Although many in Minneapolis may not think driving violations are that big of a deal, they can certainly cause drivers considerable trouble. For some of the most serious traffic violations, a driver could lose his or her license, will likely have to pay a fine and may see an enormous increase in insurance prices. There are some traffic violations that also come with criminal charges. Moreover, if police stop a driver for something like speeding and then believe that he or she had been drinking, he or she could find him- or herself in even more trouble.
Drivers in Minnesota should currently be aware of a national two-week program to catch as many drivers who aren’t wearing seat belts as possible. “Click it or Ticket” is a concentrated effort by law enforcement to crack down on drivers and passengers who aren’t wearing their seat belts.
While the state is certainly interested in improving traffic safety on Minnesota’s roads, it likely also has an interest in earning more money through increased traffic tickets. There are examples of numerous states who have been working hard to ticket more and more drivers than in years past. One state even expects to arrest nearly double the number of people it has ticketed previously, coming to an extra $350,000 for the state.
Just as with the more serious of crimes this blog has covered, anyone who believes he or she has been wrongfully ticketed can fight to clear his or her name. Although some may think that there is no harm in paying a fine for a traffic violation, there is no saying how a ticket could negatively affect a motorist.
Source: Bloomberg Businessweek, “‘Click It or Ticket’: The Annual Revenue-Generating, Seatbelt-Ticketing Blitz,” Elizabeth Dwoskin, May 14, 2013
