There is nothing more dreadful than seeing red and blue lights flashing in your rear view mirror while driving on the highway. You’re pulled over and the officer issues you a speeding ticket.
Stressing, you start to worry and ask yourself multiple questions: How much will you have to pay? What does this means for your driving record? Does a speeding ticket stay on your driving record?
If so, how long do speeding tickets stay on your driving record?
Getting a speeding ticket doesn’t have to be stressful if you know what do and know the right people who can help you.
If you’ve been pulled over for speeding above the limit in Louisiana, follow these steps and keep reading, to learn more about speeding tickets and how it affects your driving record.
What to Do When You Get a Speeding Ticket?
Speeding tickets are the most common traffic violation, but that doesn’t mean that they’re any less serious.
In fact, one in every six Americans is issued a speeding citation every year with more than 85% of Americans admitting to driving above the speed limit.
While speeding tickets are considered to be less serious than most criminal offenses, they can however affect your driving record-putting you at risk of a suspended license and raise your insurance premium.
With that being said, after you’ve received your speeding ticket, here’s what you should do:
Contact the local government in that parish
Your very first step is to contact the local government in the parish where you received your citation.
The state of Louisiana differs from most states as it requires you to ask when, where, and how to pay for your ticket as the payment options will not be published on the actual citation itself.
There are many parishes who participate in the Louisiana Pre-Trial Diversion scheme also known as the P.T.D. This program gives drivers the opportunity to pay the ticket quickly and prevents it from going on your driving record.
This has proven to be a beneficial option for those who are looking for a “quick fix” to keep their good driving record squeaky clean.
However, not everyone is looking to pay their fine right away or even at all.
Though it can be a bit of a challenge, fighting a traffic violation is another option for those who want to protect their driving record and save their insurance premium.
Why You Need A Speeding Ticket Lawyer in Louisiana
Want to dismiss your speeding ticket and maintain a clean driving record?
You may want to consider hiring a traffic ticket lawyer for the best legal representation. A speeding ticket lawyer has extensive knowledge of the court system and can help you win your case.
Not to mention, traffic ticket lawyers can offer you a free legal consultation service to help you better understand your rights and options to resolve your traffic violation.
If you’re not familiar with the Louisiana state traffic laws or how to gather strong evidence to aid in your case, your lawyer can assist you with this process.
Lawyers knows how to use the right common defenses to get your speeding ticket dismissed, saving you more time and money and protecting your driving record.
The consequences of a speeding ticket
There are many consequences you can face in the state of Louisiana with a speeding ticket on your driving record. Those consequences include:
- Pay a high fine: In the state of Louisiana, speeding tickets can range anywhere from $100 to $300 depending on the parish in which the ticket was issued and how fast you were driving over the speed limit.
- A driver’s license suspension: This can happen if you receive too many traffic tickets or violations within a period of five years.
- Difficulty getting car insurance: Car insurance companies may check your driving records and consider those with speeding tickets a greater insurance risk. Therefore, increasing your car insurance premium.
- Driver’s license revoked: An excessive amount of traffic violations means your driver’s license is at risk of being revoked. Your driver’s license may be suspended for a few months or in the worst case, up to several years. This will lead to higher fines and court fees.
- Increased car insurance premiums or rates: Speeding tickets can cause your insurance premiums and rates to skyrocket, with some rates increasing by 20-30%. Your insurance premium can remain high for years with you paying thousands of dollars more.
- Tickets staying on your record: Depending on how serious your traffic violation is, your ticket may stay on your record for 3-5 years. However, with the help of a traffic ticket lawyer you may be able to get the ticket expunged from your record.
How to protect your driving record
Requesting a copy of your Louisiana driving record from the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is the first step to take in protecting your driving record.
Checking your driving record allows you to see the amount of traffic violations and old traffic tickets that you have, giving you an opportunity to fix your record.
Your driving records affects your insurance rate and even your employment, therefore it’s imperative to make sure that your driving record stay cleans and that the information on your record is accurate.
You may even be able to overturn your speeding ticket by completing an online defensive driving course.
Defensive driving courses range between four to eight hours long, but require a judge’s permission to enroll in the course.
Course prices cost anywhere between $10-$150 and you must pass the final exam at the end. Taking a defensive driving course can seriously aid in the efforts to clear your driving record.
Once the course is completed, you can submit it for an appeal and also send it to your insurance company to reduce your insurance rates if they have skyrocketed.
Protecting your driving record is key to ensuring that you do not lose your driving privileges and face any consequences that may affect your quality of living.
Why Choose Us?
Our experienced licensed attorneys have successfully defended over 1,000 clients with traffic violations in the state of Louisiana.
With more than 15 years of experience, we offer the support of a legal team who knows the ins and outs of the Louisiana court system, traffic laws, procedures and process.
Do you have questions regarding your speeding ticket? In need of a lawyer to help you dispute your traffic ticket?
Get in touch with us today by calling (225) 327-1722 to save yourself time and money in court and take advantage of our free consultation service.
