What to Know About Nevada Traffic Schools
If you’re facing a traffic offense in Nevada, you might wonder how traffic school might come into play. Traffic school is a way that drivers with minor offenses can remove points from their record.
If you’re considering traffic school, it’s important to understand how it works and the impact that it has so that you can make the correct decision. You and your Las Vegas traffic ticket attorney can work together to determine if this is the best option for your unique circumstances. Here is some critical Nevada traffic school information.
What Is Nevada Traffic School?
Traffic school is a way for Nevada drivers to reduce the number of points on their driver license record. Drivers can attend a traffic education course and learn about safe driving techniques. If they pass the course, the traffic school makes a report to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. A reduction in the number of points on a driver’s record can help a driver avoid a license suspension. It can also lower auto insurance rates.
How to Qualify for Traffic School in Nevada
You may go to traffic school once in a 12-month period. You qualify if you have at least three points on your driving record. The court may have traffic school information listed with your citation on their website. You may also research your own qualifications to attend traffic school. Anyone may attend a traffic school, but it only removes points from your license if you qualify.
Most people attend traffic school as a way of lowering points on their record. If you get more than 12 points on your record in a 12-month period, you face an automatic suspension of your driver’s license for a period of six months. Removing points from your record can give you peace of mind. Also, insurance companies often base their rates on the number of points on someone’s driving record. Removing points can keep your insurance rates lower.
How to Choose a Traffic School
Most traffic schools are online. Make sure that you choose one that’s approved by the DMV. You can typically take your course at any time. Some courses emphasize humor. Others say that they’re fast to complete while others advertise their low prices. There really isn’t a huge difference between classes. Just make sure that the course you select is approved for the reason you need it.
What Happens in Traffic School?
You can expect traffic school to be several hours long. But you can take your course from the comfort of your own home, usually at any time. You watch videos, read information and answer questions. The courses are designed to reinforce safe driving techniques and motivate drivers to follow traffic laws. At the end of the course, you take an exam to show that you understand the material.
How Often Can I Attend Traffic School?
You may attend traffic school once each year to remove points on your license. Once you attend traffic school for a reduction in points, you can’t do it again for 12 months. If you fail your exam, there are ways that you can test again immediately to show your knowledge and get credit.
Can the Court Make an Exception to Allow Me to Attend Traffic School If I Don’t Qualify?
There’s no way for a local court to make an exception to the DMV traffic school rules. Even though the court can integrate traffic school into a plea offer with their own terms, they can’t change the general rules of qualification for traffic school. If you’ve already taken traffic school in the past 12 months, they can’t make an exception to allow you to retake it.
The State of Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles creates the rules for traffic school. While the court can determine guilt or innocence for the traffic offense, they have no power to make exceptions in the traffic school rules. You qualify, or you don’t based on the DMV rules.
Your Conviction Stays on Your Traffic Record and Criminal History
Even though traffic school removes points from your driving record, the conviction itself stays on your record. A police officer, court or even an employer that sees your record can still look at your traffic history.
It’s important to keep this in mind when you decide whether to aggressively fight your citation, accept a plea bargain or simply pay your fine. Our traffic ticket attorneys in Las Vegas can help you evaluate your options and determine the best course of action.
You Do Not Receive Points If You’re Not Convicted of the Offense
If you receive a citation, you have a right to a hearing on the offense. You’re not assessed points until a court finds you guilty of the offense. Attending traffic school is one way to avoid points on your license, but receiving an adjudication of not guilty is another way to prevent license points. Our legal team can help you explore your defenses to see how you should handle your traffic citation.
Why Does the State of Nevada Offer Traffic School?
The State of Nevada offers traffic school because they believe that it makes drivers safer. Traffic safety experts believe that teaching minor offenders about safe driving and motivating them to follow traffic laws has an overall positive impact on traffic safety. They give qualifying drivers an incentive to take traffic school by allowing them to remove points from their record.
What If I Receive a Citation in Another State?
If you receive a citation in another state, you should follow that state’s instructions to see if you’re eligible for traffic school. Generally, your points don’t transfer to your Nevada license. But your conviction is still public record, and it’s important to take all traffic offenses seriously no matter where you are.
Our Traffic Attorneys in Las Vegas Can Help
Are you facing a traffic citation? Are you accused of a traffic-related criminal offense? Our traffic attorneys in Las Vegas can help. In Nevada, all traffic offenses are potentially serious offenses. We can help you evaluate your rights and determine the best path to address the allegations against you and reach a positive outcome. Contact us today for an evaluation of your case.