How does a speeding ticket, with no points, received in SC affect my insurance?

by **chepito** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:20 am

I recieved a speeding ticket in Varnville,South Carolina, but i live in Georgia. I was going 61 in a 40 mph zone. The officer gave me a traffic citation with the stipulation of no points and a $108 fine. He said that the township law mandated that my violation would recieve no points. He said that it wouldn't go on my driving record, and it wouldn't affect my insurance. I speciffically asked him about this. Because there are no points is this true? Should I take the officer's word? If an insurance agent could help that would be great too. Leave your agent licence number.

by **bret11** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:25 am

anything can affect your insurance,it is why they lobbied for mandatory insurance. i wouldn't take the officers word,just hope your insurance company don't find out

by **demarco** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:32 am

they usually dont know about tickets in other states. but if you get no points then it def wont affect your insurance.

by **voliny13** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:42 am

I assume it depends on your insurance company.

by **victorio83** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:46 am

you were charged with a city ordinance, probably careless operation. it doesnt carry points on your license, but your insurance may try to treat it like a reckless driving charge and really screw you on your bill

by **norwyn** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:55 am

Usually, the insurance company will only check the driving record for the state of residence.

by **laureano97** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:02 pm

I am an agent and I have never heard of that. Insurance companies set the points based on a number of factors, including the amount over the speed limit you were doing, they are not set by the state. If you get a traffic citation and it is not dropped by the court then it should be on your record. If you don't change insurance companies it is likely that your insurance will stay the same, some companies don't recheck MVR's at every renewal.

I am not giving you my license number, because it would give you my name, address and my work address and phone number. I don't want you and every other person on the Internet to have that info, if I did, I'd just post it.

by **urian27** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:12 pm

21 mph over the speed limit? All of the above would apply. The officer was either 'putting you on' or wanted to convince you not to contest the ticket. If the former, then he was not acting very professional. If the latter, then I suspect the charge was not one he wanted to try to justify in court. Also, 21 mph over the limit is an unusual figure. Quite often fines and/or penalties inclrease proportionally every 10 mph. Unless you give the officer some 'attitude', I can safely say that the vast majority would drop the charge just under a 10 mph increment. i.e. 19 mph over, etc. That small reduction may very well save you points and considerable $.

In regards to what he told you, I doubt there is any jurisdiction anywhere that would not involve points, driving record, etc. for 21 mph over the limit. Besides, demerit points and/or driving records are state or provincially mandated and nothing a local police department does can change it. As far as insurance companies go, a conviction of 21 mph over the limit would undoubtedly result in increased rates or at least a notation on your file to more regularly check you conviction record. If this is your only moving violation conviction you shoud be OK. If you've had two or more I suggest you get your checkbook out the next time your insurance comes up for renewal.

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