits
and in these tough economic times traffic tickets are an
easy form of taxation to balance the books. The reality is
that in many communities when the police see an out of
state driver, they can pretty much count on the uncontested
fine being paid because the tourist isn't coming back to
fight it.
The cost of hiring and training a traffic officer is
approximately $75,000 per year but he or she can issue
between $150,000 to $200,000 in citations. How many
businesses can equal that rate of return? There are many
towns like New Rome, Ohio and Waldo, Florida where over 70%
of their entire operating budget comes from the fines
generated by moving violations.
You may be thinking, "How does this affect me? I am a good
driver and I hardly ever get tickets." Just because you
haven't done anything wrong doesn't mean you won't see
those dreaded blue lights flashing in your rear view
mirror. If that does happen you need to know that the true
cost of a moving violation has drastically changed in the
last few years.
As examples of the effects of receiving tickets let's look
at some real world examples. Mary is a busy sales
representative who has 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 freeway. She has 9 out of the 12 points on her driver's
license. She was shocked 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.
Our next victim 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 can't get affordable
insurance so he is in the process of losing his truck to
the finance company and doesn't 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.
Relating Mary and Jeffrey's stories is not about you
feeling sorry for them, it is to impress upon you the
severe consequences that can come from receiving a traffic
ticket. Of course you should obey all traffic laws, not
just for your physical protection but also to protect your
wallet. But how often are drivers following the laws but
are just in the wrong place at the wrong time and are going
to be used to help balance the local budget? It is
happening more and more often and you or someone in your
family could be next.
What should you do if you receive a citation? Never just
pay a ticket. Check with the clerk of the 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 most cost effective
option when you consider the additional cost of your
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." Legal insurance works for your legal bills the
same way medical insurance works for your medical expenses.
Some things are covered for no extra cost and others are
available for a discount. When I saw how this insurance
worked in July of 2006, I immediately got it for my family
and am very impressed at how it delivers liberty and
justice for all and not just for those who can afford it.
----------------------------------------------------
Ms. Rachman has been an attorney since 1996 and is just
flat out excited that she discovered legal insurance. When
clients ask for referrals she always tells them to look at
legal insurance. For more information go to
http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/brachman