Attending Traffic School

In some instances, in the unlikely event you are found guilty of a moving violation, the court may offer you the opportunity to attend a traffic class. In return for successfully completing the class, the moving violation will be dismissed, or the charge will be reduced, and points will not be assessed, or fewer points will be assessed, on your driving record.

Traffic classes are usually only offered to drivers who commit less serious moving violations, and it is often up to the judge to decide whether a driver can attend traffic school. You may still have to pay the fine for your violation and will also have to pay for the cost of traffic school. Most states place limits on the number of times a driver may attend traffic classes.

Typical classes focus on automobile safety, the rules of the road and defensive driving skills. Classes usually last up to eight hours, and may include a test that needs to be successfully completed before a driver can pass the class.

In order to provide more flexibility to drivers, some states permit people to attend online traffic classes or complete a home study course. Drivers should check with the court to ensure that the school they want to attend is recognized and approved by the court.

Things to Consider Before Enrolling in Traffic School

Before enrolling in a traffic class, ask:

Am I eligible to attend traffic school? In most jurisdictions, you can only attend traffic school if you haven’t attended recently. In addition, you’ll only be able to attend if you’ve been charged with less serious traffic infractions.

If I don’t attend traffic school, how many points will be assessed to my driving record? Will my insurance rates rise? If your insurance doesn’t rise and the points have a minimal impact on your driving record, it may be easier to simply plead guilty and pay the fine.

How much will I pay in fines if I plead guilty? How much will I pay if I attend traffic school? In many states, you’ll still have to pay the fine even if you attend traffic school. Make sure that you can afford all of the fees and fines.

Procedures for Enrolling in Traffic School and Follow-up

There should be a phone number on your ticket to call with questions. Ask about the process of enrolling in traffic school. Are you eligible to attend traffic school? Are you first required to make a court appearance before attending traffic school? Can you enroll in school directly or must you go through the court clerk?

Lastly, after attending traffic school, make sure that the court knows that you’ve attended school. Do you need to submit proof to the court or will the school submit proof? Follow up after approximately a month to ensure that your record accurately reflects your attendance.

We are currently working on several partnerships for our clients to help expedite the process of attending traffic school. Please check in regularly for updates.