Traffic Violations and Your Driving Record

Even though you pay the traffic fine associated with a traffic violation, the violation stays on your record for three (3) years. The insurance companies will charge you for the violation until the three (3) year anniversary. Some insurance companies go by the violation date while others may go by the conviction date. The only way to remove the violation from your record is to go to traffic school.

Traffic School

If you attend Traffic School for your violation it will not show on your motor vehicle record and therefore the insurance company does not charge you for it. It is your responsibility to verify that your Traffic School information has been received by the Department of Motor Vehicles and that the violation has been erased from your record.

Note:California Vehicle Code Section 1808.7 mandates that only one citation in an 18 month period be masked from public view on your driving record. The 18 month period is calculated from the citation date not class attendance date. If you have attended more than once in 18 months, the violation will not be chargeable by the DMV, but will still show on your motor vehicle report as a dismissed abstract. Some insurance companies still charge for this violation.