May, 2026The Hidden Criminality of the Commute: Why Every Ticket is Worth the Fight
By Scott A. Adrian
The “Silent” Sentence: The Financial Aftermath
Whether a ticket involves running a red light or exceeding the speed limit by a few miles per hour, traffic tickets are not merely administrative “slaps on the wrist.” In California, traffic infractions are criminal matters. A cited driver has the right to retain counsel (though counsel will not be appointed), and the prosecution must prove the violation beyond a reasonable doubt. If a conviction results, it becomes part of the individual’s record and can carry consequences that affect the recipient for years. Unfortunately, most people—more than 90%—treat traffic tickets as little more than a nuisance. According to a report by Reveal News (https://revealnews.org/article/california-drives-up traffic-fines-with-fees-earmarked-for-projects/), the vast majority of drivers simply pay the fine rather than contest the citation, viewing it as little more than a few hundred dollars due in a couple of months. Most either “just pay” their tickets or forget about them altogether. This nonchalant response isn’t limited to the average person—we see it from lawyers as well. It’s time to shift that perspective. A ticket is not something to “just pay”; it’s something that should be fought, like every criminal matter someone might face.
The biggest misconception about traffic tickets is that the “fine” represents the full penalty. It’s easy to think that if the punishment isn’t jail time or community service, it’s not a serious consequence. In reality, the face value of the ticket is often just the tip of the iceberg. The real financial consequences are often imposed not by the judge, but by your insurance carrier. Every point added to a driving record remains there for at least three years. For more serious violations, it can remain even longer—sometimes up to seven years. Once a point is added, “Good Driver” discounts often disappear, and insurance premiums frequently increase dramatically. In many cases, a single point can cause premiums to double, costing the driver thousands of dollars over the next several years. Additional points can increase those costs even further. That’s why a traffic ticket should never be treated as a minor inconvenience. In many cases, the real cost of a ticket isn’t the fine—it’s the years of increased insurance premiums that follow.
The Math of an Ticket Conviction
Let’s consider a standard speeding ticket as an example. In Los Angeles County, the court fine may range from approximately $234 on the lower end to around $900. But the fine is rarely the true cost of the ticket. Once that point is added to your DMV record, the financial consequences begin:
1. Insurance Premiums Surge: Insurance rates can increase dramatically—sometimes even doubling. For example, if you currently pay $200 per month for insurance, that increase could raise your premium to $400 per month. Over a year, that difference amounts to $2,400.
2. The Three-Year Impact: That increase is not a one-time charge. It continues month after month while the point remains on your driving record—typically 36 months. Using the same example, that results in $7,200 in additional insurance costs over three years.
3. The True Cost: For many drivers in the Greater Los Angeles area, a single traffic ticket can ultimately result in $7,000–$10,000 (or more) in total financial impact over three years, depending on the driver’s insurance premiums. When viewed in this light, simply paying a ticket is not “taking the easy way out.” It can be an expensive surrender— one that gives up rights every person has when accused of a criminal offense.
Why Even Attorneys Forget to Fight
I’ve even heard it from fellow attorneys: if someone receives a traffic ticket, there’s really no way to fight. Just plead guilty, pay the fine, and maybe attend traffic school to avoid the point on your license. But if we go back to Criminal Law 101, we all know—or should know—that a person is not guilty unless and until the state proves the violation beyond a reasonable doubt. Everything is in question when we fight:
1. Can the citing officer prove the violation?
2. Can the citing officer prove YOU committed the violation?
So the question becomes: is it worth the time to fight it? I understand the hesitation. Time is our most valuable asset. Why spend it trying to beat a situation that seems unwinnable? But legal professionals understand something most people overlook: the value of a technical defense. Traffic court is one of the few areas of the legal system where the rules of evidence and procedure are often ignored by pro se defendants—yet those same rules remain powerful tools in the hands of an attorney who knows how to use them. The citing officer is a witness. Like any witness, their testimony is subject to cross-examination. The equipment used to determine speed—whether LIDAR, RADAR, pacing, or www.sfvba.org even a patrol vehicle’s speedometer—is subject to calibration requirements. And, like any person, an officer’s memory is not infallible. Sometimes the strongest defense arises even before testimony begins. Procedural tools can increase the likelihood that the prosecution cannot present the necessary witness or evidence. Yes, that’s the more professional way of saying: the best defense is ensuring the officer doesn’t come to Court. In the Greater Los Angeles area, the sheer volume of citations issued often means that cases are dismissed when a focused and aggressive defense exposes the prosecution’s inability to meet its burden of proof.
Traffic School is not a “fix”
Many people think, “I’ll just do traffic school and it goes away.” Not exactly. Under California law, a driver may attend traffic school only once every 18 months. If a second ticket is issued during that window, the driver no longer has that option and must win, or absorb the point on their driving record. Additionally, traffic school does not dismiss the ticket. The driver still pays the fine, the court’s administrative fee, and the cost of the traffic school itself. The only benefit is that the point is masked from insurance companies. In other words, the violation still exists—you have simply used your one opportunity to shield the point. For that reason, traffic school is often best treated as a last resort. I usually tell clients: If they can promise themselves they will not get another ticket within the next 1.5 years, then Traffic School is a fine option. Otherwise, save that “free pass” card for when your fight fails. By fighting the ticket and aiming for a dismissal, you preserve your traffic school option for a future situation when you may truly need it
A Call to Action
To my fellow attorneys: Don’t allow your clients—or your staff—to simply roll over on these matters. A tarnished driving record can affect professional licensing, employment opportunities, and, ultimately, a person’s bottom line.
To the public: Understand that you have rights. The right to a speedy trial (or strategically choosing not to exercise it) remains relevant even when the alleged “crime” results in a citation rather than a jail booking. Traffic tickets are a significant source of revenue for the state, but the system relies on more than 90% of people simply paying without asking questions. Be among the small percentage who choose to fight back and keep that money in your pocket.
Demand that the state prove its case—otherwise, you are not guilty. After all, more than 59% of contested tickets are dismissed, meaning that those who fight often come out ahead.
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