Traffic Violations and Citations in Bristol Connecticut

In Bristol Connecticut, If you do receive a ticket for committing a traffic violation, a local Bristol Connecticut court will be overseeing the processing of that citation. If you receive the ticket and want to pay the fine, your citation will include all the necessary information on how to submit payment to the local Bristol Connecticut court that is handling your violation.

If you are disputing the charges, your ticket will also disclose a court date where you can expect to appear in front of a hearing officer or judge, so that you may address the merits of your case. If you choose to argue your case but are not successful, there can be additional court costs attached.

Finally, you may want to appear in court and plead guilty or nolo contendre ("no contest"). By appearing in court, you may be able to humbly request to enroll in a safe driving program or traffic school.  In doing so, you may be able to avoid paying your traffic violation fine and also having both the violation itself and the accompanying points show up on your Bristol Connecticut driving record.

Points System and Common Traffic Violations in Bristol Connecticut

The Bristol Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles oversees a "points system" for its drivers in order to keep habitually hazardous drivers off the roads. If you do plead guilty in court or pay your traffic violation fine to the local Bristol Connecticut court handling the citation, you can expect points to appear on your Bristol Connecticut driving record. Listed below is a list of points that will appear on your Bristol Connecticut driving record if you commit certain traffic violations:

1 Point:

• Speeding
• Illegal Lane Usage
• Failure to Use Turn Signals Properly
• Driving the Wrong Way (One-Way Street)

2 Points:

• Disobeying a Traffic Officer
• Ignoring a Railroad Crossing Signal
• Ignoring a Stop Sign or Stop Light
• Turning from the Wrong Lane

3 Points:

• Improper Passing
• Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian
• Tailgating
• Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle

4 Points:

• Passing a Stopped School Bus
• Driving with the Intent to Harass
• Speed Racing

Once you receive any of these points on your Bristol Connecticut driving record, they will remain on record for two years.

Driving Privileges and License Suspension in Bristol Connecticut

Points can accumulate quickly against your Bristol Connecticut driving record. The Bristol Connecticut DMV will suspend your Bristol Connecticut driving privileges if you accumulate too many points. If you receive 6 points against your Bristol Connecticut driving record, the Bristol Connecticut DMV will mail you a written warning to explain the consequences you face if you continue to amass points against your Bristol Connecticut driving record. Once you incur ten points, your Bristol Connecticut driving privileges will be suspended for one month. If you accumulate an additional ten points in a 24-month period, you will lose your Bristol Connecticut driving privileges for two years.

Further, your Bristol Connecticut driving privileges can be immediately suspended for numerous reasons, even if you have no points on your Bristol Connecticut driving record to date. Examples include:

• Reckless Driving
• Filing False Reports with the Bristol Connecticut DMV
• Refusing to Stop When Ordered to Pull Over
• Vehicular Assault
• Possession of Alcohol by a Minor
• Driving on a Previously-Suspended License

These suspensions can result in suspension of your driving privileges for anywhere from a month to five years, and are considered serious infractions by the Bristol Connecticut DMV.

Defensive Driving and Traffic School Programs in Bristol Connecticut

Please note that the Bristol Connecticut DMV will not allow for you to participate in a Bristol Connecticut driving school or driver improvement program to remove points or traffic violations from your Bristol Connecticut driving record. However, if you anticipate appearing in court to dispute your traffic violation or plead guilty, you may be able to receive an opportunity from the judge to enroll in a Bristol Connecticut defensive driving course or Bristol Connecticut traffic school. Since Bristol Connecticut courts have jurisdiction over online traffic schools, a Bristol Connecticut online traffic school or online driver improvement course may qualify to satisfy court-ordered requirements. It would be advisable for you to ask the court overseeing your traffic violation if this is an option.

If you have received 3 or more traffic violations on your record as an adult over the age of 25, the Bristol Connecticut DMV may also order you to enroll in a traffic school or defensive driving program. If you are under the age of 25, the Bristol Connecticut DMV will order you to enroll in a traffic school if you have received two traffic violation convictions.  

A Clean Driving Record in Bristol Connecticut

As a Bristol Connecticut driver, It is important that you do everything possible to maintain a clean driving record, which may include possibly enrolling in a Bristol Connecticut online traffic school or online driver improvement program. A Bristol Connecticut online traffic school will teach and refresh key safe driving habits and helpful defensive driving techniques, which in turn will help you avoid costly traffic violations that will eventually show up on your Bristol Connecticut driving record. Also, Bristol Connecticut online traffic school will help your case, in the event that you must appear in court to discuss a traffic violation (by showing that you are committed to safe driving). A clean driving record, including successful completion of a Bristol Connecticut traffic school or online defensive driving program, can help you keep your insurance costs low, by reassuring your insurance provider that you are not a risk for future traffic violations and avoidable accidents.

Mature Drivers Get Insurance Discounts in Bristol Connecticut

Preventing your insurance premiums from increasing is not the only insurance-related benefit of online traffic school. If you are a Bristol Connecticut Mature Driver, a driver 62 years old or above, you may even qualify for a discount on your insurance premiums. By completing a Bristol Connecticut driver improvement program, you can take as much as 5% off your auto insurance costs. It is recommended that you contact your insurance provider to see if you qualify, and if a Bristol Connecticut online traffic school will satisfy the requirements for the insurance discount.

Juvenile Drivers Get Insurance Discounts in Bristol Connecticut

Drivers under the age of 18, or Juvenile Drivers, can also obtain insurance discounts for completing traffic school or safe-driving programs. If you are (or a child in your household is) a juvenile driver, your auto insurance carrier will be able to discuss with you what discounts and other benefits are eligible to you after your successful completion of a Bristol Connecticut online driver improvement program or online traffic school.

Approved Classroom Traffic Schools in Bristol Connecticut

Please note that if you have been ordered by the Bristol Connecticut DMV to enroll in a Bristol Connecticut driver improvement program, or if you would like to participate in a traditional brick-and-mortar classroom setting for your Bristol Connecticut traffic school course (in an attempt to lower your car insurance premiums), the Bristol Connecticut DMV recommends for state-approved driving programs under the tutelage of the following organizations:

• A Better Bristol Connecticut Driver
• Driving School Association of America
• The National Safety Council
• National Traffic Safety Institute

You may also want to contact the Bristol Connecticut DMV to see if your preferred traditional Bristol Connecticut traffic school will satisfy their requirements.