Posted by duijim in on March 4, 2015
My previous blog entry informed drivers on how to keep speeding tickets off of their driving history. The strategies vary depending on what kind of license you have, but they are all effective. However, what actions need to be taken to keep traffic tickets, other than speeding tickets, off your driving history? Again, this will depend on what kind of license the driver has. However, it is usually rather easy to keep the charge off your driving history.
Georgia Traffic Tickets Issued To Drivers With A Georgia Driver’s License
Traffic tickets issued to drivers with a Georgia Driver’s License are very easy to keep off someone’s driving history. In this scenario, the charge just needs to be reduced to the Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 40-6-180 “Too Fast for Conditions.” This is also known as a “Basic Rules” violation. This charge does not carry any points, but even better, the charge does not even go on your driving history. This reduction will work even if the driver is under 21 years of age.
The code section for Too Fast for Conditions may be found here.
Georgia Traffic Tickets Issued To Georgia Commercial Drivers (CDL)
Traffic tickets issued to drivers who hold a Georgia Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) while the driver is operating his commercial vehicle need to be treated differently. Simple getting these tickets reduced to Too Fast for Conditions is not enough as this charge will go on the CDL driver’s driving history. While the charge will not place any points on the CDL’s driving history CDL’s must do all they can to keep charges off their driving history.
The CDL driver needs to get his Georgia traffic tickets reduced to a local, or county ordinance. This will keep the charge from reporting to the Georgia Department of Driver Services (GA DDS), and therefore, the charge will not go on their driving history.
If a CDL is issued a Georgia traffic ticket while operating a vehicle other than his commercial vehicle he may get those Georgia traffic tickets reduced to Too Fast for Conditions, and they will not go on his CDL driving history. However, given the importance of keeping a CDL driving history clean, I recommend erring on the side of caution and getting the Georgia traffic tickets reduced to local, or county, ordinance violations.
Georgia Traffic Tickets Issued To Out Of State Drivers
Out of state drivers who receive Georgia traffic tickets should also get those tickets reduced to local, or county, ordinance violations. While Too Fast for Conditions tickets do not normally report to the Georgia Department of Driver Services they do report for out of state drivers.
Georgia DDS then reports these convictions to the driver’s home state, and the home state may place them on the driver’s history. If the charges are reduced to local, or county, ordinance violations they will not report to Georgia DDS.
What Georgia Traffic Tickets Can Be Reduced?
Any Georgia traffic ticket may be reduced to Too Fast for Conditions, or a Basic Rules Violation. No matter what the original charge was it will not report to Georgia DDS if the charge is reduced.
To learn more about the Georgia Department of Driver Services please visit their web site.
For a list of all driving offenses in Georgia, and whether or not they will go on your driving history, visit the State of Georgia Department of Driver Services’ Traffic Court Reference Manual.
A list of local, and county, ordinance violations can be found on the Municode web site.
Does This Work For Keeping Car Accidents Off Your Driving History?
Yes. If a Georgia traffic ticket for an accident is reduced to Too Fast for Conditions or a local/county ordinance violation, the charge will not go on your driving history.
Georgia Traffic Tickets And Atlanta DUI Lawyer
When all else fails hire an attorney to go to court with you. The attorney will negotiate on your behalf, and your chances of success are higher when you hire an attorney. Also, people who have retained attorneys get seen by the judge first so they don’t have to sit in court all day waiting to be called.