Out-of-State Traffic Tickets: Dealing with Violations in a Different State
It’s estimated that there are nearly 41 million speeding tickets written each year in the United States. And that’s just the ones that have to do with speeding! It’s not even counting other tickets from things like failing to stop at a red light or careless driving.
Typically, traffic tickets are fairly straightforward to deal with. However, if they occur while you’re traveling in other states, they can quickly get complicated.
So how do you deal with out-of-state traffic tickets in the state of Florida? And do you need to hire a lawyer to help you? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions so you can get a better idea of the best solution for your traffic ticket problems.
How Do Points From Florida Traffic Tickets Work?
Before we learn about how out-of-state tickets work we first need to learn about the point system for Florida traffic tickets. When you get a traffic ticket you also get points that count against your driver’s license.
It’s important to note that you need to get convicted of the ticket crime to get points. These points accumulate over time and if you get enough of them on your record they can result in a license suspension.
The point system works on a graduated scale. That means that certain convicted traffic offenses will earn you more points than others. For example, failing to yield to another driver will earn you three points.
On the other hand, a more serious traffic offense, like crashing and leaving the scene of the crime, can earn you six points. It’s also important to note that the points don’t correspond to the cost of the ticket.
Careless driving and speeding through a school zone will get you the same amount of points. However, a speeding ticket through a school zone can result in a much more expensive traffic fine.
How Do Out-of-State Traffic Tickets Work in Florida?
You might think that if you get an out-of-state traffic ticket while away from Florida you’ll be able to avoid points. Sadly, this simply isn’t the case. When you get a traffic citation in a different state, the police will simply send it to the Florida DMV.
From there, it will be added to your driving record. According to Florida Statute 322.27(3), the points will only be added if they meet the qualifications for a point-relevant violation.
This exchange of information between state agencies is thanks to two different compacts. The first, known as the Driver’s License Compact (DLC), is responsible for reporting any violations and or convictions to the individual residential state.
Similarly, the Nonresident Violator Compact (NVC) is used to ensure that unpaid tickets in other states get dealt with in one way or another. In other words, you should treat any out-of-state traffic tickets as if they occurred in your home state.
The only difference is who you will have to pay, as well as in some cases a different state violation that is specific to where your traffic offense occurred.
What Are Your Options for Dealing With Out-of-State Traffic Tickets?
The specific options you’ll have for dealing with an out-of-state traffic ticket will depend on the state laws where it occurred. That being said, generally, you have three options. In this section, we’ll briefly go over each of them.
Pay the Ticket
The quickest and easiest way to deal with a traffic ticket is to simply pay the fine and move on. Typically, the officer giving you the ticket needs to give you information on how to pay for it.
This might include paying it online, over the phone, or through the mail. If they didn’t provide this information, contact the traffic court where you got your ticket.
While this might be the easiest option, it will likely result in traffic points against your record. And, as we’ll discuss in a different section it can have other consequences too.
Fight the Ticket in Court
If you believe you don’t deserve the traffic ticket, you can always fight it. Unfortunately, this can be harder for out-of-state tickets than in-state ones. That’s because you will likely need to travel to the jurisdiction where the traffic ticket occurred.
As such, you should be sure to get good lawyers on your side. That way, you aren’t wasting money on ticket fees, travel costs, and legal expenses.
Attend Traffic School
In some states, they might agree to drop your ticket charges if you attend traffic school. While this might seem inconvenient for out-of-state drivers, it’s not always the case.
Many schools provide people with online options for completing the courses. So you won’t need to travel to take them. As such, you should always research the options before proceeding.
How Can a Traffic Lawyer Help You?
A traffic lawyer can help you fight the traffic ticket which can often get it dismissed. There’s no denying that it would be easier to just pay the ticket and move on.
So why should you try to fight it with the help of a lawyer? As we’ve mentioned one of the main reasons is to avoid accumulating points on your driving record. However, as we mention in this guide, it’s also important to fight traffic tickets to:
- Correct inaccuracies
- Protect your legal rights as a citizen
- Avoid fines
- Keep your car insurance premium low
- Avoid license suspensions
A traffic lawyer will look at the details surrounding your out-of-state ticket. Then, they’ll suggest the best strategy for dealing with it.
Need Help With Your Traffic Ticket? Contact RHINO Lawyers
We hope this guide helped you learn more about dealing with out-of-state traffic tickets. Here at RHINO Lawyers, we know how annoying these types of tickets can be.
They can result in costly fees, lengthy court stays, long classes, and even license suspensions. However, just because you got a ticket doesn’t mean you’re guilty.
Our legal team goes to court so you don’t have to. And if everything goes right we can get you off without any points or tickets. Schedule a consultation with us today to get the legal help you need.
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RHINO Lawyers can help and guide you through a system molded by law enforcement, judges, and lawyers for decades. Having won cases for our clients in similar circumstances, our criminal defense team knows what it takes to fight on your behalf.
Let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at (844) RHINO-77.
