At some point in most drivers’ lives, they have received a speeding ticket or some other minor moving violation. If you haven’t, you’re one of the lucky few who didn’t have to endure sitting in a courtroom to hear how much your fine would be.
Depending on the state you live in, you might have received points on your license after getting a ticket. If you have too many points or your driving record is severely flawed, a judge may require you to take a driver safety course after you receive a ticket or get into an accident.
Though the idea of sitting in a school or online course seems daunting, there can be some benefits to it. You can have points removed from your license and avoid a license suspension, and there are driver safety course discounts available with certain insurance providers.
However, if you don’t follow the judge’s orders, there may be more consequences than benefits.
What is a mandatory driver safety class?
There are different forms of driving schools, so if the court requires you to attend one, be sure you’re signing up for the right type of course. There are driver’s education classes and defensive driving classes readily available.
A defensive driving class (also known as a driving or traffic safety class) is a course that people take to learn how to drive defensively to prevent accidents and not break the law while driving.
This course covers how alcohol affects driving, techniques to drive defensively, and your specific state laws and statistics on DUIs, accidents, and other moving violations.
A driver’s education course simply teaches new drivers how to drive. The classes teach new drivers how to operate their automobiles, driving safety practices, and the driving laws in their state.
Though defensive driving classes can be taken willingly, a mandatory driver safety course is when a court or judge orders you to take one because you have received some moving violation.
Why would I have to attend a defensive driving class?
Despite having a defense attorney for traffic offenses and tickets, you may still have to attend a defensive driving course. The driving course may even prevent you from receiving a ticket.
Defensive driving and traffic schools may vary by state, but they all cover the same type of areas and can be used as a tool to learn about the consequences of reckless driving. Court-ordered driving safety courses can last anywhere between four to 12 hours.
You would have to attend the class if you received some type of moving violation or are on the verge of losing your license. As a way to spare hardship on the driver, a judge may order mandatory defensive driving classes instead of adding points to their license and suspending it.
Sometimes, you can request to attend a driver safety course instead of having points added to your license or having marks made on your driving record.
You can make this request at your scheduled hearing in traffic court. If the judge agrees, you may still be required to pay the fine associated with your traffic violation.
Your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, your insurance provider, and a judge in a traffic court are some entities that could determine your eligibility to attend a driving school.
How to Request Traffic School Extensions
When trying to get a reckless driving case dismissed, your attorney may suggest that you take a mandatory driver safety course as a form of punishment and rehabilitation. So missing out on your scheduled school time can diminish all your attorney’s efforts.
Traffic school extensions that are ordered by a judge can only be extended by the court. If you believe you may have to miss school because of a scheduling conflict, you should reach out to the court immediately.
Each state and county handles traffic school extension requests differently, and how you request one varies as well. You can usually find this information on the court’s website or by contacting the clerk for the court that specifically handled your case.
When you are ordered to attend a driver safety course for extreme violations that could result in your license being suspended, an extension may not be an option.
What kind of traffic school extensions are available?
The length and approval of a traffic school extension depend on the county and the court, but some do offer two 30-day extensions or a 60-day extension. In most cases, you can’t request an extension after your due date has expired.
You should request the extension at least a day before your due date, but any time before that is highly recommended.
You should still try to receive an extension if you missed your deadline, but whether the court will accept the request depends on the county, the severity of your traffic violation, and your driving record.
Keep in mind that the court may grant your extension after your due date, but may do so only if you pay a fine.
Consequences of Skipping Traffic School
When you are ordered to attend a driver safety course, the court gives you enough time to make room in your schedule to attend the class. Therefore, you will more than likely need a valid and justifiable reason to extend your deadline.
Missing out on mandatory traffic school can lead to your driver’s license being suspended, losing your job if they run background checks regularly, or having to pay hundreds or thousands more in raised insurance rates.
For the most part, court-ordered driving school is a good thing because it means the judge gave you a chance to make up for your mistake. Attending your mandatory driver safety course by the deadline can prevent you from having a conviction, getting your license suspended, and can prevent your violation from showing on your driving record.
Also, your insurance provider will never have to know that you received a moving violation, which prevents an insurance rate spike or being dropped as a client.
Beyond that, if you show them proof you attended a driver safety course, you can receive a discount on your insurance policy.
Imani Francies writes and researches about driving courses, penalties, insurance points, and more for the car insurance comparison site, CarInsuranceComparison.com.