Drivers issued citations by police officers often respond with a defeatist attitude. Most people assume that their only option is to pay the ticket and accept all of the secondary consequences. Traffic citations in Illinois can potentially cost drivers hundreds of dollars.
Many motorists view that as more affordable than the cost of fighting a ticket. However, if drivers realistically evaluate the consequences of a traffic citation, they may come to realize that fighting a ticket is actually the more cost-effective solution.
Why is it often a sound financial decision to defend against a traffic ticket?
Tickets put licensing at risk
Illinois tracks the record of individual motorists. Those who have had too many violations in a short amount of time are at risk of losing their driver’s licenses. Three citations within 12 months can be enough to cost someone their license.
Tickets increase insurance costs
Every motorist in Illinois has to carry insurance coverage in case they cause a crash. The premium that a driver pays depends on their age, sex and driving history, along with other factors. A single traffic citation could increase a driver’s insurance premiums substantially. The cost for coverage can increase by 27% on average after one ticket. Those with more tickets on their record may see their costs rise even more than that.
Tickets can affect driver’s careers
In circumstances where people drive for a living, citations can potentially result in the loss of their commercial driver’s license (CDL). In scenarios where a professional’s job responsibilities may occasionally include driving, their employers may have strong reactions to how a worker’s citation might affect company insurance costs.
Occasionally, traffic citations can put people at risk of losing their jobs, being unable to perform key job functions or getting passed over for a promotion. Particularly if they lose their driver’s license and have attendance issues, traffic citations can have a negative impact on a professional’s career.
People who work with lawyers can potentially challenge the narrative around a traffic ticket and may be able to avoid entering a guilty plea, which is effectively what happens when someone pays a ticket. Learning more about how citations can negatively affect motorists may inspire people to fight a recent citation instead of just paying the fine.
