There is no indication that a traffic ticket would ever permanently be erased from your record in New Jersey. The state simply does not erase traffic tickets from your record, and they will always remain there. However, the effects of the ticket can eventually be reduced over time. You may end up paying less in insurance premiums, and any threat to your ability to drive could dissipate over time as well. Nonetheless, you want to be as proactive as possible right now if there is no basis to convict you of a traffic offense.
How Traffic Tickets Can Affect You in New Jersey
There are several important considerations when you have a traffic ticket on your driving record:
- The premiums that you would pay for car insurance could escalate for a lengthy period of time. For example, auto insurance premiums in New Jersey can increase by 15-20% after a speeding ticket.
- You would accumulate points on your driver’s license from certain motor vehicle offenses. Your driver’s license could be suspended in New Jersey if you accumulate 12 or more points on your license.
- It could be more difficult to get jobs that require you to drive, such as a CDL license or even being able to drive for Uber.
Traffic Tickets Lessen in Effect, But They Do Not Go Away
The effect of your traffic ticket would lessen over time.
For purposes of insurance coverage, you could expect to pay higher premiums for three to four years after the date of the conviction, beginning from the next time that your policy is renewed. Traffic points would also come off your record over time. The rule in New Jersey is that points can begin to come off your license
after one year. You may also be able to get points taken off if you take certain motor vehicle safety courses. In other words, there is a chance for your driving record to improve, although it will take some time.
The fact that a ticket remains on your driving record does not mean that it will always have an impact on you, but you can never quite be certain. There is a certain look-back period when you are applying for car insurance. You also never know the exact parameters of a background check when you are applying for a job that involves driving. If you have a lengthy track record of driving tickets that spans back many years, it may still be visible to both insurers and potential employers who have a need to review your driving record.
Since a ticket is always on your record, you should consider fighting a traffic offense in court. You may not have actually been guilty of the traffic violation, or you may have a valid defense to the traffic charges. Even if you have to pay a fine, you may not have points assessed on your license when you go to fight a ticket in traffic court. You should consider hiring a traffic ticket lawyer to tell your story to the judge and attack the foundation of the police officer’s testimony.
Contact the New Jersey Ticket Lawyers at Ellis Law Today for Help With Your Case
You should consider coming to traffic court with the help of the New Jersey ticket lawyers at Ellis Law. Our traffic ticket lawyers can help you tell your story to the judge. Schedule a free initial consultation with one of our New Jersey traffic ticket lawyers by submitting our online form or calling us today at 732-702-6103. We have offices in New Jersey and New York and serve clients across both states.
