Speeding affects us all. In fact, it is one of the most common traffic violations. According to Reader’s Digest, 112,000 drivers are ticketed for exceeding the legal speed limit each day.
Other “Fun Facts” about Tickets:
- Drivers have about a one in six chance of being ticketed for speeding.
- Almost 41 million speeding tickets are issued in the U.S. yearly – about one per second!
- Men are more likely to get a speeding ticket than women – 41% to 28%.
- The average cost of a speeding ticket is $120, resulting in an annual $5.4 billion in revenue for various law enforcement organizations.
- A ticket can also cause your insurance rate to increase as much as 18%.
So how can you beat the stats and avoid a ticket? These tips will help you avoid the dreaded flashing lights,
traffic school and fees!
Do
- Drive the speed limit!
If you don’t break the law, you won’t have to work around it! - Contest the ticket.
Some 50% of drivers have contested a ticket. - Be polite.
Treat the officer as a human being. Imagine that? Doing so will likely pay big dividends. The officer could treat you the same way! - Ask permission
Don’t take out your wallet to retrieve your driver’s license and registration without first asking permission. This shows concern for the officer’s safety as well as cooperation.
- Ask for a warning.
Warnings usually count toward the department’s quota. So, why not take a shot? - Lie (Not that C&L Auto Body endorses this kind of behavior.)Just so you know, five percent of drivers admit to creating a story about an emergency. Six percent have cried in an attempt to beat the ticket, and eight percent report flirting with the cop. Who’s better at talking themselves out of a speeding ticket? Believe it or not, men generally have more success, with 56% of male drivers reporting their scam produced results, compared to 43% of women drivers.
- Keep it clean.
Keep your car clean, not just with vacuumed interior and shiny mirrors but with regard to a valid registration, insurance and license, all within easy reach. A good rule of thumb is to maintain your car in such a way that you wouldn’t be embarrassed to drive it to a job interview.
- Get a continuance.
Put as much time between the ticket and the court date as possible, by asking for a continuance. A continuance increases the probability that the ticketing officer won’t show up at your court date. If that happens, the case against you will be dismissed.
Don’t
- Claim you didn’t know the speed limit.|
About 14% of the drivers pretend they didn’t know the speed limit. Ignorance of the law does not constitute a valid excuse! - Say “I’m sorry I was speeding.”
Even if you know you are in the wrong, never admit defeat. - Ignore your ticket. While you might be able to successfully dodge creditor calls, never ignore the government. Tickets don’t magically disappear.
About C&L Auto Body
If you can’t avoid putting pedal to the metal to avoid a ticket or an accident, contact C&L Auto Body. You have options when it comes to auto body repair needs which result from an accident. And it is illegal for your insurance company to demand you use one shop over another. The “go-to” partner for auto body repair in the San Gabriel Valley since 1970 is C&L Auto Body. We will even help you arrange for a rental car and work directly with your insurance company, so you won’t have to! C&L Auto Body is owned and operated by the Buonsanti family, who strives to treat clients like family. Come by the shop at 781 E San Bernardino Road in Covina, contact us via email today, call (626) 445-6630 or visit CandLAutoBody.com.