Santa Cruz California Traffic Violations
If you have been charged with a Santa Cruz California traffic violation or Santa Cruz California speeding ticket, the California Motor Vehicle Department (DMV) in Santa Cruz California this can affect your driving record, depending on the type of infraction. As with most states, you can expect to pay a fine based on the area in which you received your Santa Cruz California traffic violation or Santa Cruz California speeding ticket. Santa Cruz California traffic violations can be paid by mail, in person at the courthouse, by check or money, by phone, or even online, depending on the county in which you received your ticket.
Santa Cruz California Points System and Suspension of Licenses
There are two levels of Santa Cruz California traffic violations: 1-point offenses and 2-point offenses. See the Santa Cruz California DMV website for a complete list of Santa Cruz California traffic violations and Santa Cruz California point assignments.
Some of the most common traffic violations include:
- A traffic conviction: 1 point
- Speeding: 1 point
- An at-fault accident: 1 point
- Reckless driving or hit-and-run driving: 2 points
- DUI: 2 points
- Driving while suspended or revoked: 2 points
The California DMV in Santa Cruz California will notify you when you are halfway to a Santa Cruz California license suspension. Because you can only remove 1-point offensive with a Santa Cruz California defensive driving course, it is important to be aware of your Santa Cruz California driver's license record and take steps accordingly. Your Santa Cruz California driver's license could be suspended if you accumulate more than:
- 4 points in 12 months
- 6 points in 24 months
- 8 points in 36 months
Points can be masked from your Santa Cruz California driving record in two ways. First, 1-point Santa Cruz California traffic violations will automatically clear after three years, as well as most 2-point Santa Cruz California traffic violation offenses. However, you can attend a Santa Cruz California internet defensive driving school or Santa Cruz California online traffic school to help mask the ticket.
Attending a Santa Cruz California Defensive Driving School or Santa Cruz California Traffic School
If you have received a Santa Cruz California speeding ticket or have been stopped for a Santa Cruz California traffic violation, which includes minor infractions such as speeding or failing to yield, you can take a Santa Cruz California defensive driving course online to mask violations and points from your Santa Cruz California driving record.
The Santa Cruz California Department of Motor Vehicles does not recommend specific Santa Cruz California defensive driving schools or Santa Cruz California traffic schools, so be sure to check with your school to make sure it is fully accredited with the state.
The Benefits of a Masked Santa Cruz California Driving Record
A masked Santa Cruz California driving record can help you in several ways. By taking a Santa Cruz California online defensive driving course, you can mask 1-point Santa Cruz California traffic violations from your Santa Cruz California driver record. Because you can only take one Santa Cruz California defensive driving course per 18-month period, iit is important to be aware of accumulated points and to mask them in a timely manner. If you have accrued 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months, your Santa Cruz California license will be suspended.
In addition, a masked Santa Cruz California driving record is essential to keeping your Santa Cruz California car insurance premium as low as possible. In general, the less traffic violations you have on your Santa Cruz California driving history, the lower your insurance premiums will be. Most Santa Cruz California car insurance companies will charge higher premiums for each point accumulated. However, Santa Cruz California car insurance companies often offer a car insurance premium reduction of 5-15% for completion of a Santa Cruz California defensive driver program, depending on the provider.
Santa Cruz California Mature Driver Discount Programs
Santa Cruz California drivers 55 and older are eligible to receive car insurance discount for completing a licensed Santa Cruz California Mature Driver Discount Program. There are many Santa Cruz California Mature Driver courses designed to teach current road rules, defensive driving techniques, and generally improve driving skills. These Santa Cruz California Mature Driver classes cover topics such as how to minimize the effects of dangerous blind spots, how to monitor your own driving capabilities, vision and hearing changes, hazardous driving situations, and the effects of medication while driving. Courses include at least 400 minutes of instruction and carry a maximum fee of $30 in addition to a $1 DMV certificate charge, which can be used to obtain a Santa Cruz California car insurance reduction, depending on your Santa Cruz California insurance provider.
Santa Cruz California Juvenile Driver Programs
Santa Cruz California teen drivers are under special scrutiny from the Santa Cruz California Department of Motor Vehicles. If you are a Santa Cruz California teen driver and have received a traffic ticket, your driving license could be suspended if you fail to pay your Santa Cruz California traffic ticket fine in a timely fashion, usually within six months of the violation. Upon your first at-fault accident, the DMV will send a warning letter. Then, if you are convicted for a second at-fault accident within a 12-month period, your driver's license will be suspended unless you are accompanied by a parent or licensed adult over 25. Santa Cruz California teen drivers can find out more information about Santa Cruz California traffic violations and point assignment at the Santa Cruz California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Enrolling in a Santa Cruz California online defensive driving course can help educate younger drivers in order to avoid Santa Cruz California traffic violations, Santa Cruz California speeding tickets, and accidents in the first place. In addition, many Santa Cruz California car insurance companies offer a discount for certification of a completed Santa Cruz California online defensive driving course or Santa Cruz California online traffic school. In addition to a possible Santa Cruz California insurance rate reduction, Santa Cruz California defensive driving courses are also recommended for new drivers because they teach practical skills that will help avoid accidents and traffic tickets in the future.
Santa Cruz California Classroom Traffic Schools
Remember: the Department of Motor Vehicles in Santa Cruz California cannot refer drivers to a specific Santa Cruz California defensive driving school or Santa Cruz California traffic school, so make sure to check that a school is accredited with the state.