If you get a speeding ticket in Pulaski County, Virginia, it’s natural to be concerned about how it could influence various aspects of your life, particularly your insurance rates. The relationship between traffic violations and insurance can vary widely depending on various factors. The mere fact of getting of a speeding ticket does not affect insurance rates. But if convicted, yes, your rates will likely go up due to the perceived increase in risk associated with the driver’s profile. But don’t despair – there is much we can do to keep a ticket off your record.
Framework for Traffic Violations in Virginia
The primary factor governing an increase in insurance rates after a traffic conviction is the level of the offense. Under Va. Code § 46.2-870, any amount of driving in excess of the maximum speed limit constitutes speeding. A violation of 1-9 mph carries 3 points, 10-19 carries 4 points, and in excess of 20 mph carries 6 points, which transfer to out of state drivers, too. Driving at twenty miles per hour or more over the applicable speed limit or over eighty miles per hour is considered reckless driving, a misdemeanor offense under § 46.2-862, which also carries 6 points.
Insurance providers in Virginia are granted access to a driver’s recorded history, including traffic violations, under Va. Code § 38.2-1906 of the Virginia Code. When infractions like speeding are present in these records, insurance companies may interpret them as an indication that the driver poses a higher risk, potentially leading to an increase in premiums – underscoring the importance of avoiding a conviction.
How Speeding Tickets Affect Insurance Rates
Though Virginia does not impose specific statewide insurance rate increases tied directly to speeding violations, each insurance company develops its own formula. Insurers often evaluate the frequency and severity of the violations over a specified period, commonly three to five years. Thus, receiving a speeding ticket contributes negatively to a driver’s risk profile and could result in either an immediate rise in premiums upon renewal or incrementally over time – sometimes, increasing by more than 85%.
Drivers may want to wait to contact their insurance agents to understand the particular policies and criteria applied by their insurance provider because if we avoid a conviction, the insurance provider will never know you were charged.
Exploring Mitigation Options for Drivers
Drivers in Pulaski County with a speeding violation need not resign themselves to escalating insurance rates without exploring potential avenues for mitigation. One potential strategy employed by some drivers is attending a Defensive Driving Course, which, in some cases, may offer benefits such as reduced points on their driving record – and, we can leverage taking the class to avoid a conviction altogether, depending on the case.
Another avenue is to contest the speeding ticket. As traffic defense lawyers, we can identify possible defenses or procedural errors in the issuance of the ticket, potentially leading to a dismissal or reduction of the charge. In scenarios where the ticket can be successfully challenged, the associated potential increase in insurance premiums becomes moot.
If you received a ticket, contact us today for a free consultation.