My teenager got a speeding ticket last year. First offense so he took the driver safety class to keep it off his record, and the insurance company finds out anyway and raises the premiums. Can someone explain to me how they find this info if it’s not on his record? I’m thinking he got bent over a barrel.

What do you mean when you say “off his record”?

There’s “off his record” meaning no conviction and no points, which really isn’t about his record, and then there’s “off his record”, meaning doesn’t show up as even a written warning on his actual certified driving record.

Different states handle this sort of thing differently, and I’m willing to bet that in yours, you’re talking about the former. And there’s always the possibility that it’s reported or reportable in some other way. Have you looked at whatever statute or regulation allows for the diversion program? That will also be very state-specific. (For example, we have no such program in Maryland.)

Pull a copy of his certified driving record and I bet it’s on there.

-Rob

Why take the safety class to defer points on your license if you end up paying more for your insurance anyway? Sounds like a scam perpetrated by the State for the insurance companies.

I think the safety class probably puts the points back... at least that's how it works in S.C. you drive with something like 12 points and any infraction (traffic ticket) will take some off...

Insurance companies will raise rates just for an arrest with no conviction.....

When I was a young man in this same state, I would take an 8 hour safety course on a Saturday, and pass my supervision time and then my insurance company wouldn’t find out about it.
Sounds like a scam or being deceptively vague about how it works. My sister works the front desk at a PD, I hadn’t thought to ask, I’m sure she can get me the answer. The kid is definitely not happy about the insurance hike even though it was minimal.

What state are you in?

-Rob

I think the class just made the points zero but the infraction is still on his record

Yeah I'm not sure I'm understanding the complaint, most of the time the class keeps the points off your record, not the actual infraction.

He was speeding as you youngin and insurance raised his rates. Sounds pretty logical.

First time forgiveness may not apply to anyone <25 or <21. Not sure.

It was an annual thing for me, in my teenage years & early 20s.
Speeding Ticket > Defensive Driving > No ins change
Have slowed down as I've gotten older, and speeding down the highway in rush hour just seems foolish.

Could be done 1x/yr
Only had overlap once & got deferred adjudication, same concept but with 6 mo 'probation'. Get a ticket in that span & both go on your record.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: P250UA5,

In NE you pay the money for the safety class. Only certain traffic offenses apply. Like Speeding(I believe lower than 15 over), stop sign violation, etc… you take the class on a Saturday(online now) and pass then it is not on your driver’s record, insurance, etc…

However, to do this it must be the first offense for whatever you got caught for and you must get it OK’d through the County Attorney so they get the certificate showing you passed and then they do their magic to make it go away.

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
What state are you in?

-Rob

It's obviously secret since he wouldn't say in his first post and then his response was "when I was a young man in this state" as if someone is going to track him down using "400m" as the only information they have.

BurtonRW I’m in Illinois.

Interesting. I’ve had one speeding ticket and got in an accident over the course of my driving life, and I’ve never been notified of or noticed an increase of insurance premiums specifically based on those Things. My rate increases have just been the year-to-year “hey, it’s going up $2/ month for your renewal due to industry increase” or whatever their BS is; but even my phone and streaming and health insurance, and all those other services seem to do that too.

What a fantastic contribution Edmond.

The class has not erased the citation, just shaved the points.
And Insurance companies use a shared database with all kinds of information about clients, including credit scores.

Found this online:

Illinois offers drivers the opportunity to have traffic violations reduced or removed from their driving record, or even dismissed entirely, if they participate in traditional or online traffic safety school programs. This opportunity is based on the nature of your traffic violation and your prior Illinois driving record. If you are under the age of 21, however, Illinois state law requires you to participate in a traffic safety program.

From this it sounds like he had to take the class, not that it was to keep things off his record (assuming what i found online is accurate)

Yes he did take the online class. Apparently he misunderstood exactly what would happen, and now I’m aware of the kind of information insurance companies can get their hands on. Time to start working a few more hours.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
The class has not erased the citation, just shaved the points.
And Insurance companies use a shared database with all kinds of information about clients, including credit scores.

In 2012 I got tickets for 41 in a 30 and failure to move over within a week and nothing happened to my insurance. But I'm not a teen driving on dad's policy either.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

failure to move over within a week

Do they discuss that in Driver Ed?

In Indiana I've gotten several tickets, and always either do a diversion or pay my lawyer to take care of it. He has always gotten it marked down to a lower speed or gotten a diversion I technically wasn't eligible for, or gotten it dismissed outright.

Never had an insurance increase that I know of for any of it. Never had any points in many years.