My car insurance is going up $250 annual because of 1 speeding ticket

[undeterred]

No accidents ever with this car. But I got 4 points on my license because I was going too fast in a school zone. Isn't this much of an increase for 1 ticket a little severe? Should I shop elsewhere?

[skygazer]

1. I had the same thing happen this year

I got a speeding ticket while on vacation and my insurance went way up. Shocked the hell out of me - I'm 45 years old and have never had an accident, DUI or any other moving violation. Mine went up about the same amount as yours. :(

[sweetheart]

2. Did they get you in person...

... or with a speed camera?

[undeterred]

3. I was pulled over

I just paid the ticket instead of contesting it. I was on my way to a root canal and in pain at the time. The cop couldn't care less.

I am contesting another ticket I got later in the year. The cop told me I was going too fast (40) in a school zone- but it was 5pm in July, no children were present, and the posted limit is 35, not 25 as he wrote on the ticket. I can't believe they didn't dismiss it when I pointed that out.

[sweetheart]

4. "in a school zone"

.. those 3 words are kickers. Nobody will take sympathy with that cause, i'm sorry as its like
insult to injury, not the ticket, but the insurance, and the whole thing like this 'sin' against
the gods of expectation costs you a flight to hawaii by the time it's over.

At least you still have your license, your health and a heart. :party:

[undeterred]

5. The first one was in a school zone when kids were present

and being on my way to a root canal doesn't excuse it.

But the second one was when I passed a Catholic church/school with an empty parking lot at 5pm while I was going 5 miles over the posted limit. Doesn't seem right, I think the cop was trying to fill a quota.

[sweetheart]

6. Time is something they really should consider

I honestly think the days of static speed limits should end within our lifetimes
like the tops of cola cans have changed since the tear off ones that used to cut
my feet at the beach. A nighttime speed limit should often be slower for the lack
of visibility, and a wet-road speed limit should be 10 mph slower as well for the
changes on stopping distance.

With GPS and computers, the once-static speed limits of past, should become speed-governed
limits in restricted areas like schools and governed limits of some sort within built up
areas to an ungoverned throttle in daytime dry freeway.

[LostinVA]

8. YUp, school zones and school buses

THat'll cost you big.

However, the school zone thing here is only when school is in session/the light is flashing. Other times, it's just a regular speeding ticket.

[Left Is Write]

9. Edited

Misunderstood your second paragraph!

[BensMom]

7. Shop around

I am always broke because we have 4 cars in the driveway and even though I drive like an old geezer (and so does DH) I have two teen drivers.

Shop
Shop
Shop for the best deal. Loyalty to your insurance company/agent doesn't mean anything anymore like it did for my parents. It's a consumers world - just like you shop for the best bank rate, grocery prices.

Good Luck.

[astral]

10. Where I'm at, a drivers safety course can knock 2 points off

the ticket, but I do not know how much that will help your insurance rate. I am going to take one as I recently had a stop sign ticket (yes, I did! Weird place for a stop sign but that is NO excuse!) and I got a 4-pointer ticket. I had a low-low rate for a five - year - no accident or ticket driving record, probably longer than that, actually, since I had a two-car accident around 7 years ago and it wasn't my fault nor something that got reported.

So that might help. I am afraid the new way of tracking drivers is going to be waaaay worse than the old way. You can get a citation mailed to you with no human even having witnessed your offense!

If this does not lower my insurance (I don't have to start paying the higher rate for six months) I am going to get rid of my car, as I can afford to not have one here although it won't be fun getting used to.

[Radio_Lady]

11. Agreed. Try to take a driver's safety course -- and be careful out there!

Speed kills -- you and possibly a school child in a school zone.

I know -- I've been there speeding, too.

Don't forget -- one dead kid and you'll never forgive yourself.

That ticket was just a warning.

In peace,

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[LSK]

12. Welcome to America

Thats how the system works.