5 ways to keep your driving record clean

Sometimes it’s just impossible to avoid penalty points. Yet there’re quite a few surprisingly straightforward ways to keep your record clean or at least clear it after a minor violation.

Solid driving record works wonders

- reduces your car insurance premiums
- increases your employability, especially if you’re going to work as a commercial driver, for instance in the trucking industry. Other professions that may benefit from a solid record are a doctor, an attorney, a plumber, or a nurse
- speaks for you when you’re pulled over. Your past violations, in case they exist, speak against you.

1. Resolve “fix-it” tickets as soon as possible
If you get a ticket for a broken taillight, for instance, address it right away. In this case, it is possible that the ticket won’t show in your record.

2. Look at your car from a new angle
Imagine the following situation. An officer notices two cars exceeding the speed limit: a gray Subaru Legacy and a red sports car. Whom will he stop? Expensive car brands and models can be too conspicuous, while sensible family cars are often almost invisible on the road.
Don’t feel like switching between makes and models? Then think of other things attracting attention of people around you (and, therefore, unwanted police attention, too):
- custom wheels
- bright colors
- loud music
- stickers
- any mechanical problems, broken taillights etc.
- too much dirt on your car
- radar detector that can be spotted from the outside
- something lying on the dashboard
- license plates revealing your car is from another state
- personalized license plates
- windows tinted too dark

3. Change your view of “unimportant” violations
So many drivers make a rule of going at least 10 mph over the posted limit that it doesn’t look like a real violation. Yet, it is. Accidents can and do happen even to safe drivers, but why increase your chances of getting into trouble? Getting a ticket is not the worst consequence possible.
One more thing to discuss are seatbelt violations. Although they do not show in your driving record, they are included in your criminal record and in some circumstances can even count against you with your insurer. If you have many seatbelt tickets, they may spoil your reputation in the eyes of a prospective employer when he checks your criminal record.

4. Look/behave like a family man
You probably know that people are typically more sympathetic to those who are in one way or another similar to them. Taking into consideration that there are a lot of “family men” among police officers, it’s quite obvious what type of person will be less likely to get a ticket.

5. Consider clearing your record
People change, and at a certain point you may feel that your driving record doesn’t anymore reflect the driver you’ve become. Clearing it up can be a good idea in this case.
Some minor violations can be removed from your driving record in three or five years, but they won’t come off by themselves. You need to contact the DMV so that they are manually removed. In case of more serious violations you may consider hiring an attorney.
Two more ways to improve your driving record are taking a driver safety course and contesting questionable tickets.
Although you may find it hard to follow some of these suggestions, most of them are pretty doable, especially if you want to maintain a reputation in your employer’s or insurer’s eyes.