CarInsurance.com Car Insurance
Estimates Online
> ZIP code:  Click & Quote
CarInsurance.com Navigation
  About Car Insurance About Us
  Car Insurance Site Map Site Map

Get Free Quotes Now

Zip Code:
Save With CarInsurance.com!
Car Insurance Learning Center  Learning Center  Auto Insurance Questions & Answers   Questions & Answers  Professional Answers   Professional Answer
I live in Massachusetts and received a speeding ticket for $200 in Florida, what will happen if I do not pay the ticket? Will he ticket show up on my record?

If you do not pay the Florida speeding ticket it would not go on your Massachusetts driving record, however your license would likely be suspended in both Florida and Massachusetts until you did take care of the FL traffic ticket.

Your home state of Massachusetts is not part of the Drivers License Compact (DLC) however they still receive in information from other states regarding convictions of moving violations by their licensed drivers. When they receive in this information they will normally add the offense to your driving record and treat it if it occurred in state. One may think they can avoid getting an out of state ticket on their record by ignoring an out of state ticket but in this technologically advanced world the states are much better at communicating with each other so FL would notify MA if you failed to pay the citation.

While MA is not part of the DLC they do take part in the Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC) which allows a motorist's home state to suspend the person's driver's license if they fail to comply with an out of state moving violation. This is what Massachusetts would indeed do and Florida would also suspend your right to drive in their state.

The MA driver's manual states that Massachusetts has arranged to share driving-record and criminal-violation information with other states. Certain traffic offenses you have committed in other states will be placed on your driving record and treated by the RMV as if they had occurred in Massachusetts. Out-of-state violations count toward possible license suspension and Safe Driver Insurance Plan surcharges. Furthermore, if your license or driving privileges have been suspended or revoked in another state, your Massachusetts license will be suspended automatically.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Services (HSMV) states that when a person fails to comply with a traffic summons their driver's license is suspended indefinitely. To get this suspension lifted one must contact the traffic court in the county where the traffic summons was issued, satisfy the traffic summons and present proof of the satisfaction plus a $47.50 reinstatement fee in any Florida driver license office. Some traffic courts allow payment for the traffic summons online via credit card. Check the traffic court web site to determine if you can pay yours now.

The FL HSMV also notes that out-of-state residents must send the satisfaction and $47.50 reinstatement fee (make Check Payable to the Division of Driver Licenses) and a letter of residency to The Bureau of Driver Improvement. A clearance letter will be mailed to you. If inquiring about an out-of-state traffic summons on the Florida driver record, contact the court that has jurisdiction. If more ticket information is needed, contact the Bureau of Customer Services at (850) 617-2000.

Since your license is suspended in Florida if you fail to pay the speeding ticket it appears that your home state would also suspend your license. The MA driver's manual goes on to say that if your driving privileges have been suspended or revoked in another state, your Massachusetts driver’s license will be suspended until your out-of-state suspension or revocation is resolved. Once your license has been reinstated in the state that suspended or revoked it, you can settle your MA suspension by bringing either a reinstatement letter or a current driving record from the state of suspension to any full-service RMV Branch. For certain offenses, you may be required to submit additional information. Your reinstatement letter or driving record must be no more than 30 days old.

The MA Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) also notes that each state in the United States is required to notify the Massachusetts RMV of any traffic offenses you commit out of state. These offenses will be treated as if they occurred in the Commonwealth if they are a “like” offense.

So if you are convicted of the speeding ticket in Florida it will go on your MA driving record and the RMV will treat it as if it occurred in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts but if you do not take care of the Florida traffic ticket than your driver's license would be suspended in both FL and MA.

You may want to see if traffic school is available to you in Florida to get the ticket dismissed through an adjudication withheld judgment in court. The court that is listed on the ticket would be able to tell you if you are eligible for this defensive driving course option or not depending on your rate of speed, you carrying an out of state license, etc.

If your Massachusetts insurance is affected by the out of state traffic ticket you can contact us for free auto insurance quotes online.

Share this on: Tweet this! Add to Facebook Add Google Bookmark Digg This Windows Live Favorites Add to Del.icio.us reddit this!
StumbleUpon Save to Ma.gnolia Save to Blinklist Technorati This Submit to Propeller Furl It Seed Newsvine
Related Questions
Car Insurance RelatedI have a Texas driver's license but received the speeding ticket in the state of Massachusetts. I was wondering will I receive points for my violation on the TX license in the state of MA? Massachuse...
Car Insurance RelatedWhich states share information with other states? DLA?
Car Insurance RelatedCan I get car insurance in one state if I have an unpaid traffic violation in another state?
Car Insurance RelatedI have a MA license, 2 years ago I had received a speeding ticket in CT. I had misplaced the ticket and forgot about it. Few months later I received a letter stating that my license will be suspende...
Car Insurance RelatedThere are five states (last known) that do not transfer driving records. I do not mean the NRVC, I am not sure what it is, but I do know TN and MI are 2 of the 5 could you please let me know.
Car Insurance RelatedI received a speeding ticket in New York and I live in Massachusetts. I was cited for driving 87 in a 65 which I believe is bogus, but I figured NY would be too far to drive again to fight it. I pai...
Car Insurance RelatedWhich states have reciprocal agreements and share speeding ticket information?
Car Insurance RelatedI have a Massachusetts license and got a speeding ticket in Vermont last year, 01/25/07 which I did not pay. Can I drive in VT? what will happen if I get stopped in VT again? Can they arrest me for no...
Car Insurance RelatedI live in New York, I got a parking ticket in Boston, Massachusetts. If I am not paying this ticket, what happen to it?
Car Insurance RelatedWhich states share DUI information?
Car Insurance RelatedIs Massachusetts part of the Drivers License Compact (DLC) or the Drivers License Agreement (DLA)?
Car Insurance RelatedWho are the party states of the DLC?
Tell us what you think about this answer.
What did you think of this question and answer?

poor 
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

 excellent
Tell us why you rated this car insurance question and answer this way:
Visitor Comments
No visitors have commented on this answer.
Question Details
This car insurance question was asked on 9/28/2008
This auto insurance answer was last updated on 10/2/2008
Linda requested this car insurance solution.
Rated 0 out of 10 based on 0 votes.
Helpful Tips
Print Car Insurance Answers Print this car insurance question and answer
Email Car Insurance Answers Email this auto insurance answer
Disclaimer: Answers and comments provided are for information purposes. They are not intended to substitute informed professional advice. These responses should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide financial or legal advice. Please refer to your insurance policy for specific coverage and exclusion information. Please read our Terms Of Use.
©2009 CarInsurance.com, Inc. - Online Insurance Marketplace™
safe and secure auto insurance   better business bureau car insurance   Tested, Safe, and Secure Car Insurance