Traffic Tickets

The State of Florida uses the DMV Point System, where certain point values are assigned to various moving violations and other infractions (including three points for littering!). The points accumulate on your driving record, and can have negative effects (like license suspension) if you rack up too many in a short amount of time.

When you get a ticket, your driving record will reflect the point violation for the infraction, unless you take care of the issue by completing a driver improvement course.

The point accrual on your driver license won't be the only bad thing about getting a ticket. You could also be subject to increases in your insurance premiums. Even if your rates aren't raised, the loss of safe driver discounts or other incentives could end up hurting your pocketbook quite a bit in the long run.

The trick to avoid getting a ticket is fairly simple: just drive safely and legally at all times. Here are a few tips to make that simple rule even easier:

• Be a defensive driver by expecting the unexpected. Don't just assume that other drivers are going to follow all the rules of the road perfectly; be prepared to react.

• Be alert. Forget bad weather or the sun in your eyes―one of the deadliest conditions to drive in is when you're sleepy, exhausted, or physically tired. Pull over if you find yourself getting drowsy. Don't risk your life or someone else's just to keep your trip on schedule.

• Concentrate. When you're driving, just drive. Don't read the newspaper, talk on your cell phone, put on your makeup, shave, or jot down notes. It might sound silly, but many moving violations―and even accidents―have occurred because of these very things.

According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, there are a handful of too-common errors that drivers make, all of which can result in a traffic infraction or, even worse, an accident:

• Going too fast

• Going too slow

• Tailgating

• Unsafe passing

• Failure to use turn signals

• Failure to stay in your lane

• Not allowing a merge

• Failure to yield

• Ignoring red lights and stop signs

• Blocking an intersection

• Bad manners such as obscene gestures or littering

• Ignorance of laws, signs, and markings

The State of Florida has prepared an annual report that includes a number of pertinent statistics about traffic violations through 2004, including how many violations were written up by county, and DUI and seatbelt violation facts and figures. The report is in PDF format and you can download it by section.