Is 12 hr. traffic school worth the effort?

[daepp]

So I got two tickets 17 months apart in the People's Republik of California. I took my chances, went to trial, the officer showed up, so I simply asked for traffic school. The judge granted it, but said I ahd to go to a 12 hour (rather than 8) course.

Now I am hearing that the ticket will still show on my record (it would be my first in 29 years of driving). So what's the purpose of 12 hour traffic school?

TIA,

David

[masraum]

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

So I got two tickets 17 months apart in the People's Republik of California. I took my chances, went to trial, the officer showed up, so I simply asked for traffic school. The judge granted it, but said I ahd to go to a 12 hour (rather than 8) course.

Now I am hearing that the ticket will still show on my record (it would be my first in 29 years of driving). So what's the purpose of 12 hour traffic school?

TIA,

David

I believe, if CA is similar to TX, that the ticket shows up on your record, but there are no points associated with the ticket which is supposed to cancel things out with your Ins company so your rates don't go up.

[Rick Lee]

Can you do it online? I did the CA online traffic school. I think it was billed as an 8 hr course. Took me about 45 min. and that was just looking up some of the test answers, since I didn't read anything before starting the test.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I believe in CA you can only do traffic school once within a 24-month period, unless the court gives you special permission.

Ultimately it's all about the money anyway.

[craigster59]

Masraum is right, it shows on your record but no points are attached. I went to court last week to fight a ticket but the officer didn't show.

What I thought was BS, the bailiff made a little speech beforehand giving anyone the chance to plead guilty and ask for traffic school before seeing the Judge. If you didn't and were found guilty, traffic school was not an option no matter if it was your first offense. Apparently it's the Judges discretion. I thought it equaled legalized extortion (right up there with "code variances").

[Rick Lee]

It's totally legal extortion. I view CHP no differently than the highwaymen of old England. It's just that I can pay with a credit card a few weeks after I get mugged.

[look 171]

If its a 12 hour school, you can't do it on line. show up with a good book. I was in the same situtation, 2 speeding tickets withing one week. One was 6 miles over in a school zone at 1:00pm. No freaking kids on the street. The bastdard was behind a wall. Its on your record, but the insurance co. don't see it. I hear that around here, they will always give you a second traffic school. This way, they're sure sure you will pay the ticket then go to school.

[willtel]

If you only have 2 tickets in 29 years of driving I wouldn't bother with the traffic school. Unless you plan on going on a bender and racking up more points not having them on your record won't hurt you much. In my experience with insurance companies they won't pick up the fact that you have some points unless you change providers or add someone to your policy.

[onlycafe]

here in ny there is also a 10% reduction on your insurance bill as well as the removal of 2 points from your license after completion of the course.
added benefit of the chance to meet a cute girl at the traffic school.

[BLEW911]

It's all about the money.
In addition to the fine and the cost of the school, the court charges you a "FEE" for letting you go to traffic school and keeping that point off your record. California.

Don

[Shawn 357]

I am just about to call about a ticket I got last week....yay!

It will be worth it for you to go to traffic school to get the point off your record or it will impact your insurance rates (although it might take a couple months for the insurance company to notice that you got a point on your record).

Isn't it funny that it took the cops 45 minutes to show up to my business when there were two drunk guys trying to start a fight with someone who worked for me all within an hour of my brother getting pulled over for no seatbelt within a 1/2 mile of my office??? I guess they make more money off the seatbelt ticket.

[Deschodt]

I never understood how that was even legal in the US... It's not in most other countries I've driven in...

The cops are state employees, your record is on their computers. The insurance company should not have access to your driving violations record... Accidents, I understand, as they'd need to estimate the risk, but speeding tickets, that's a violation of your privacy... Do you think the local gov't sells that record to ins. companies ? I don't buy the correlation either - I get a ticket every 2 or 3 years but have not had an accident, ever...

[daepp]

Some clarifications:

- I have never had a ticket stay on my record - I have always gone to traffic school. I wish I could say I'd never had a ticket on 29 years.
- I was told that the insurance company will see the ticket. That's why I'm wondering if I should even bother going.
- I went to court hoping the officer would no show. No such luck.
- I don't think violations etc are private.

So is 12 hour traffic school only good if you're worried about exceeding the max-points-in-one-year rule in CA?

[Shawn 357]

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

Some clarifications:

- I have never had a ticket stay on my record - I have always gone to traffic school. I wish I could say I'd never had a ticket on 29 years.
- I was told that the insurance company will see the ticket. That's why I'm wondering if I should even bother going.
- I went to court hoping the officer would no show. No such luck.
- I don't think violations etc are private.

So is 12 hour traffic school only good if you're worried about exceeding the max-points-in-one-year rule in CA?

The traffic school takes away the point from your record. Even one point can have a negative impact on your insurance rates. The amount the point on your record will raise your insurance is dependent on your age, sex, marital status, number of vehicles, miles driven per year, and a whole lot of other stuff. Call and ask your insurance company how much your insurance will go up if you have a point on your record....you are guaranteeing that they will be looking for when that point hits by doing this but they check your record every time you have a claim, renew, or make changes anyways so you aren't going to be able to hide the point from them forever.

[Shawn 357]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I never understood how that was even legal in the US... It's not in most other countries I've driven in...

The cops are state employees, your record is on their computers. The insurance company should not have access to your driving violations record... Accidents, I understand, as they'd need to estimate the risk, but speeding tickets, that's a violation of your privacy... Do you think the local gov't sells that record to ins. companies ? I don't buy the correlation either - I get a ticket every 2 or 3 years but have not had an accident, ever...

You sign a form agreeing to allow the insurance company to view your driving record or they will not insure you.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by Shawn 357

You sign a form agreeing to allow the insurance company to view your driving record or they will not insure you.

Yes, and since the insurance companies have a lot of money (translation: "are able to make large campaign donations and put a lot of dollars behind lobbying efforts") they have been able to get lawmakers to require everyone to carry their product. You don't have a choice. So the de facto result is you're required by law to give up your right to have your private driving record remain private.

Perverse, isn't it?

For the record, there IS one way around this (at least in CA) - you can post a $50,000 bond with the DMV as evidence of financial responsibility. This is acceptable in lieu of liability insurance. Good luck finding a bonding company to allow you to do this as a private individual. Of course, you're welcome to put up $50k of your own money, if you have it... Two sets of rules - one for the rich and powerful, one for everyone else. That's America today.

[Shawn 357]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Yes, and since the insurance companies have a lot of money (translation: "are able to make large campaign donations and put a lot of dollars behind lobbying efforts") they have been able to get lawmakers to require everyone to carry their product. You don't have a choice. So the de facto result is you're required by law to give up your right to have your private driving record remain private.

Perverse, isn't it?

For the record, there IS one way around this (at least in CA) - you can post a $50,000 bond with the DMV as evidence of financial responsibility. This is acceptable in lieu of liability insurance. Good luck finding a bonding company to allow you to do this as a private individual. Of course, you're welcome to put up $50k of your own money, if you have it... Two sets of rules - one for the rich and powerful, one for everyone else. That's America today.

I understand what you are saying but I am of the mindset that I want people who could have a wreck with me to either have insurance through a carrier or be in the financial position to be self insured. I do sell insurance though

I guess I am undecided as to whether or not someones driving record should be held agains them but that is probably because I have a couple points right now

[Porsche-O-Phile]

As someone in San Diego I'd think you'd be plenty aware of this already, buuuuuut...

Odds are if someone hits you, they're not going to be insured anyway. At least that's how it is in southern CA. Very likely they're going to give you a fake name/license/contact info. and disappear into the woodwork.

Happens all the time. Granted it was a lot worse a few years ago when the housing boom was going on and there were a lot more people of "questionable immigration status" out and about on the roadways. But it's still bad.

[Shawn 357]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

As someone in San Diego I'd think you'd be plenty aware of this already, buuuuuut...

Odds are if someone hits you, they're not going to be insured anyway. At least that's how it is in southern CA. Very likely they're going to give you a fake name/license/contact info. and disappear into the woodwork.

Happens all the time. Granted it was a lot worse a few years ago when the housing boom was going on and there were a lot more people of "questionable immigration status" out and about on the roadways. But it's still bad.

I have been fortunate not to have that happen to me but I have seen that happen to a few customers

While reading this I realize that I am taking this thread off track so sorry to the OP I'll go dig up an insurance thread when I've got the spirit

[Joeaksa]

Go to the school. You never know whats going to happen in the future and you really do not want the insurance companies knowing about it.