If you’ve received a traffic ticket in New York, defensive driving and diversion programs can help minimize penalties. It can also preserve your driving record, and even lower insurance costs. This guide breaks down how each program works and who qualifies.
At My Tickets NYC, we specialize in helping drivers fight tickets and keep their driving records clean. Occasionally defensive driving and diversion programs can help preserve your driving record.
What Is Defensive Driving?
Most driving schools teach defensive driving techniques, so if you’ve recently earned your license, much of this may already be familiar. Still, a refresher never hurts.
Let’s clarify what defensive driving is not: it’s not a passive approach. Rather, it is proactive in nature and demands that drivers practice awareness, anticipation, and responsible decision-making.
The main point of defensive driving is to ensure safety on the road as much as possible. Naturally, that makes it the go-to technique (or rather, set of techniques) that most driving schools will adhere to.
Why Does Defensive Driving Matter?
When you violate traffic law, your driver’s license incurs points against it. Should you receive 11 points within an 18-month period (which demonstrates a disregard for road safety and traffic laws), your license may be suspended.
<p>Most drivers would want to reduce the total number of points they have on their license, or at least avoid the consequences of having so many points to begin with. One of the best ways to achieve this is by completing a defensive driving course.
This won’t remove points from your license, but by completing the course, you can reduce the number of points needed to determine whether or not your license will be suspended.
<h2>Diversion Maneuvers
Diversion is another term you’ll often hear in matters of traffic violations and road safety. It refers to programs that essentially divert the normal flow of the law. This does not mean that offenders are not held accountable. It allows more serious cases to be dealt with more thoroughly, while allowing minor offences to be rectified via other means.
<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>In the Big Apple, traffic diversion programs allow drivers to avoid the more serious ramifications of traffic violations. These programs may dismiss tickets while also potentially reducing the number of points on your license.
Who Qualifies for Diversion Programs
Not just anyone can sign up for these programs. Indeed, you’ll need to have a mostly clean prior record, and the specific offence you find yourself guilty of should be relatively minor. The exact criteria differ slightly from one program to the next.
Once you’ve signed up and have been accepted, you will normally have 30 days to complete the course, which can be done in a traditional classroom setting or online. “font-weight: 400;”>Successful completion of the course may be just what you need. It can lead to ticket dismissal, point reduction on your license, and even lower insurance premiums. And remember, at My Tickets NYC, we specialize in helping you fight tickets so you can keep your record clean.