Top Why Enroll In Traffic School?

Unfortunately, Massachusetts doesn't allow drivers to have tickets dismissed just because they've enrolled in a traffic school. Still, traffic schools are utilized by many of us during our driving careers. Consider these purposes:

• Improve your driving skills.

• Reduce your auto insurance premiums.

• Meet a court-ordered requirement.

Top Defensive Driving Courses

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) provides a lengthy list of public driving schools throughout the state; most are located in high schools. They also provide a list of professional driving schools; these are businesses operating for the general public.

Online Courses

Whether online traffic courses are available is up to the administrator of the programs; it's best to check ahead if you're interested in online courses.

For further enrollment information, including costs and other considerations, contact the specific course in which you're interested.

Ticket Dismissal

Unfortunately, Massachusetts doesn't allow drivers to have tickets dismissed just because they've enrolled in a traffic school.

Insurance Discounts

If you are taking the course to voluntarily reduce auto insurance rates, be sure to check with your own insurance company about its specific policies regarding traffic schools; it may offer different discounts for different ages, or it may have particular requirements for you to meet before you can receive the discount.

Compare the amount of the discount to the cost of the class and weigh the difference―sometimes the costs are more than the discount unless the course is valid for more than one year.

Other Considerations

Massachusetts offers drivers a number of specialized courses, some of which are mandatory due to traffic violations or your driving stage, i.e. teen drivers.

See our Massachusetts Traffic Schools section for details about such courses.

Top Specialized Traffic Programs

Thanks to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), you can access a list of public driving schools and a list of professional driving schools online.

Whether online traffic courses are available is up to the administrator of the programs; it's best to check ahead if you're interested in online courses. If you're enrolling due to a traffic violation, check with the court to make sure an online program will suffice.

Below are specialized traffic programs available in Massachusetts; you may find that you're required to enroll in one.

Teens Programs

Massachusetts has put new laws into place during 2007 concerning teen drivers, education, and penalties.

You'll need to take a driver's education course through your local high school or at one of the numerous professional driving schools located throughout the state.

In some cases, your school system may hire one of the professional driving schools to conduct the education for them or lease out classroom space to teach. The public courses have no fees while the professional driving courses do have fees. You'll be notified of the fees when you call to enroll.

One of the laws enacted in March 2007 enforces stricter penalties for teen driving violations. If you are a teen driver convicted of a traffic violation in the state, you will be required to take a Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course. Depending on your age or your violation, you could be ordered to take the National Safety Council's "Alive at 25" program or the "Staying Alive" program. Massachusetts will notify you in writing which course you are required to take.

Alive at 25

The Alive at 25 program is geared toward drivers aged 16-24. This four-hour course is taught using workbooks, role-playing, discussions, and various media, and encourages interaction among participants. The cost of this course is $75.

Staying Alive

The Staying Alive program is an eight-hour course, geared more toward adults than teens, but depending on the number of violations against a record it could be ordered for a driver of any age.

For example, if you are convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, this course would be part of your driver's license reinstatement process.

The cost of this course is $100.

SCARR

Massachusetts has also developed a driver program called SCARR―State Courts Against Road Rage. This court-ordered program forces participants to face the reasons they were ordered to this class, and teaches them how to handle similar situations.

If you are ordered to take the class, you'll need to call (978) 538-6078 and leave a message to register. You must provide your:

• Name

• Address

• Birth date

• License number

• Phone number

• Reinstatement eligibility date

You will be called back with all the details of your class. Be sure to ask for the cost of the class when you leave a message; it's not posted online.

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