It Pays To Fight
With summer heating things up, it is time to head to the coast to cool down, but do not try to get there too quickly or you may end up spending more on your weekend getaway than you planned. Everyone has been pulled over for speeding a time or two (or three or four), but a simple, speeding ticket can have major consequences. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration cites speeding as a factor in one-third of all crash-related fatalities and Texas is cracking down by adding traffic cameras on the road ways and adding surcharges on top of already hefty fines. What do you do? Don’t speed.
If you do speed and get caught, fight the ticket because a $100 ticket could cost you more than $2000 if your insurance company gets a hold of it. Most major insurance companies raise your premiums after just one ticket. For example, assume you are paying around the nation average rates of $800 annually for liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Your insurance company may offer a 25% good driver discount so you would pay only $600. One speeding ticket could mean around a 25% increase from the base premium, which is a $200 increase or $600 over three years on the base premium – good bye good driver discount, hello surcharges. First, find what your driving records looks like by requesting a copy of your driving record from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at: http://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/txdps/TXDPSLicenseeManager.
Make sure it is accurate and report any inaccuracies to DPS. Could you be facing a suspension if you receive another ticket? Call DPS (512-424-2600) to answer your questions and then call your insurance company to see what another ticket would mean to your rates. What they say may help get the lead out your foot.
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