How to Deal with Traffic Tickets

Receiving a traffic ticket is a frustrating experience for any driver. However, if you received a speeding ticket or other traffic violation in New York in the last 18 months, there are steps you can take to decrease its impact on your driving record.

Read on to learn how online defensive driving training can shield your record from a speeding ticket, point violations and possible penalties.

Removing a Ticket

If you get a violation, there are steps you can take to avoid penalties. While you may not be able to remove a ticket from your court record immediately, you can take a defensive driving course to improve your driving record.

Accidents and traffic convictions usually stay on your record for three years after the end of the calendar year in which the event occurred. Some violations will be displayed for much longer, or even forever, depending on the nature of the transgression.

Each violation adds points to your license. If you accumulate 11 or more points on your driving record in an 18-month period, your license can be suspended or permanently taken away. However, you can reduce your point penalty and potentially avoid further consequences by completing a defensive driving course approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV).

You can complete our state-approved New York Defensive Driving Course online within 18 months of any eligible traffic violation to reduce up to four points on your record. The class can be taken every 18 months for an additional point reduction, but it's crucial to note that the NYS DMV won't reduce more than four total points in an 18-month span.

Accumulating too many infractions on your record can also lead to consequences such as fines, increased insurance premiums and court-mandated driver responsibility assessments, which can negatively impact your driving record.

Benefits of online traffic school include:

100% online — train from anywhere at your own pace
Reduces up to four points on your driving record
Automatic 10% insurance discount
New York State DMV-approved
Improves driver knowledge and safety techniques
And more

Important Note:

Defensive driving school cannot prevent a mandatory license suspension or revocation. Completing an approved traffic school program does not mean points or tickets are removed from your driving record, but it does reduce your total number of points for the purpose of calculating suspension and other penalties.

Checking Your Driving Record for Tickets

It's easy to figure out the status of your driving record by looking at the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website. Prefer a face-to-face check-in? Stop by your local NYS DMV office to get all the details you need.

There are three types of driving records, so make sure to reference the NYS DMV's options carefully to select the correct document. To check your record for current and outstanding violations, standard driving records — also called abstracts — will tell you everything you need to know.

Reviewing your driving record allows you to observe and verify your traffic violations or points. You can then decide whether to take a defensive driving course to have points reduced from your record and save money on your insurance premiums.

What to Expect After Course Completion

After course completion, there are a few behind-the-scenes steps before your ticket is dismissed.

The course will take at least 5.5 hours to complete, and there is no final exam. Simply review the course materials and pass a quiz at the end of each section. As soon as you finish the course, you can print your certificate of completion and forward it to your insurer for a discount.

We report your course completion to the New York State DMV within a week. Once they receive notification, the NYS DMV can take up to 10 weeks to process your point reduction. They will update your driving record. You will see a reduction of up to four points for a speeding ticket, traffic violation or other eligible offenses in the last 18 months.

Please note that the point reduction applies only to the last 18 months and will have no effect on future speeding tickets or traffic violations. If you only have two points on your driving record and go to traffic school, you can't "save" the extra two points for your next traffic ticket. New speeding tickets will stay on file until the next time you take a defensive driving program.

Good for More Than Just a Speeding Ticket

In addition to point reduction, our defensive driving course also offers a guaranteed 10% discount on your insurance premiums for three years. This discount can make a significant difference in your insurance costs, providing long-term savings, incentives for safe driving and improved access to coverage.

To receive your insurance reduction, you must submit a copy of your course certificate to your insurance provider. Every provider is different, so consult your agent to ensure you're submitting your information correctly and that you officially obtained your discount.

Please note that a defensive driving course does not prevent your insurance company from raising your premiums due to accidents and traffic violations. It does provide a 10% reduction of premiums for your current liability, no-fault and collision premiums.

Prevent Speeding Tickets and Traffic Violations

The easiest way to get a traffic violation off your driving record is to not add one in the first place. Driving safely is important for everyone on the road. Practicing safe habits can help minimize the risk of driver-related accidents, injuries and fatalities — and save you from a speeding ticket and court problems.

Our online defensive driving course covers essential topics such as defensive driving techniques, traffic laws and accident prevention strategies to help you become a more capable and responsible driver, all while protecting your driving record.

Our course includes topics like:

Adhering to traffic laws
Avoiding distractions like cellphone usage
Yielding to pedestrians
Maintaining safe following distances
Signaling
Impaired driving
And more

Types of Traffic Ticket Citations

Understanding the types of traffic ticket infractions is important for every driver. Avoiding these mistakes can protect you from fines, points on your driver's license record and a possible license suspension.

Common traffic violations include:

Speeding — When you exceed the posted speed limit or drive at an unsafe speed for the road conditions.
Driving under the influence (DUI) — Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Seatbelt misuse — This includes the driver and passengers, especially children.
Running a red light or stop sign — Failing to halt at a red light, stop sign or an intersection without the right-of-way.
Disregarding road signs — Not obeying traffic signals such as yield signs or construction zone warnings.
Improper passing of a school bus — When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing, drivers are required to stop.

This is just a sample of the various violations found in New York Vehicle and Traffic Law. Complying with traffic laws and regulations will keep citations off your file in the first place. But if the points start piling up, make sure to take our online defensive driving course to protect your record.