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Thomas Carroll Blauvelt

3 Reasons To Fight Your Traffic Ticket

Have you been charged with speeding, reckless driving or another moving violation? You might think it won’t affect you much other than what it costs you to pay the fine. However, you should consult an attorney to learn more about the consequences of a traffic ticket.

1. Higher insurance premiums

Although automobile insurers employ different methods to calculate insurance premiums, the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) cautions that traffic violations typically result in higher insurance premiums. In addition to fines and fees, the negative financial impact of one or more traffic tickets can be significant.

2. Employment difficulties

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) maintains your complete driving record in what is referred to as a driver history abstract. If you are employed in any kind of driving capacity, your employer will routinely check your driver history abstract. If there are any violations it is likely that you’ll be fired. In many cases, the employer is required to terminate your employment immediately upon discovering moving vehicle infractions. Re-employment that involves driving will be virtually impossible to obtain. In fact, any employer is entitled to complete background checks on prospective employees. If your abstract reveals a poor driving history involving repeated or multiple violations, and in some cases even one, you’re not going to get the job.

3. Suspended drivers license

The New Jersey MVC adds points to your driving record when you commit a moving violation. Once you have accumulated 12 points, regardless of the cause, your license will be suspended. Reckless driving carries a five-point penalty. You can receive a two-point penalty for a variety of offenses including careless driving, failing to keep right, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, failing to stop at a traffic light and speeding up to 14 miles over the speed limit. Speeding 15-29 miles over the speeding limit adds four points to your record, and you get five for anything over that. A reckless driver could conceivably reach 12 points in just a few stops, resulting in a suspended license.

Why you need an attorney

An experienced attorney can help you further understand the consequences of being charged with a moving violation. There may be opportunities for point reduction, lower fines, or even dismissal of the charge. Because high insurance premiums, job loss, and license suspension are serious and costly, you should consider hiring an attorney to help you fight a traffic ticket.

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