Have you just received your second traffic ticket of the year? Maybe you attended traffic school for the first one and are planning on doing the same thing this time. But this may no longer be in your best interest.California has recently changed its law regarding traffic school. The new law has created some roadblocks for drivers who wish to go to traffic school to get a traffic ticket expunged in California.
Changes to Traffic School Law in California
Under the new law, the California Department of Motor Vehicles is keeping track of repeat traffic offenders.Drivers who have gotten traffic tickets in the past 18 months or those with points on their licenses can go to traffic school, but California courts will no longer dismiss infractions against them. In the past, after a driver with a citation went to traffic school, the court would dismiss the infraction. The driver’s record would be cleared so that that the DMV had no clear picture of the driver’s actual driving history. But the new law closes this loophole. The state will be keeping track of infractions so that drivers who get repeat tickets will no longer be able to go to traffic school more than once in and 18-month period and will now face stiffer penalties.So under the new law, once a driver goes to traffic school, it will go on the driver’s record that both the courts and the DMV can access.
Impact of the New Law on Drivers
The driver’s insurance company, however, will not be able to see the infraction. But this is only true for the driver’s first infraction. Drivers will not be eligible to attend traffic school again for another 18 months. And now the courts will be able to enforce this rule.If the driver has attended traffic school within the previous 18 months, he or she will not be eligible for traffic school and will get points on his or her driver’s license and the insurance company will be notified.If the driver attended traffic school more than 18 months before, he or she will be permitted to attend traffic school.
DMV Point System in California
Many people are not familiar with the DMV point system, used to track traffic violations. In California, as is true throughout most the nation, the DMV adds points to your records when you are convicted of a traffic violation. Most moving violations come with one point. But more serious violations carry two points. These include driving under the influence or hit-and-run.If you accumulate too many points in a given period of time, the State of California will suspend your license.
Consequences of Accumulating Points
If you receive four points in one year, six points in two years, or eight points in three years, the state will suspend your license. And remember, a point will stay on your record for three years. Any new violations increase the chance of suspension. Drivers with more severe traffic offenses may find the points remaining on their licenses for 10 years.One ticket can cause a huge increase in your insurance. Two can be devastating. Call Ticket Snipers today to dismiss your traffic violation and avoid traffic school all together!