Tickets vs. Citations: What’s the Difference?

If a police officer catches you violating a traffic law, such as speeding or running a stop sign, they’ll likely issue a written document known as a ticket, or citation. The two terms are interchangeable. Depending on the type of traffic infraction you commit, the consequences you face range from paying a small fine for minor violations to potential jail time for more severe offenses.

Here’s what you need to know about the different types of citations, what to do if you get one, and how they might affect your car insurance premiums.

Citation vs. ticket: Is there a difference?

Both a citation and a ticket refer to the same kind of written document you might receive for a parking or traffic infraction.

People often use the word “citation” in formal settings and “ticket” in more informal settings. This difference in usage represents the only actual difference between the two terms.

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What’s a citation?

A citation is a written document that indicates you violated a traffic law. It includes information about which traffic law you broke and the penalty for violating it.

Common traffic violations that result in a citation include:

• Speeding: State law generally prohibits driving over the speed limit. But some states that use presumed speed limits, such as Texas, allow you to avoid being penalized if you can convince a judge you were driving safely based on certain road conditions.^[1]

• Driving without a seat belt: Although seat belt laws vary by state, most states require drivers and all passengers to wear seat belts.^[2]

• Failure to stop: This traffic violation involves failing to stop at a stop sign or red light.

• Failure to signal: If you fail to signal before switching lanes or turning, an officer could issue you a ticket.

• Driving with a broken light: A police officer may give you a ticket if you get caught driving with a broken tail light or headlight.

• Driving without insurance: Most states prohibit uninsured driving.^[3]

• Driving with expired license plates: It’s illegal to drive with an expired license plate in all states.

What information does a citation include?

Your citation has some critical information on it. A law enforcement officer will include the following:

Types of citations and tickets

Several types of citations and tickets exist, and the consequence you may face depends on the severity of the offense you commit.

Written warnings

If you commit a minor traffic violation, such as rolling through a stop sign, or receive your first traffic violation, an officer may issue you a verbal or written warning instead of a full ticket.

Unlike a ticket, a warning doesn’t result in penalties, such as points on your driving record or fines.

If you receive a warning, you should make any necessary changes as soon as possible to avoid receiving a ticket. For example, if you receive a warning for a broken tail light, you should immediately plan to fix it.

Penalties and fines

Whether you receive a penalty or fine for a ticket depends on the type of violation you commit, the severity of the offense, and the laws in your state. For example, DUIs and DWIs usually result in higher penalties than minor traffic infractions, such as driving five miles over the posted speed limit.

You’ll face penalties and fines corresponding to the severity of your violation, so a worse violation will lead to bigger consequences. For example, if you get a ticket for driving 25 miles over the speed limit, your state’s office or department of motor vehicles could suspend your license and propose potential jail time for reckless driving. Receiving a ticket for driving 10 miles over the speed limit, meanwhile, will likely only result in a fine.

Moving and nonmoving

Usually considered more severe than nonmoving violations, some examples of moving violations include speeding, running a stop sign, and reckless driving. Nonmoving violations include parking violations or defective safety equipment.^[4]

Criminal and noncriminal

The severity of the traffic offense determines whether a violation qualifies as criminal or noncriminal. Most minor traffic offenses, like changing lanes without signaling or running stop signs, fall into the category of noncriminal, or civil, offenses. If you commit one of these minor offenses, you may be required to go to traffic court, which differs from criminal court.

On the other hand, criminal offenses include more severe violations, such as a DUI or vehicular homicide. You’ll have to go to criminal court if you commit a serious offense.^[5]

What to do if you get a citation

For most minor traffic citations, you can pay the fine, and, in some cases, you can take a driving course to have it removed from your driving record. If you disagree with the citation, you can dispute it in traffic court.

How to negotiate a ticket

You should try to cooperate if an officer pulls you over. This could result in the officer only giving you a warning or ticket for a lesser traffic offense.

If you feel you have a case, you can negotiate a ticket in traffic court, perhaps with the help of a lawyer. In some cases, you can reduce your fine or the points attached to your license. If you don’t have any prior offenses or can show that you’re correcting your behavior through a defensive driving course, you may have a better chance of negotiating your case.

You could also potentially inquire about how to reduce your fees or obligations by calling the center processing your payment instead of paying through the online portal. In some cases, an administrator, often the clerk of court, may be able to change how the ticket affects you or provide insight.

How a citation affects your car insurance

A citation for a moving violation generally affects your insurance rates. Citations for a nonmoving violation like illegal parking, however, generally don’t affect your insurance costs.

How a citation affects your car insurance also depends on how often you commit traffic violations. A single speeding ticket or failure to stop has a minor effect. Multiple tickets or severe ones, like a DUI or reckless driving, can cause a significant increase in your car insurance premiums.

When you get a more severe ticket, you may need to file an SR-22 form with your department of motor vehicles (DMV). This form proves that you meet your state’s minimum insurance requirements.

How to find cheap car insurance after a citation

After you receive a ticket or multiple tickets, you may struggle to find affordable car insurance. Car insurance companies base their pricing on the risk a driver poses. Drivers with a long history of disobeying traffic laws pose a higher risk of filing a claim and pay higher car insurance premiums than drivers with clean records.

Practicing safe, legal driving is the first step to unlocking lower rates. Some other steps you can take to secure more affordable coverage include:

• Pursue discounts. Ask about discounts with your existing insurer or a new one. Many insurers offer several types of discounts not tied to driving history, including discounts for bundling, being a good student, installing vehicle safety features, membership in a specific organization, and more.

• Raise your deductible. Increasing your deductible can lower your rate, but make sure you can comfortably cover the out-of-pocket cost if you’re in an accident.

• Shop around. Comparing rates from multiple insurers is one of the most common ways to find affordable car insurance after a citation. Shopping around can help you find the best car insurance for your needs at an affordable price.

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