When it comes to your driving record, your wallet, and your safety, certain traffic violations can either mean minor inconveniences or major consequences for you as a driver. By avoiding the following driving behaviors, you can help keep the roads safer, keep your driving record clear, and hang on to that extra cash in your pocket.

Driving With a Suspended License or No License at All

If you are 18 years old or older and you receive two or more tickets for driving without a valid driver’s license, the next repercussion you will face is a mandatory driving privilege suspension that lasts for a period of 90 days. You are required to serve the full term of the suspension before you are eligible for license restoration. The same standards apply if you are found to be driving with a suspended license; you are not permitted to drive a motor vehicle until your privileges are restored and any applicable fees have been paid.

Often when we think of traffic violations, we think of hefty fines, arrests, and various crash statistics. While it is true that all these things typically accompany traffic violations, another area that is impacted by these incidents is the driver’s record. No matter how minor or major your violation might seem, the repercussions do not always end with a simple ticket and a fine.

Depending on the circumstances that surround your violation, you might face a serious hit to your driving record--consequences that can follow you long-term and affect everything from your car insurance rates to your privileges on the open road.

Point Assessments and Your Driving Record

No one wants to get a speeding ticket. The fines, the hassle of often dealing with license points, and the time it takes in the actual moment of incident to deal with law enforcement officials are costly in more ways than one. Driving even five miles over the posted speed limit in any area can result in being pulled over and handed a ticket—but if you are driving far faster than the speed limit, or in a manner that law enforcement determines is dangerous for yourself and other motorists on the road, you may be slapped with a reckless driving charge.

Reckless driving in Connecticut is considered a serious driving offense. Other serious driving offenses include improperly changing lanes, texting while driving, or following too closely. If you receive two serious offenses within three years, your license will be suspended for 60 days. If you receive three serious offenses within the same time period, your license is subject for suspension for 120 days.

Subjective Criteria 

The consequences of a speeding ticket extend beyond the fines and possible court appearance. Another potential penalty is a driver’s license suspension.

According to the Connecticut Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, if you plead guilty to four unsafe moving violations within two years, then your license will be suspended. It is important to note, however, that receiving a fine and pleading guilty to a violation are not the same.

In Connecticut, drivers can “plead guilty” by mailing in the citation with a payment for the fine. The DMV can suspend your license if you do this four times. It is therefore important to consult a lawyer before sending in your ticket with a guilty plea.

Nobody likes being on the wrong end of a traffic stop. The blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror will get your heart pumping, blood flowing, and hands shaking in an instant. In many cases, people do not know why police have stopped them. They may be unaware of a broken taillight, or they may not have noticed a stop sign. No matter what the reason for the traffic stop, it is always important to stay calm and to be respectful to the officer. If the officer tries to give you a ticket for a traffic offense or test you for DUI, rude behavior can only worsen the situation.

Stay Calm and Pull over Safely

If a police car moves behind you and turns on its lights, it is important to pull over as soon as it is safely possible, according to Business Insider. If you have to change lanes, this may require waiting a moment for other vehicles to move.