In many states, courts will allow drivers
who have received tickets for basic moving violations (speeding, running
red lights, running stop signs, etc.) to attend a Traffic School Class
or a Defensive Driving Program. Generally, the main benefit
of attending such a class is to keep the ticket off your driving record
and prevent your insurance premiums from increasing, although some states
require you to attend such a class if you have received a certain number
of tickets and are at risk of losing your driver's license. If you receive
a ticket while visiting another state, you will generally be allowed to
attend a traffic school (defensive driving) class for that violation if
you were ticketed in a state which offers such an option to drivers.
Check with the court or agency that processed your traffic ticket to see
if a traffic school class or defensive driving program is an option for
you.
Many courts across America will allow you
to take traffic school online. For information about online traffic
school, click here.
Drive safely!
To read about new driving-related
laws
in California for 2008,
click
here.
In California, basic
traffic violations are
one point moving violations.
More serious violations such as DUI (driving under the influence) , reckless
driving and illegal transport of explosives, just to name a few,
are two point moving violations. If you have received
a ticket for a one point moving violation, you may qualify to attend an
eight hour traffic school class. Upon completion of the class, your
ticket will be dismissed and will not appear on your public driving record.
Generally, you are only allowed to attend traffic school once in an 18-month
period but, with a judge's permission, it is possible to attend traffic
school again under
California
Vehicle Code 41501(a). You may wish to think twice about getting
that second ticket, because you will have to attend a minimum of twelve
hours of traffic school and the second ticket will appear on your public
driving record as a dismissed ticket.
If you have received
a ticket and wish to go to traffic school, you must wait to receive a "Courtesy
Notice" from the court telling you how much your ticket will cost (ticket
prices can vary from court to court). You will pay the ticket amount
plus a Traffic School Administrative Fee (usually $29.00 to $39.00) and
you will sign an affadavit stating that you have not attended traffic school
within the last 18 months. When the court receives payment, they will then
provide you with a date by which traffic school must be completed and with
a list of approved traffic schools. Most courts will provide you with a
list containing the names and phone numbers of all traffic schools licensed
by the California Department of Motor Vehicles and you may attend the school
of your choice. However, some courts provide smaller lists containing
a limited number of schools and you must pick from that list. If you do
not see the name of the school you wish to attend or if the court failed
to provide you with a list of traffic schools, be sure to check with the
court prior to attending class to make sure that a certificate from a particular
traffic school will be accepted. Traffic School fees, schedules and locations
vary.
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