Always Hire A Lawyer To Handle Your Traffic Tickets Nothing is more important when buying car insurance than presenting yourself as a safe driver. Rates are set by car insurance companies based on the perceived safety of the driver being insured, so maintaining a clean driving record is extremely important. Insurance companies periodically scan these records and would like nothing better than to see points assessed against your driving record so they can put you into a higher risk classification and raise your rates. Typically, a routine check will be performed each time your policy renews. If points are discovered on your driving record, the insurance company will hold it against you and inflate your rates for a minimum of three years. If you receive a traffic ticket for a "moving violation" such as speeding, running a stop sign or red light, improper lane usage, failure to yield or any other violation that involves your vehicle in motion, contact a lawyer to handle it for you. It will cost you less in the long run to pay a lawyer his fee and pay a higher fine to the court now than to pay a higher auto insurance rate for several years. A lawyer is able to negotiate with the prosecutor to reduce your moving violation to a non-moving violation such as illegal parking or improper muffler, which will keep your driving record clean. The fine is typically higher than if you simply paid the ticket and took the points, but the increase in your insurance rates will usually far exceed the difference. If you have had tickets in the past, you may also be required by the court to attend a safe driving school in addition to your fine to keep those dreaded points off your license. Many courts are now accepting certificates from online safe driving courses where you can pay with a credit card, study the materials, take a test and the certificate will be mailed to you or your attorney, or can be sent directly to the court. It is especially important to have a clean driving record if you are involved in an accident. Your rates are going up if you were at fault, and possibly even if you weren't, but the cumulative effect of having an accident and points on your driving record is just another reason for the insurance company to send your rates straight through the roof.