What to do when you get a ticket:

• In most cases just showing up on your court date will allow you to negotiate for a reduction in the fine and points.
• If you drive a company vehicle or have a CDL license, keep your driving record clean because your record is probably checked every year.
• In many cases it is cost effective to retain an attorney to challenge the ticket.
• Most states belong to the Non-Resident Violator Compact (NVRC) and Drivers License Compact (DLC) that requires them to share information about speeding tickets with your home state.
• Never call your insurance company and tell them you received a ticket.
• Never just pay an out of state speeding ticket because the officer promises that there will be no points. He does not know the laws in your state and many drivers have been surprised to find a four point violation on their record.
• Contesting your traffic ticket in court could improve your chances of getting your ticket dismissed, especially if you attend your hearing and the police officer that issued the ticket doesn’t show.
• Going to traffic school could remove a traffic violation from your record. If you get a speeding ticket be sure to find out if traffic school is an option.

If your auto insurance rates do go up, shop around. Different companies use different formulas and some may be cheaper. We recommend Comparison Market, they offer online binding, a dependable interface and many top rated carriers.