{"id":1163,"date":"2021-07-26T10:52:58","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T17:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/?p=1163"},"modified":"2021-08-02T09:24:16","modified_gmt":"2021-08-02T16:24:16","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-a-ticket-and-a-citation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/whats-the-difference-between-a-ticket-and-a-citation\/","title":{"rendered":"What&#8217;s the Difference Between a Ticket and a Citation?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/officer-giving-driver-ticket-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"police officer giving a ticket to a driver\" class=\"wp-image-1164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/officer-giving-driver-ticket-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/officer-giving-driver-ticket-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/officer-giving-driver-ticket-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/officer-giving-driver-ticket-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/officer-giving-driver-ticket.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tickets, citations, and warnings\u2014 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\u2019s the difference between a ticket and a citation? Is there a difference at all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll explore citations\/tickets, how to pay citations you receive, and what comes next after you\u2019ve received a ticket or citation and want to get back in good standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Citations vs. Tickets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s set the big question to rest right now\u2014 what\u2019s the difference between a ticket and a citation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The difference is that&#8230;well, there is no difference.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A ticket is simply the casual, common name for a citation\u2014 whether it\u2019s a moving violation or a parking violation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll receive a citation for a wide range of violations, including but not limited to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Not obeying traffic signals and signs<\/li><li>Driving without the proper insurance<\/li><li>Failing to use a seatbelt<\/li><li>Speeding<\/li><li>Failing to signal a turn<\/li><li>Running a red light<\/li><li>Driving without a license plate<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You may also receive citations for parking-related infractions, such as parking somewhere you\u2019re not allowed to park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While no one likes receiving a citation, it is probably preferred when compared to the alternative\u2014 simply being arrested. Citations are a less intense way of ensuring that people obey the law, even when it comes to relatively minor\u2014yet still important\u2014 rules relating to driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Pay a Citation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news\u2014 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I Just Ignore a Citation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We think you probably already know the answer to this. Ignoring a citation isn\u2019t just irresponsible, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember\u2014 signing the citation you receive from a police officer is not acknowledging that you\u2019re guilty, just that you receive the citation. You have a right to dispute the citation in court, and even appeal it if you\u2019re initially found guilty after a hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you choose to fight the citation or simply pay it and move on is up to you, but one thing is certain\u2014 simply ignoring it is just about the worst thing you could do, and will ultimately lead to a warrant for your arrest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Effects on Car Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, minor traffic infractions shouldn\u2019t dramatically impact your car insurance premiums, but they can lead it to go up a bit the next time you renew your policy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are points and how do they work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Points may sound like something you want to acquire, but when it comes to your license, it\u2019s the opposite. You can receive \u2018points\u2019 on your license for traffic infractions, and depending on your area\u2019s laws, a certain amount of points can lead to penalties such as having your license suspended or revoked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a written warning?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding Affordable Car Insurance After Multiple Citations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019re considered higher-risk. Even if you do find an insurer who will cover you, your rates may be too high to be affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Freedom National, we\u2019re here to help. We\u2019ll 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\u2014 even with a less-than-perfect driving record that features citations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">car insurance blog<\/a> to learn more about specific car insurance related terms, information about driving in individual states, and much, much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019re 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/pos.freedomgeneral.com\/direct\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">start your free quote<\/a>. 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\u2014 and nothing you don\u2019t. We pride ourselves on offering some of the most accessible &amp; affordable car insurance in the country, even for those with prior driving incidents on their record. Get started with <a href=\"https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/\">Freedom National <\/a>today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tickets, citations, and warnings\u2014 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\u2019s the difference between a ticket and a citation? Is there a difference at all? In this article, we\u2019ll explore citations\/tickets, how to pay citations you receive, and what comes next after you\u2019ve received a ticket or citation and want to get back <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What&#039;s the Difference Between a Ticket and a Citation?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What&#039;s the difference between a ticket and a citation? 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