The Effect of Traffic Ticket Penalties on Teenage Drivers
One of the many highlights of getting older is getting your driver’s permit and driver’s license. For most teenagers, the moment they get a driver’s license they feel free and ready to explore the world with their own set of wheels, or at least with their parents’, but without their parents sitting besides them in the car.
However, as exciting as getting your driver’s license may be, it is also important to realize and fully appreciate the responsibilities of operating a motor vehicle. One of the most important things to realize is the responsibility of obeying all traffic laws. Just like any other adult driver on the road, if teenage drivers fail to abide by the law and they receive a ticket as a result, they will face many of the same traffic ticket penalties as adult drivers. The only difference is, those penalties are often a tad (or, a lot, in some cases) harsher.
The Consequences of Teen Traffic Tickets
Just like any traffic ticket that an adult gets, a teenage driver who gets a traffic ticket will have to face the consequences if convicted. Below are some common consequences and penalties that a teenage driver may face if convicted on a traffic ticket:
- License suspension or revocation: Depending on your state and the circumstances of your ticket, your license may get suspended or revoked for any traffic violation if you are a teenage driver. A suspension or revocation often lasts between 30 to 90 days.
- Extra permit time: nearly all states have some type of graduated driver licensing system. If you get a ticket during any permit phrase, you may run the risk of increasing that time period longer than originally planned or starting the phase all over again.
- Point accumulation: While accumulating points in a video game might be a good thing, in the real world of driving it absolutely is not a good thing. Most states have a point system to track a motorist’s driving habits. If too many points are accumulated, it may result in harsh consequences. These consequences may be even harsher for younger drivers.
- Additional traffic ticket penalties: Depending on your state and the facts surrounding your ticket, a traffic ticket might also result in:
- Traffic school or a driver’s education course
- Community service
- Restriction on your driving times
- Significant increase in your auto insurance premium rates
Call Us
If you or someone you know has received any type of moving violation ticket, be certain to consult with a traffic ticket attorney who specifically handles these types of cases. For more information or to schedule a free consultation with New Jersey traffic violation attorney Dan T. Matrafajlo, please call the Law Offices of Dan T. Matrafajlo at (908) 248-4404. One call make a big difference.