PA Traffic Tickets and Insurance: What You Need to Know
Driving records have a direct effect on car insurance premiums in the state of Pennsylvania (PA). If a driver is found guilty of several moving violations, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation adds points to a driver’s record.
If you collect 6 points, PennDOT will immediately inform your insurance, which might increase the rates.
One efficient way to avoid or decrease points on the driving record is to fight the ticket. A seasoned Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can reduce the traffic offense. You might be able to negotiate a fine and no points.
So, let us discuss why retaining a good Pittsburgh criminal lawyer is a good investment in significantly saving you insurance costs.
Driver License Points
Points are calculated by many states to identify a driver’s capacity to obey traffic regulations. In the worlds of auto insurance and traffic rules, points are generally a negative thing, appearing similar to demerits. The more points you have, the worse off you are. Collecting points on your driver’s license will end up costing you your license and money.
Many states in the USA, besides Pennsylvania, have a points system for moving violations and at-fault collisions. Police officers keep a track of issued tickets, and so does the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of each state.
The DMV keeps a tally of your infractions (texting while driving, speeding, reckless or drunk driving, illegal turns, etc.). Earn too many points in a short time, and your driving privileges might be revoked or suspended.
License Points and Insurance in PA
For license suspension in PA, the number of points depends on age. Younger drivers (18 and below) face suspension after only 6 points. It can also be automatically cited for speeding 26 miles/hour or more.
Drivers above 18 years of age who collect 6 or more license points can face multiple consequences.
- For first-time offenders hitting the 6-point mark, they need to take a written exam to eliminate 2 points.
- For second-time offenders, a PennDOT hearing is scheduled to determine whether the driver gets a driving test or has their license suspended. This option requires the accused to complete the written and driving tests in 30 days.
How do insurance companies in PA apply license points?
It’s crucial to understand that auto insurance and PennDOT points are connected. However, insurance companies don’t consider the driver’s points and then tally them to decide their insurance rates. Instead, they conduct their own investigation into your driving history.
So, when the insurance company is drafting your policy, they consider various factors. They will review your motor vehicle report and CLUE report. PennDOT will notify them, and they will review that as well. These documents list tickets and claims received by you, helping them to understand your overall driving record. If either document contains a checkered driving history, your insurance rates will increase.
If you collect several points, your insurance company might even cancel your policy. You need to have car insurance as a driver in PA. So, you will need to scramble to get another insurer. This is why it’s important to fight your ticket with the help of a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer.
You need an experienced Pittsburgh criminal lawyer to stand by your side when you’re up against a traffic violation. At Logue Law Group, we work hard to disprove any evidence and map out the best course of action for you. So, contact us now at sean@seanloguelaw.com to know more.