Traffic laws, they exist to protect drivers, deter would-be lawbreakers from driving unsafely, and make the roads a safer place to be, right? That’s the story we’re told, but others disagree. The facts seem to suggest a rather different story, one where government entities, insurance companies, and other organizations profit greatly from the billion-dollar industry of ticketing. While no observable statistical evidence exists that can directly link ticketing to increased rates of traffic safety, clear numbers exist that demonstrate just how profitable tickets can be for a host of organizations at the receiving end of all those fees.
It’s very difficult to find an accurate number regarding just how many tickets are issued per year. But some say that’s designed. For instance, many local governments don’t want to split the ticket revenue with the state, so they keep the ticketing rate and related statistics a secret. However, the best estimates place ticket revenue at somewhere around 25 to 50 million tickets per year nationwide. Even if you take the lowest fee for a ticket and multiply it by that number you get 3 billion dollars. That makes the ticketing industry a 3 to 7.5 billion dollar industry on an annual basis. What’s more, fees are pure profit. Since there hasn’t been a drop in accidents or any statistic to show that these tickets are doing much good, the only conclusion many people can draw is that ticketing is an industry, and it’s designed to benefit governments and related companies.
The old adage “follow the money” applies in this case, as well. Whenever someone gets a ticket and pays the fine, that money goes directly to the governmental organization in charge of the ticket. However, insurance companies will end up profiting, as well, since they hike your insurance rate after a single ticket. In fact, just one ticket can lead to $300 in pure profit over a three-year span for an insurance company. Multiply that by all the tickets that are handed out each year and the financial benefit insurance companies reap from the ticketing industry is overwhelming. You can follow the support, too. Every time a new regulation that will inevitably result in new tickets is proposed, insurance companies, governmental organizations, traffic associations, and political action committees focused on highway safety and related subjects are the first to jump in and support it. Why? Many believe it’s easy to figure out that it’s not just about wanting safer roads; it’s because all those new tickets create pure profit for them.
Another issue that people debate is why insurance companies would raise your rates over a single traffic ticket. Insurance rates of any kind are only supposed to be higher for those who pose an unusual or particularly high threat or risk. For instance, if your entire business requires you to be up on a ladder and working on roofs, you have a higher likelihood of being injured, so your business insurance rates will be higher. That makes sense. But how does speeding five or 10 miles over the speed limit one time make you an unusual threat? It’s hardly unusual to speed; nearly every driver has done it. It seems that the most logical conclusion is money. Insurance companies earn another 3 to 7.5 billion dollars every year from tickets, making the entire industry – even if you only consider governmental organizations and insurance companies – a nearly 15 billion dollar industry.
So what can you do? It might seem like the deck is stacked against you from the outset. In a system that continually produces new regulations designed to result in more tickets and higher revenue, do you stand a chance? Fortunately, you always have the ability to fight your ticket in court, and in almost every case you should. There are many ways to expose the ambiguity of various laws in an effort to get your ticket reversed. Even if your ticket isn’t thrown out, you can often negotiate a significantly lower payment than you would have had to pay originally.
Ticket Void has been working with drivers for years to help them fight their cases in traffic court. With just a few pieces of information we can match you with an experienced, qualified traffic lawyer who can help you fight your ticket. The initial consultation is free, so what do you have to lose? Get started today, and exercise your right to fight.
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