First Citation since moving to the US
Hi All
Today i got a citation from a state trooper for travelling in the breakdown lane on my scooter. There is a small section on Route 1 South that meets with the off ramp of 95 South. 4 Lanes merge into 2 instantly at the point the roads meet, and it is always mayhem with cars trying to beat each other for space. So me being on a small scoot, i tend to just zip into the breakdown lane at this point and then pass the hazard and then rejoin the road about 200ft or so past. Alas today there was a copper there waiting and he pulled me over. Im not trying to justify my actions, i know it is a violation and will be more than begrudgingly happy to pay the $100 fine that came with it. However my question is this. Does this citation for traveling in the breakdown lane affect my insurance? I have fully comprehensive insurance on both my bike and my car, and it is not cheap. Is it likely that it will increase my premiums? I dont know much about how insurance works over here, but back home you only get higher premiums if you have points attached to your License. This i believe is just a citation with a fine. I could be wrong hence coming here to be educated :) |
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by DavidLemon
(Post 10250996)
Hi All
Today i got a citation from a state trooper for travelling in the breakdown lane on my scooter. There is a small section on Route 1 South that meets with the off ramp of 95 South. 4 Lanes merge into 2 instantly at the point the roads meet, and it is always mayhem with cars trying to beat each other for space. So me being on a small scoot, i tend to just zip into the breakdown lane at this point and then pass the hazard and then rejoin the road about 200ft or so past. Alas today there was a copper there waiting and he pulled me over. Im not trying to justify my actions, i know it is a violation and will be more than begrudgingly happy to pay the $100 fine that came with it. However my question is this. Does this citation for traveling in the breakdown lane affect my insurance? I have fully comprehensive insurance on both my bike and my car, and it is not cheap. Is it likely that it will increase my premiums? I dont know much about how insurance works over here, but back home you only get higher premiums if you have points attached to your License. This i believe is just a citation with a fine. I could be wrong hence coming here to be educated :) |
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by Michael
(Post 10251015)
Normally most states allow you to attend a 4-8 hour driver education class (held by private companies so you must pay for it) every 18 months to 3 years for normal traffic citations. Once that is complete and recorded with the traffic court, the citation is removed from your record and will not affect your insurance rates.
Actually the latter sounds like a plan, will start there :) |
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by DavidLemon
(Post 10250996)
Im not trying to justify my actions, i know it is a violation and will be more than begrudgingly happy to pay the $100 fine that came with it.
|
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Normally, if you are eligible for traffic school, that will be listed as an option when you get the notice of the citation in the mail and it will include instructions on what you have to do.
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Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by Giantaxe
(Post 10251059)
Think yourself lucky it's $100. Here it would be over $300!
Would rather stay on topic though and not deviate into a we get charged more than you do scenario. It is what it is (finally get to use this statement :D) |
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by md95065
(Post 10251064)
Normally, if you are eligible for traffic school, that will be listed as an option when you get the notice of the citation in the mail and it will include instructions on what you have to do.
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Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by DavidLemon
(Post 10251045)
How does one go about that then? Do i have to go to court to ask for it or do i just call up said private company and explain why im there?
Actually the latter sounds like a plan, will start there :)
Originally Posted by md95065
(Post 10251064)
Normally, if you are eligible for traffic school, that will be listed as an option when you get the notice of the citation in the mail and it will include instructions on what you have to do.
|
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by DavidLemon
(Post 10251045)
How does one go about that then? Do i have to go to court to ask for it or do i just call up said private company and explain why im there?
Actually the latter sounds like a plan, will start there :) Also some states allow you to ask for traffic school by showing up at the courthouse to pay your fine and even others may allow a request by mail. So contact the traffic court to see what procedure is used. |
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
In MA, you get one free pass for certain moving violations/speeding every 3 or 5 years, I can't remember which, as long as booze/drugs weren't involved.
So don't worry about it. |
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by DavidLemon
(Post 10251070)
ok so even though i have the ticket given to me in hand with the envelope to send payment in, im likely to get something in the post? Damn might have to tell wifey what happened now lol
If you contest it and win, that's that, if you lose, the fine increases usually. For $100 and being guilty, just suck it up and pay and ignore it, won't be worth the hassle of going to Boston to court it out, plus parking for the day would be half the ticket anyway. |
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by Bob
(Post 10251121)
In MA, you get one free pass for certain moving violations/speeding every 3 or 5 years, I can't remember which, as long as booze/drugs weren't involved.
So don't worry about it. Im not going to contest it, never even thought about it. Im as guilty as they come to be fair. However i was interested in knowing if they would up my insurance because of it. Someone mentioned it and i thought that is going to get me in a whole heap of trouble with the wife when she finds out. I will just put it behind me :) |
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by DavidLemon
(Post 10251194)
Im not going to contest it, never even thought about it. Im as guilty as they come to be fair. However i was interested in knowing if they would up my insurance because of it. Someone mentioned it and i thought that is going to get me in a whole heap of trouble with the wife when she finds out. |
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Originally Posted by Bob
(Post 10251637)
If booze was involved or you were 30 over the limit, I think it is, then it would. The next offense will be the kicker, so hopefully you have a bit more luck in the future :)
I'm not planning on a second violation :) |
Re: First Citation since moving to the US
Don't know about MA but I get the impression that in some places a good lawyer can usually get minor moving violations reduced to a fine without points. Whether or not it's worth the cost depends on the circumstances.
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