Ignoring the Points System Can Lead to Driver’s License Suspension
Many motorists in South Carolina are not aware of how beneficial it is for them to keep track of what is on their driving records. Some of them are under the impression that paying their traffic tickets is enough for them to preserve their legal right to operate their vehicles. What they do not realize is there is a much steeper price to pay for traffic tickets. Traffic citations are designed to discourage people from abusing their driving privileges and encourage safe motor vehicle operations. However, with the number of distracted, intoxicated and reckless drivers increasing, law enforcement agencies across the country are ramping up their efforts to apprehend and deter them.
Traffic Ticket Point System to Enforce Compliance
Most states penalizes deviant drivers with a point system. This point system assigns a numerical value to infractions motorists receive when they are caught driving unsafely and breaking traffic laws. The points also carry a monetary value that offenders must pay to retain their driver’s licenses. Once they amass a certain number of points, the state can revoke or suspend a driver’s license. Many individuals accept the points and pay their tickets just so they no longer have to worry about them. The problem with paying traffic tickets without regard for the points system is that some motorists end up losing their driving privileges. They continue to drive and do not realize there is an issue until they encounter a law enforcement officer pulls them over and they wind up with criminal charges for operating their vehicles without a license. There are also people who ignore their traffic citations, assuming they will disappear. They are often shocked to learn they have been accumulating points, no longer have a valid license and are facing additional legal issues. There is also the issue of auto insurance. Auto insurers charge higher premiums to motorists who have a history of violating traffic laws, which is also based on a point system that each ticket carries.
It is a driver’s best interest to take each traffic citation they receive seriously. They should consider the short and long-term impact it can have on their driving record, privileges and financial situations. They should also consider consulting an attorney experienced in traffic related offenses to discuss options that are available to keep traffic ticket points off their driving record and insurance.