Many people consider traffic tickets as minor inconveniences. They may consider just paying up without contesting them.
However, before you do that, you should step back and see how one ticket could fit into the larger picture.
One ticket increases the chance that you lose your license
If you collect enough license points in a certain period, you will eventually be suspended from driving, at least for a while. What could that mean for you and your family?
You may have difficulty working
If you drive for a living, you could lose that job and be unable to find another in the same field. If you rely on your vehicle to commute to work and cannot find alternative transport arrangements, you could have to give up that job. It will also limit the area where you can seek alternative jobs. How will you pay your bills and put food on the table without a job?
Your kids may have to miss out
Do you pick your kids up from parties or after-school events? Do you drive them to early morning swimming practice or to see their friends who moved to a nearby town? What will your children do if you lose your license? Will they just have to forego these opportunities? Will they have to walk home alone in the dark?
Your elderly parents may suffer
Perhaps your parents can no longer drive or get around so easily. Maybe they rely on you to take them to doctors’ appointments or to get groceries. What if they fall over late at night? How will you rush to their aid if you cannot drive there?
The immediate convenience of paying a traffic ticket could lead to a longer-term inconvenience for you and your family. Learning more about ways to contest them can help you decide what to do if you face one.