DMV Traffic Schools
If you get a traffic ticket for a minor offense, you may be eligible for traffic school. While traffic school is typically repetitive, boring and time-consuming, it can save you from having to pay your ticket and having negative points on your driving record. Although traffic school is never mandatory, it is often preferred in place of the high cost of the ticket and the negative effect on your driving record. Whether you attend traffic school in person or online, the program must be acknowledged by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and approved by your state of residency.
Other People Are Reading
-
Online
-
Every state has DMV-approved traffic schools that can be taken completely online. Each lesson, as well as the final test, is administered on a website that the student can access through the Internet on a personal computer. At the completion of the program, a certificate is awarded as proof that the student understands the information in the course. This certificate is then mailed to the DMV so that appropriate action can be taken before the fee for the ticket is due, and the negative point can be removed from the driving record. Visit the DMV website for a list of approved online classes available in your state.
In Person
-
Drivers who prefer a collective learning environment may take the test in person. These courses are usually offered at nearby schools or community centers and can be completed in as little as two days. Classes can be offered for up to 12 hours a day with scheduled breaks. Class material is delivered by a teacher in lecture fashion before the final test. Once you pass the final test, you will be given a certificate of completion by your professor, which you must present to the DMV in your city.
-
Petition
-
It is acceptable in cases involving certain misdemeanors to petition the court for alternatives to traffic school. These alternatives are only available to those who qualify for traffic school in the first place but cannot complete it for some reason. An example of a reason you might not be able to complete traffic school is a physical handicap, or a busy lifestyle that includes working more than one job and taking care of your children singlehandedly. To petition for an alternative, you must set a court date and appear to explain why you cannot complete traffic school in a classroom or online. You must have a suggestion prepared in place of traffic school. A possible suggestion is self-study, which can be proved through short essays or homemade multiple-choice questions related to the test material. Depending on the misdemeanor and the judge, your suggestion may be accepted or rejected, or the judge might suggest an alternative. Whatever the judge chooses, you will be given a time frame to complete and present your material to the court.
Approval
-
Approval of your program is based on whether the material covered shows sufficient mastery of traffic laws. You can use the DMV traffic school locator to find approved online and in-person traffic schools in your state. If you prefer to talk to a live person on the phone or at the DMV, you can ask for a hard copy of approved traffic schools in your area at the DMV in your city.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit traffic sign image by Saskia Massink from Fotolia.com
