Cars and Driving Blog by Improv: July 2015

Friday, July 31, 2015

Pricier insurance for F-150?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety this week said that it had done a test showing that repair costs for Ford's aluminum-bodied 2015 F-150 pickup jumped 26 percent over those of its steel-bodied predecessor.

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/HuHxw2PtwuM/pricier-insurance-for-f-150

Thursday, July 30, 2015

New Ruling Allows for California Drivers to Fight Traffic Tickets Before Paying Fine

…the drivers now have the chance to argue their case without paying the fine first.

In California, the idea of drivers challenging traffic tickets used to be a harrowing one. Not only was the fine on the corresponding ticket(s) required to be paid before deciding to challenge the ticket but the driver was also required to pay a fee for future possible court dates.

Recently, to the relief of many, that all changed.

Public outcries of drivers losing their licenses over unpaid traffic tickets led the leaders of California’s court system taking emergency action. In an unanimous vote, judicial policymakers voted to end requirements that drivers pay their fine(s) on unpaid tickets before being allowed to challenge them in court.

In the past, drivers faced with daunting unpaid traffic and parking tickets that outweighed their means have continued to drive while navigating court dates and fee. Since 2006, this old process had led to nearly five million Californians having their licenses suspended. Unpaid tickets have soared in cost in the past ten years as the state of California has attached a variety of fees and interest charges to these tickets to help pay for various programs across the state. As one example, a ticket for running a red light was a $103 in 1993 and had risen all the way to $489 in 2012. All because of fees tacked on by the state of California.

The ruling by the Judicial Council effectively ended what was called a “pay-to-play” system. In this system, drivers with tickets were forced to pay their fines before contesting the ticket. Under the previous rules, the fine acted as bail for the driver before they could even move forward with contesting it in court. More fees would accumulate and often drivers faced a dilemma: Pay rent or risk losing your driver’s license by not paying mounting fees.

With this new ruling, the drivers now have the chance to argue their case without paying the fine first. Yes, court fees may still apply but at least now the driver has the opportunity to contest this traffic violation without having to possibly dole out hundreds of dollars up front.

Keep in mind that though the rule has changed, it doesn’t necessarily give relief to drivers who have already missed their first court date due to failure to pay. Judges will also still be able to use their discretion to charge “bail” if they believe the driver won’t show up for trial. In these situations drivers would still have to pay the full cost of the traffic violation before receiving the right to challenge it.

Technically this new rule is effective now but courts have until Sept. 15 to fully comply. This deadline provides ample opportunity for the courts to ensure their forms and websites reflect the new rule. The new ruling is a great first step in addressing the access to justice issue that has hindered many drivers over the years. The focus can now shift to other issues such as reducing the cost of delinquent fines, examining better payment plans, and hammering out the reinstatement of drivers licenses.

With this ruling, state legislators are finally paying attention to a broken traffic violation system.

For years, fees mounted as drivers were unable pay simple parking tickets all because of what was required to contest it. Mistakes can also occur within the system, whether it be by law enforcement, court system, or the postal carrier. People were essentially being forced to pay before a due process even took place. Under the old system a driver could be “guilty until proven innocent” just based on the fact of them having to pay the fine first. Now, with the new ruling, drivers can contest the ticket without facing the guilty suspicion and paying the fine beforehand.

Still, the new ruling has its fair share of opponents. $10 Billion in unpaid traffic tickets is still owed to the state of California. Opponents argue that not enough is being done to alleviate the money owed by the less financial fortunate of the state. Though the Judicial Council eliminated the action of paying the fine up front when contesting the ticket it doesn’t solve the issue of larger court fees and late fees of the tickets.

Many people, including judges, fear that this new rule will inundate court courts with request for trials. These people believe it will waste the time of court employees and law enforcement officials, preventing them from utilizing their resources to their full extent.

In the end, this new ruling is at least providing an opportunity for drivers to initially take action without their wallets taking a hit. Or their licenses, for that matter. Instead of driving around on a suspended or invalid license due to a ticket for expired tags in which the DMV may or may not have sent out late, drivers will now get the opportunity to plead their case without having to hand over a fistful of dollars before the process plays out.

Many are embracing this new rule as long overdue and are welcoming it as a development in the right direction. In a flawed system in which ticket upon ticket and fines upon fines can pile up without a driver ever getting a chance to contest it, this new rule is certainly a positive step forward. For drivers in the state of California, the Judicial Council has provided a small victory in which they can rejoice.

The post New Ruling Allows for California Drivers to Fight Traffic Tickets Before Paying Fine appeared first on MyImprov.

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/x6atwQhrDc0/

Gone fishin’

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/ScAGGTt6NDs/125446827223

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Curious about the type of car you should be driving? Take our...

Curious about the type of car you should be driving? Take our quiz! http://bit.ly/1JsO4ia

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/onYPb3thToM/125280228518

Monday, July 27, 2015

California Traffic Tickets: How They Affect Auto Insurance Premiums

There are a bevy of factors that can impact your auto insurance premium, from your age to moving to a new area to your car’s security features. Above all, however, the No. 1 factor that impacts your auto insurance premium is your driving record – hence, if you get a ticket in the state of California, your auto insurance rates are likely to increase.

Here’s a closer look at how auto insurance rates are determined in California and how tickets can affect your premium.

CA Drivers: How Traffic Tickets Affect Your Auto Insurance Premiums

California Auto Premiums: How They’re Determined

Here’s a look at various factors and how they impact your auto insurance:

Effect of Tickets on Your Insurance Rates

From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Each insurance agency will differ in how they handle a traffic ticket. In some cases, an agency may increase your premium for 3 years, while another agency may lay down a surcharge that can be taken off after 12 months if you have avoided a speeding ticket or any other violation during that period.

For those who have been a long-term policy holder and hold a clean driving record, you may not experience much of an increase on your rates for the first ticket. It’s possible that your premium may not increase at all from a single speeding ticket.

Violation Severity

Aside from the fact that different companies will vary in their rate adjustments, you can bet that a more severe violation is going to cause your rates to rise significantly.

Examples:

Getting a citation for driving with a broken headlight is not likely to cause your rates to rise significantly.
A citation for regular speeding (not excessive) will cause your rates to rise a noticeable amount.
If convicted of a DUI, you will experience a severe increase in your insurance premium.

Speeding Tickets

Though a speeding ticket is likely going to cause increased rates, the amount over the speed limit is also taken into consideration.

For example, someone who was going 5 mph over the speed limit will experience less of an increase on their car insurance than someone who was caught going 15 mph over the speed limit. This is due to the fact that excessive speeding has been shown to lead to a higher chance of accidents, making you a bigger risk to insure.

Traffic Tickets in Another State

If you get a ticket while driving outside your state of residence, you’re still at risk of seeing your premium rise.

Most of the U.S. is part of a program where they share information such as traffic tickets and anything related to your driving record. Therefore, you will find that if you receive a citation in a different state, it will usually find you. Once it shows up on your driving record, your state DMV will handle the recording.

Once your insurance agency sees it on your record, they will determine how much your insurance rates will go up.

Driving Record Points and Their Effects on Your Premium

Almost every state uses a point system by which you are given a certain amount of points for each different violation.

A serious violation will come with a higher point value, and it will stick to your DMV record for a longer period, ultimately causing your rates to stay elevated for longer.

Depending on what state you live in, the most severe violations may stay on your driving record permanently.

Simply put, the more points on your driving record, the more you will pay for car insurance.

How to Avoid High Car Insurance Rates

If you’re worried about the consequences of a traffic ticket on your car insurance rates, you should not admit guilt when you get a ticket. Doing so would ensure you are not able to fight the ticket in court later on.

You should know that signing a ticket doesn’t mean you are admitting to the offense, but if you pay the fine, you’re admitting guilt. You should never pay for the traffic ticket until you have decided that you are not going to fight it in court.

If you’re undecided on whether or not to contest your ticket, you can find out how much your insurance rates will go up with your ticket and then decide if you want to contest it.

How To Erase a Traffic Ticket Off Your Record

Sometimes, a traffic ticket can be completely erased off your driving record, causing it to not affect your rates. Your choices for getting a ticket off your record are:

Signing Up For Traffic School

Enrolling in a traffic school is the only way to ensure that your ticket will be taken off your record. For those who have gotten a ticket and qualify to take a traffic school course, this is the best option.

Enrolling in a Defensive Driving Course

In some states, you are allowed to finish an online defensive driving course and have your ticket taken off your record, and there may be other discounts available for those who take the course. Call your insurance company to find out if a defensive driving course may benefit you.

In all respects, keeping a clean driving record is the key to avoiding large premiums and keep a low insurance rate.

The post California Traffic Tickets: How They Affect Auto Insurance Premiums appeared first on MyImprov.

from Improv Traffic School Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/improvtrafficschool/~3/HxbnHBcrBR8/

Cars and Driving Blog by Improv