Do Speeding Tickets Go on Your Record? (Yes If You Went This Fast)

Speeding tickets are the bane of every driver’s existence, and many people wonder, do speeding tickets go on your record?

The long and short of it is that it depends on how fast the driver was going and where the infraction occurred. Traffic offenses in the US are usually not criminal in nature. Many minor offenses are categorized as civil citations, which do not appear on a driver’s criminal record.

However, driving a certain speed above the required speed limit can lead to a criminal offense, which will definitely appear on the record.

The following guide explains how and why the answer to “do speeding tickets go on your record?” is sometimes yes and sometimes no, as well as the laws for each state and how to deal with driving infractions so that they won’t impact a person’s ability to work or pass a background check.

Do Speeding Tickets Impact Insurance Rates and Coverage?

Insurance companies are always on the watch for traffic-related crimes and infractions. Speeding tickets can stay on a violator’s record for years, and even a minor speeding infraction can result in a 30% or more rate increase depending on the jurisdiction and insurer.¹ Therefore, understanding how a speeding ticket impacts insurance rates and coverage is essential.

Do Speeding Tickets Go on Your Record? High Risk Driver

Speeding tickets indicate that a driver is a higher risk for an insurance company and is more likely to be involved in a traffic accident. The insurer will increase the affected driver’s car insurance premium to combat this risk. The rate will increase according to the driver’s number of speeding tickets.

Point Systems

Some states track the driving histories of their residents using point systems. In this case, if drivers get speeding tickets, the system applies a certain number of points that will remain on their driving records for several years.

A new driver will have no points on their record. The driver will incur points according to the infractions committed, with minor infractions incurring few points and major violations earning a higher number of points as well as other penalties.²

For example, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security adds the following points to motorists caught speeding.

• Up to 5mph above the speed limit incurs 1 point.
• Between 16 and 25 mph above the speed limit incurs 4 points
• 46 mph or more above the limit incurs 8 points

Any auto insurance carrier will check driving records before handing out insurance. Drivers with few or no points in their records will get lower rates than those who have speeding tickets and accidents on their records.

States that do not have the point system include:

• Hawaii
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Washington
• Wyoming

Do Speeding Tickets Go on Your Record? State Point System for Driver’s License and Speeding Ticket Fines

Every State features its own unique level of justice and punishment for repeated driving infractions. The following table outlines the states that use point systems.

How Often Do Insurers Check Driving Records?

When getting their insurance policy, it does not matter if a motorist has a clean record. The rates will increase if they violate traffic laws later. Insurance providers check driving records when the motorist applies for new coverage or renews policies.

Additionally, the provider will regularly review the motorist’s driving history, either annually or semiannually. Therefore, getting a ticket for going a few miles over the limit might lead to a rate increase.

When Can Speeding Tickets Impact Your License?

Sometimes, speeding tickets, in combination with other infractions, can impact a driver’s license suspension.

The key is understanding the points systems and making sure to check the Motor Vehicles Report frequently. The following table has generalized information, so make sure to get a copy of your driving record to be sure.

What If You Get a Speeding Ticket Out-Of-State? (Do Speeding Tickets Go on Your Record?)

A few years back, states did not share traffic violation information with one another. However, this has changed. Therefore, getting a speeding ticket out-of-state might still appear in a motorist’s in-state driving record.³

Consequently, getting a speeding ticket out of state will affect an individual’s auto insurance rates, the same was as infractions that are incurred in-state.

How Much Will the Rate Increase?

The increased auto insurance rate after acquiring a speeding ticket depends mainly on the area and insurer. For instance, the department of Insurance in North Carolina estimates that drivers with a speeding ticket in Tar Heel State acquire insurance rates as follows:

• 260% if the motorist is speeding to avoid arrest
• 80% if speeding by 75mph or more in a zone that has a limit of 70mph or less
• 45% when driving between 55mph and 76 mph, with a speed of more than ten mph
• 30% when driving under 55mph and speeding up to 10 mph

Criminal Traffic Citation/Ticket Vs. Civil Traffic Citation/Ticket

To answer the question, do speeding tickets go on your record, or do traffic violations appear in criminal background check reports, you need to understand the difference between a criminal and a civil citation/ticket.

What Is a Civil Traffic Ticket?

If an officer observes or believes that a pedestrian or motorist has violated a civil traffic law, the officer will hand out a traffic ticket. Such violations include:

• Speeding
• Running a stop light
• Illegally crossing the street
• Making an illegal turn
• Committing non-moving offenses such as parking meter violations

A traffic ticket will include a list of violations. The officer will check off the violations committed and advise the violator of their fine. The traffic ticket will also provide information on:

• How to respond (Usually through mailing the form)
• How to check for the fine
• Where to pay the fine online
• How to challenge the ticket and appear in court.

A traffic citation and traffic ticket can be used interchangeably. It’s important to note that even though civil traffic violations don’t carry criminal penalties, they will still raise points against a violator’s driving license. An increase in the number of points will cause insurance premiums to increase.

If the points continue to rise, the violator’s license will be revoked or suspended. Driving with a suspended driving license is a criminal offense.

What Is a Civil Traffic Citation?

When drivers commit traffic infractions in the US, they get a citation, causing many to wonder, do speeding tickets show up on background investigation reports? The difference between a civil traffic ticket and a civil traffic citation is that the latter directs the violator to respond through a court appearance.⁴ Even so, a few citations allow the violator to pay an online fine or mail a check rather than appearing in court.

Civil infractions usually result in fines and costs. Moreover, the violator might rack up points in their driving records. So, do infractions go on your criminal records? All in all, an infraction is generally a non-criminal charge and will not appear on the violator’s record.

Anyone with a civil traffic ticket has the following options:

• Pay the fine (usually found on the ticket or may be imposed by the court)
• Request for an informal hearing in the court. This will allow the person to defend themselves before a magistrate or judge. The officer who handed the ticket will be present. This informal hearing does not allow attorneys to be present.
• Attend traffic school
• Request a formal hearing: In this case, the attorney can be present, and the prosecution has to provide evidence that the suspected violated a traffic law.

The best option for an infraction is paying the assessed fine and then attending a traffic school. This option is feasible for those whose driving records are in good standing.

The violator will have 30 days from the ticket date to fill up the affidavit, which is usually attached to the citation. Then the party will notarize their signature and submit the form to the county clerk’s office.

A traffic school will require the candidate to attend a driver improvement course which usually lasts 4 hours. This course is available once per 12 months and a maximum of 5 times per lifetime.

Once the candidate indicates their intention to take the course, they have 60 to 90 days to complete it. Then, they will have to submit the certificate of completion to the clerk’s office. This method prevents the Department of Motor Vehicles from assessing any of the violator’s points.

It’s important to note that once the fine is paid, whether by check or online, the individual has admitted their guilt and is no longer allowed to challenge it.

Anyone who wants to contest their citation or ticket should not pay the fine. Instead, they should contact a traffic defense attorney to advise them accordingly. For those at risk of getting their license suspended, the attorney can mount a defense or reduce the penalty so that the violator can retain their license.

Do traffic warnings go on your criminal history? No, they shouldn’t, unless they are directly connected to a criminal event.

Criminal Traffic Ticket/Citation

An officer will issue a criminal traffic ticket to those who commit criminal traffic violations. These violations include:

• Driving offenses related to alcohol, i.e., DUIs
• Reckless driving
• Driving without a valid license or with a suspended license
• Hit and run
• Habitual traffic offender
• Careless driving
• An attempt to elude the police
• Leaving the accident scene

The majority of traffic-related crimes are misdemeanors. However, the possibility of getting charged with a felony still exists. Examples of offenses charged as felonies include:

• DUIs that result in death or serious bodily injury
• Habitual traffic offenders making another traffic violation

Unlike traffic infractions, criminal traffic offenders may get a prison or jail sentence depending on whether the crime was a felony or misdemeanor. Other consequences include:

• Probation
• License revocation or suspension
• Home confinement
• Fines
• Community control
• Vehicle impoundment
• Traffic classes

The violator may also encounter other non-criminal consequences, which include but are not limited to:

• Loss of employment
• Loss of insurance
• Increased insurance premiums
• A permanent mark on a criminal and driving record.

A violator who has been issued a citation or ticket with a traffic felony or misdemeanor charge will have to appear in the jurisdiction’s district court for arraignment. Failing to appear can result in an arrest warrant or suspension of driving privileges. The court case could result in an immediate arrest, and both of these will go on the driver’s record.

Pleading not guilty will result in a right to trial by jury or judge, and the violator can request the services of an attorney. However, the conviction will lead to costs, fines, and adding points to the individual’s driving records.⁵ In some circumstances, the conviction may result in possible jail time.

Do speeding tickets go on your record? Yes, if your speed is beyond a specific limit.

Here is an example, an officer stops a driver who is traveling 90MPH in a zone that has a 45MPH limit. The officer will issue a ticket that cites the driver for speeding, which is a civil infraction, and driving to endanger, which is a criminal offense. The same ticket has two charges with different consequences.

Do Traffic Tickets Show Up on Criminal Background Checks?

Most employers today require potential employees to undertake employment background checks. These checks include criminal background checks. In most cases, those with a series of civil infractions and speeding tickets do not need to reveal them as criminal history.

Civil citations such as driving ten mph over the speed limit will not appear on a person’s criminal history. The applicant does not need to go to court for a civil citation (unless they plan on contesting it), and they will not get convicted of a crime.

A civil citation is a violation lower than a misdemeanor. Even though the motorist technically broke the law, the nature of their infraction is:

1. Very minor
2. Something that often occurs (many drivers do)
3. Something the driver commits without malicious intent

Hence, a speeding ticket and any other civil infraction will have no bearing on a job applicant’s criminal record.

For the most part, these infractions will only show up when examining a person’s driving records. An applicant’s driving records are only relevant for positions that involve driving, such as a delivery driver job. Even though civil infractions do not appear on a person’s record, accumulating them will result in increased insurance rates and changes in a motorist’s license status.

Conversely, if the traffic violations rise above civil citations, they get classified as felonies or misdemeanors. These violations get the offender charged in court.

The charges depend on several factors, such as whether the motorist is a previous offender and the severity of the crime. When a driver’s record includes one of these offenses, they will acquire a criminal record.

Some misdemeanors can lead to probation, while most felonies often include immediate arrest, which will show up during a background check. Traffic offenders must learn how to run background checks on themselves to avoid surprises during an employment background check.

How Long Does a Traffic Ticket Stay on Your Record?

A traffic ticket’s length on a driver’s record varies according to state. Generally, moving violation tickets will remain in the offender’s driving record between four and five years from the conviction date.⁶ Moving violations include but are not limited to:

• Speeding
• Disobeying a stop sign or traffic control light
• Improper lane usage

Once this time frame is complete, the Secretary of State will remove these offenses at their discretion. If a traffic ticket results in revocation or suspension, it will remain on a driver’s record for at least seven years from the license reinstatement date.

Many people wonder, how long will a DUI charge stay on your record? Tickets for offenses related to drugs or alcohol, such as DUIs, could remain permanently on a person’s driving record, but this varies according to state. A dismissal or court supervision will prevent a traffic ticket from showing up on a driver’s public records. A court conviction will lead to increased insurance premiums and suspension of the driver’s license.

In most cases, auto insurers consider speeding tickets listed no more than three years in a driver’s MVR. However, this varies across carriers. A speeding ticket will hamper a driver’s career in several ways.

First, they will have to pay fines and court fees. Second, they may be required to complete a driving safety course. Third, if their license gets suspended, they will be required to stay off the road and pay a certain fee when they want to reinstate it.

The cost of a speeding ticket depends on the state, how fast the motorist was going above the speed limit, and the financial penalties the driver will incur. Therefore, drivers must understand the state laws to help them prepare for speeding tickets aftermath.

How Do You Get a Speeding Ticket off Your Record?

A motorist can respond to a speeding ticket in numerous ways, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

1. Pay the Fine

The easiest and quickest way to respond to a speeding ticket is to pay the fine.

The amount paid depends on how fast the driver went above the limit and where they got their ticket. This ticket will go on the driver’s record, and they will likely incur an increase in car insurance rate within the year or when they apply for a renewal. An insurer will review the motor vehicle record and increase the insurance according to the number of points and the severity of the infraction.

It’s important to note that in some states, such as Massachusetts, a violator who pays a speeding ticket has waived their right to a court hearing. Furthermore, the violator could also lose their right to a hearing if they don’t appear in court in a specified period or they don’t pay the ticket.

2. Fight the Ticket in Court

Traffic offenders get the opportunity to go to court and dispute the speeding charge.⁷

In this case, the requester can defend themselves or ask for the points or fine to be reduced. Speeding tickets and other minor civil infractions do not require the services of a lawyer. However, it’s best to have a lawyer present if the infraction could cause a loss of driving privileges.

The prosecutor will be tasked to present evidence that defends the state’s charge of the violation. The speeding ticket will be dismissed if the interested party succeeds in defending themselves.

3. Request Mitigation

Some court systems offer mitigation programs for traffic offenses. If the interested party chooses mitigation, then they must admit they were speeding. The purpose of mitigation is to allow the driver to explain why they committed the offense.

For example, the driver exceeded the speed limit due to a medical emergency. The judge will reduce the fine, increase the payment period or ask the driver to complete a defensive driving course that will eventually reduce the fine. Nevertheless, if the court rejects the explanation, then the driver will have to pay the full fine and get points added to their records.

Many drivers in the uses opt to go to traffic schools to prevent the violations from being seen by insurance. However, traffic school is limited to specific violations, and one person can attend only five times in their lifetime.

How Do You Save on Car Insurance When You Have a Speeding Ticket?

If all odds fail and the driver has a conviction on their record, a fine to pay, and the possibility of having their insurance increase, then they can consider the following options:

• Remove driver’s license points: Some states, such as Virginia and New York, allow applicants to remove points from their MVRs by completing a traffic school program.
• Shop around: Auto insurance providers have different point systems for traffic violations. Therefore drivers must review insurance rates before purchasing or renewing their insurance.
• Increase deductible: one way to combat an increased insurance premium due to a speeding ticket is to raise the current deductible. However, a driver must make sure they can afford the higher amount in case they need to file a claim.
• Update mileage: If the applicant changes their driving habits, for example, taking a work from home position instead of a daily commute, then they should update their mileage with their insurance provider. Most carriers give discounts to customers who drive less than the average number of miles per year.
• Install an anti-theft device: Auto insurance providers will also provide discounts for drivers who choose to protect their vehicles and make it easier to recover stolen vehicles. Installing an anti-theft device will give the driver a discount of 5% to 30% depending on the insurer, which will offset the increased rate due to a speeding ticket.

A speeding ticket will go on a person’s driving record and remain for a specific time period. However, a speeding ticket will enter an individual’s criminal record if the crime committed reaches the level of a felony or misdemeanor, as defined by state law, answering the question, ‘Do speeding tickets go on your record?

Frequently Asked Questions About Do Speeding Tickets Go on Your Record?