Did you know that 50% of drivers ages 15 -19 will get their first ticket in their first year of driving?
As teenagers become confused and disillusioned, they start getting involved in more trouble. If your teenager found themselves getting their first ticket this year, you know what we’re talking about!
Depending on the traffic violations, you might be able to keep the ticket off your child’s permanent record. We’ll walk you through some steps to minimize the impact of first tickets for teens below.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Get the Ticket Dismissed
If your teen gets their first ticket, you can take steps to get the ticket dismissed and minimize the impact on their record. Talking to a speeding ticket lawyer will help you lessen the charge. You can also go to traffic court and try to convince the judge to dismiss the teen’s speeding ticket.
Take a Defensive Driving Course
If your ticket is not terminated, you can enroll your teen in a defensive driving course, which may help reduce the points on their license and the acceptable amount. A defensive driving course teaches your teen how to drive defensively. This can help to mitigate the ticket’s impact on your rates.
In addition, many insurers offer a discount for completing a defensive driving course.
Help Them Develop a Plan
Help your teen develop a plan to take responsibility for the ticket and the consequences that come with it. Discuss how they will pay the fine, increased insurance rates, and other penalty points that may be added to their license.
If your teen is an excellent student or has a clean driving record, you may be able to convince the judge to give them probation or community service instead of paying a fine. Ultimately, your goal is to help your teen learn from this mistake and become a responsible driver.
Obey the Law
Discuss with your teen the importance of obeying the law and the consequences of breaking the law. They need to remember that they are responsible for their actions and that breaking the law can have serious consequences.
Help them to understand that obeying the law is not only the right thing to do, but it is also in their best interest.
Review Your Insurance Policy
You may have coverage that will help pay for your teen’s ticket, or you may be required to pay the entire amount out-of-pocket. If you have to pay the whole amount, try to set up a payment plan with the court to pay the fine over time.
You may also consider increasing your insurance coverage if you have a teenage driver on your policy. These will help you avoid paying a significant amount out-of-pocket if your teen gets into an accident.
Use These First Ticket Warnings
Taking some proactive steps is the best way to minimize the impact of your teen’s first ticket. It includes getting the ticket dismissed, taking a defensive driving course, and helping them develop a plan. Finally, put some money aside to cover the potential costs of a ticket.
Taking these steps can help your teen avoid a traffic ticket’s financial and legal consequences.
Are you looking for a similar resource to this teen speeding ticket? Then be sure to check out our blog page, where we have tons of information that your family will love.