Tickets, citations, and warnings— oh my! Nobody likes to find a piece of paper on their windshield or be handed one across their window by a police officer. Usually those pieces of paper come with fines, fees, and potential increases in your insurance premiums or other consequences. But when it comes to what it means for you, what’s the difference between a ticket and a citation? Is there a difference at all?
In this article, we’ll explore citations/tickets, how to pay citations you receive, and what comes next after you’ve received a ticket or citation and want to get back in good standing.
Citations vs. Tickets
Let’s set the big question to rest right now— what’s the difference between a ticket and a citation?
The difference is that…well, there is no difference.
A ticket is simply the casual, common name for a citation— whether it’s a moving violation or a parking violation.
You’ll receive a citation for a wide range of violations, including but not limited to:
- Not obeying traffic signals and signs
- Driving without the proper insurance
- Failing to use a seatbelt
- Speeding
- Failing to signal a turn
- Running a red light
- Driving without a license plate
You may also receive citations for parking-related infractions, such as parking somewhere you’re not allowed to park.
While no one likes receiving a citation, it is probably preferred when compared to the alternative— simply being arrested. Citations are a less intense way of ensuring that people obey the law, even when it comes to relatively minor—yet still important— rules relating to driving.
Usually, the result of a citation for a minor offense is a fine. But if the offense is serious, or the latest in a long string of offenses, the penalties can be more severe.
How to Pay a Citation
The good news— you can usually pay citations online in just a few minutes. The ticket itself will have all the information you need about how, where, and when to pay the citation, although they don’t always have the dollar amount itself. If the citation is paid online, you may have to enter the citation number to access info about how much you owe.
Just be sure to pay by the due date listed on the citation. Otherwise, you could face more serious legal repercussions, late fees, and an increase in your insurance premiums.
Can I Just Ignore a Citation?
We think you probably already know the answer to this. Ignoring a citation isn’t just irresponsible, it’s against the law. Remember that although it may seem less serious than committing a major crime, the legal system treats them much the same way. Pay your citation promptly and that will be the end of it. Fail to pay it or appear in court by the specified date and your troubles will multiply tenfold.
Remember— signing the citation you receive from a police officer is not acknowledging that you’re guilty, just that you receive the citation. You have a right to dispute the citation in court, and even appeal it if you’re initially found guilty after a hearing.
Whether you choose to fight the citation or simply pay it and move on is up to you, but one thing is certain— simply ignoring it is just about the worst thing you could do, and will ultimately lead to a warrant for your arrest.
Effects on Car Insurance
Generally, minor traffic infractions shouldn’t dramatically impact your car insurance premiums, but they can lead it to go up a bit the next time you renew your policy.
The more infractions you pile up, and the more serious they are, the more difficult it can be to obtain affordable car insurance. Fortunately, Freedom National works with a range of insurers to offer cheap coverage, even for those with traffic violations and more serious offenses in some cases, including those who need an SR-22.
What are points and how do they work?
Points may sound like something you want to acquire, but when it comes to your license, it’s the opposite. You can receive ‘points’ on your license for traffic infractions, and depending on your area’s laws, a certain amount of points can lead to penalties such as having your license suspended or revoked.
The good news? There are often steps you can take to have points removed, such as paying fines promptly or agreeing to attend a driver safety course. Sometimes points will also fall off after a predetermined amount of time.
What is a written warning?
Sometimes a police officer will choose to issue a written warning, which does not come with any fines, points, or impacts to your driving record. It’s essentially a formal way of telling you that you should be more careful, and that you were breaking one or more laws by the way you were driving or operating your vehicle. Consider yourself lucky if you receive a written warning, and drive more safely in the future!
Finding Affordable Car Insurance After Multiple Citations
If you have multiple traffic citations on your record, one of the biggest struggles can be finding cheap car insurance. Many insurers are hesitant to insure people with multiple or serious infractions on their record, as they’re considered higher-risk. Even if you do find an insurer who will cover you, your rates may be too high to be affordable.
At Freedom National, we’re here to help. We’ll work with you to provide options for coverage from a range of trusted providers, helping you get the coverage you need at a price you can afford— even with a less-than-perfect driving record that features citations.
Conclusion
If you’re interested in learning more about car insurance in your state, including state regulations, insurance coverage minimums, and more, head to our home page and discover everything that Freedom National has to offer. You can also check out our car insurance blog to learn more about specific car insurance related terms, information about driving in individual states, and much, much more.
Once you’re ready to find cheap car insurance that will keep you fully covered and allow you to easily customize your plan based on your unique needs, head to our page to start your free quote. It takes just a few minutes to enter some basic information and get a custom quote. From there, you can customize your policy so that it has everything you need— and nothing you don’t. We pride ourselves on offering some of the most accessible & affordable car insurance in the country, even for those with prior driving incidents on their record. Get started with Freedom National today.
