Minnesota Traffic Violations

Minnesota drivers who commit traffic violations will receive a traffic ticket from a law enforcement officer on behalf of the Minnesota district court overseeing the county in which the traffic violation was committed. For the most part, fines and penalties are uniform across Minnesota and will be disclosed on the citation you receive.

If receive a traffic ticket and you want to pay the fine, your citation will provide you with contact and mailing information for where to send payment. Some Minnesota counties allow you to pay online and, most efficiently, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has now authorized a system for Minnesota law enforcement agents to process your payment at the time you receive the ticket by credit card.

You may not be so eager to pay the fine and move on, however. After all, paying your fine means you have pled guilty to the alleged offense and you can expect the traffic violation to land on your Minnesota driving record shortly. Instead, you may wish to appear in court, either to dispute the charges or request an opportunity to have the traffic charges-and their accompanying fine-reduced or dismissed, in exchange for participating in traffic school or a Minnesota driver improvement program. If you are interested in appearing in court, your traffic citation will include you court date and the law enforcement officer issuing the citation should be able to point it out for you.

Minnesota Points System & Suspension of Your Minnesota Driving Privileges

Minnesota does not keep track of its drivers through the use of a points system. However, the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services ("DVS") department does maintain your Minnesota driving record and will consider suspending your license should you exhibit a history of unsafe driving practices or if you violate restrictions on your Minnesota driver's license. As an example, if your Minnesota driving privileges are restricted to driving only during the day or with glasses, and you are caught violating that restriction more than once, you may be subject to suspension of your Minnesota driving privileges.

If you are concerned that your Minnesota driving record may contain enough traffic violations to warrant a suspension of your Minnesota driving privileges in the event of another violation, you should contact the Minnesota DVS and ask for a report of your Minnesota driving record.

Attending Traffic School in Minnesota

The best way to avoid suspension of your driving privileges is to maintain a clean record and help keep traffic violations from appearing on your record altogether. A Minnesota traffic school or Minnesota driver improvement program may help you do this. Unfortunately, one a traffic violation is on your driving record, it cannot be removed. However, Minnesota district courts have discretion over your traffic violation, including whether or not you should be convicted of the offense. By appearing in court to discuss your traffic violation, you may be able to be allowed to enroll in a Minnesota safe driving course, including a Minnesota online traffic school or online driver improvement program, in exchange for a reduced charge or dismissal of the violation altogether.

If the Minnesota DVS is considering suspending your license, it may alternatively order you to enroll in a Minnesota traffic school or defensive driving course. In accordance with the Minnesota Safe and Sober Campaign, if you are required to enroll in a Minnesota traffic school or driver improvement program, you should contact the Minnesota DVS to see if an online Minnesota traffic school will satisfy these requirements.

The Benefits of a Clean Minnesota Driving Record

Keeping your Minnesota driving record clear by attending a Minnesota driver improvement program is important for several reasons. In addition to preventing your license from being suspended, you will also be able to maintain lower car insurance payments by attending Minnesota driver improvement classes. Online traffic school will also teach you valuable safe driving habits and defensive driving techniques that will help you avoid accidents in the future and prevent you from having to partake in traffic school in the future to keep your Minnesota driving privileges intact.

Minnesota Mature Drivers

Minnesota online traffic schools and online driver improvement programs may even qualify you for an insurance discount. Minnesota offers a state-approved Accident Prevention courses for Minnesota Mature Drivers, those drivers over the age of 55. The program is designed to improve driving skills for mature drivers. You should contact your insurance carrier to find out what type of discount you can expect for participating in this course.

Minnesota Juvenile Drivers

Minnesota Juvenile Drivers, drivers under the age of 18, may also be eligible to receive a discount on their car insurance by participating in a Minnesota online driver improvement program. Because juvenile drivers commonly incur traffic violations relative to older drivers, by showing your insurance carrier that you are committed to safe driving, you may be able to obtain lower insurance premiums as a result of your participation in a Minnesota online traffic school. Contact your auto insurance carrier to see if such an opportunity is available.

Minnesota Classroom Traffic Schools

If you are interested in participating in a Minnesota traffic school in a more traditional classroom setting rather than in the comfort of your own home, you can contact the Minnesota DVS for a list of state-approved brick-and-mortar classrooms.