How will the defensive driving course affect my record? (Houston: car insurance, lawyer)

[stkh]

Hi all,

I know that taking the defensive driving course will clean up my driving record so that my insurance won't go up. But what will it do to my criminal record? In other words, if I plea no contest and take the course, will there be an entry in my permanent record that I have once committed a class C misdemeanor?

I am trying to decide whether I should hire a lawyer to fight my first-ever speeding ticket. Taking the course has no risk and would save me some money, but I am worried that future employers would prefer an unblemished criminal record.

[RCH99]

What else does your criminal record consist of?

If you take defensive driving and it gets resolved, I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it.

The great majority of us would be up sh*t creek if a single speeding ticket was a big deal.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by stkh

Hi all,

I know that taking the defensive driving course will clean up my driving record so that my insurance won't go up. But what will it do to my criminal record? In other words, if I plea no contest and take the course, will there be an entry in my permanent record that I have once committed a class C misdemeanor?

I am trying to decide whether I should hire a lawyer to fight my first-ever speeding ticket. Taking the course has no risk and would save me some money, but I am worried that future employers would prefer an unblemished criminal record.

Just calm down and take a deep breath. It's just a speeding ticket; not the end of the world. A speeding ticket as far as I know shouldn't affect your criminal record; if it did; I'd be America's most wanted!

[behtypa]

Originally Posted by stkh

Hi all,

I know that taking the defensive driving course will clean up my driving record so that my insurance won't go up. But what will it do to my criminal record? In other words, if I plea no contest and take the course, will there be an entry in my permanent record that I have once committed a class C misdemeanor?

I am trying to decide whether I should hire a lawyer to fight my first-ever speeding ticket. Taking the course has no risk and would save me some money, but I am worried that future employers would prefer an unblemished criminal record.

Speeding ticket is not a crime. Speeding ticket is a class C misdemeanor, as you stated. You are not a criminal. :-)) You may just get a driving record for 3 years for speeding, that is all. Your insurance will raise only after 2-3 of these, depending on the insurance. It would raise after one speeding only if there is any aggravating curcumstances, like DUI, etc.

The defensive driving course will reduce your insurance 5-10%, depending on an insurance. Every little saving helps.

I would however be paying attention to something else. The defensive driving course is not a punishment. it is a great opportunity to learn things. Seriously. You will become a little safer driver every time you attend defensive driving. Think of it this way.

I went to defensive driving 2 times because I had to. And 2 times voluntarily, because I knew it would help me to be a better driver. Check if your employer would pay for that.

[RoadWrangler]

Don't forget that you can take defensive driving once every 12 months

[regards101]

Most road accidents are caused by driver error. To reduce the likelihood of being involved in an accident you need to understand the concept of “defensive driving.” This course will provide you with standard accident-preventing techniques. Some people taka a defensive driving course to escape a moving traffic violation or to get a discount on their car insurance. But the point of a defensive driving course is to reduce the amount of accidents and deaths on our roads.
It teaches you better ways to respond in dangerous situations and conditions. And, because you are better equipped with the skills and knowledge of the latest road laws and regulations, you are confident in your abilities and make better decisions and have better reactions in dangerous situations. Visit defensivedrivingcourseusa.com

[Oildog]

I'm looking as to which course to take as I was recently pinched. No big deal.

[HoustonRonnie]

Originally Posted by Oildog

I'm looking as to which course to take as I was recently pinched. No big deal.

I always take the comedy defensive driving online. It only lasts 6 hours and you can start, stop, start, stop.... do it at your own leisure.

Ron

[eric3781]

Preface: Oh boy with all my activity on the red light camera thread I can see the tin-foil hat wearing shill-police coming out of the woodwork after I make this reply. I assure you I don't work for the man.

I would hire none-other than Paul Kubosh, the best damn traffic attorney in the City of Houston, champion of the Constitution.

Ask for a trial by jury. If it isn't dismissed in the first round, take it all the way to trial. Don't give in. No defensive driving, no deferred adjudication, no surrender.

The prosecution will try to intimidate you, claim that the officer is ready to go. Ignore it. Go to trial, and let Kubosh demolish whatever pipsqueak prosecutor they put up against you. It worked for me.

Then when your case is dismissed, revel in your victory against the jack-booted authoritarians. And ponder the ridiculous waste of taxpayers money it is for a speeding ticket to go to trial.

And lastly, if you haven't taken defensive driving before, I'd recommend you do so on your own. It will make you a better driver and get you a discount on your car insurance. Take it for those reasons, not because you were compelled to do so by the state.