What Is Traffic School?
If you have ever gotten a ticket for a moving violation, you may have been given the option to attend traffic school. If you did this, then the ticket would have been dismissed and you would not get any points on your driving record. While it may not be the most fun, taking traffic school is something everyone should consider.
There are 3 main reasons for attending traffic school:
- Dismissing a traffic ticket
- Avoiding points on your driving record
- Avoiding an increase in car insurance
When a person attends a traffic school, they are taught the basics in road safety. These courses are usually certified by the DMV to ensure that they are teaching their students properly. The courses cover topics such as California road laws, defensive driving, and driving tips. In California, drivers have the option to take the course online or in a classroom. The classes usually take around 6 hours to complete, and conclude with a final exam that must be passed.
If you have received a ticket for a moving violation, you may be able to take a traffic school course to dismiss the ticket.
However, this can only happen if:
- You have a valid driver’s license
- The violation was not in a commercial vehicle
- The offense was not a misdemeanor
- The offense was not alcohol related
- Traffic school was not taken in the last year and a half to dismiss another ticket
If you do not meet all of those, you will have to handle the traffic ticket the normal way.
Aside from taking traffic school to avoid a ticket, you can also take it to try and lower your insurance rates. Some auto insurance companies offer safe driver discounts for their clients who have attended a defensive driving course. To find out if you can get a discount like this, contact your auto insurance company.
Attending a traffic school for the day may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but it can save you some money and help keep your driving record clean.