USA Speeding ticket! Any help appreciated

[ChiGGz]

My girlfriend just came back on a road trip with her friends and brought back a nice souvenir, a speeding ticket from the state of Virginia.

Now, i know about the "Reciprocity Agreement" between NYC and Michigan and Ontario, but does this extend to Virginia? At the speed she was going, this will definitely be demerit points if the MTO finds out about it. She called the MTO (without ID'ing herself) and they said it won't affect her demerit points in Canada, but XCopper says otherwise. I've never dealt with XCopper so I don't know if they can be trusted on this one.

Anyone with information regarding this please help!

Thanks Alot

[ngjo]

I have a friend who is living in Virginia and carry a Ontario driving license. He told me that Virginia and Ontario do not have connection like NY state. As long as your girlfriend do not get caught in Virginia again in the next 7 years. She would be fine.

[GangStarr]

Does pennsylvania have an agreement?

I always see the most cops on the stretch through pennsylvania on I-81 / I- 80 towards New York City


oh and does this mean the person who got the ticket in virgina doesnt even have to pay it? or just htat it wont affect insurance

[fredsmith]

If you get a ticket and don't tell your insurance company about it you could wind up with some very serious problems.

In the event that something happens that forces a claim of any significant amount your insurance company will be looking for ways to get out of paying.

One of the things they do is to research your record and if they discover any undeclared tickets in the reference period (I forgot doesn't work as an excuse) they will refund your premium and wish you luck. Even worse, they'll brand you as a liar, maknig future insurance policies more expensive.

Just because there's no reciprocity doesn't mean that the ticket doesn't exist and can't be traced.

If you don't pay the ticket, the issuing state CAN (though rarely will) issue a bench warrant - and the next time you try to cross the border you could spend a while explaining things to US Customs.

If you decide to take a trip to Florida 20 years from now and get stopped in Virginia (by then they'll probably be screening cars automatically as they cross the border) you WILL be arrested.

Either plead not guilty, write up something for the judge explaining that it isn't practical to actually travel to the venue and hope he'll dismiss the ticket. Or pay the money.

And don't forget to tell your insurance company you got that ticket.

[ChiGGz]

If you get a ticket and don't tell your insurance company about it you could wind up with some very serious problems.

In the event that something happens that forces a claim of any significant amount your insurance company will be looking for ways to get out of paying.

One of the things they do is to research your record and if they discover any undeclared tickets in the reference period (I forgot doesn't work as an excuse) they will refund your premium and wish you luck. Even worse, they'll brand you as a liar, maknig future insurance policies more expensive.

Just because there's no reciprocity doesn't mean that the ticket doesn't exist and can't be traced.

If you don't pay the ticket, the issuing state CAN (though rarely will) issue a bench warrant - and the next time you try to cross the border you could spend a while explaining things to US Customs.

If you decide to take a trip to Florida 20 years from now and get stopped in Virginia (by then they'll probably be screening cars automatically as they cross the border) you WILL be arrested.

Either plead not guilty, write up something for the judge explaining that it isn't practical to actually travel to the venue and hope he'll dismiss the ticket. Or pay the money.

And don't forget to tell your insurance company you got that ticket.

You can actually get thrown in jail for less than a speeding ticket, a parking ticket will suffice if they felt like it.

I have to disagree about having to notify your insurance company, no that isn't required. Its just like getting caught for speeding in Ontario, you dont tell them the day your accused/convicted, but that doesnt mean your hiding it from them, cause in the end they can and will find out about any HTA tickets issued in Canada. They usually only check/ask upon renewal date of your insurance. If your telling them the day you get your ticket, your burying your own grave. I dont know what the policy is regarding premiums, but they may see it fit to raise your premium on the day you called, rather than raising it on the renewal date. Basically, tell only if they ask.

About getting a ticket in a different state, it really depends. In NYC and Michigan it is garaunteed that they will forward your ticket to Canada. Depending on the severity of the ticket, its upto the state that issued the ticket to decide weither or not to forward your ticket. Each state has its own protocols on how to handle out of country drivers.

[thelefteyeguy]

You can actually get thrown in jail for less than a speeding ticket, a parking ticket will suffice if they felt like it.

I have to disagree about having to notify your insurance company, no that isn't required. Its just like getting caught for speeding in Ontario, you dont tell them the day your accused/convicted, but that doesnt mean your hiding it from them, cause in the end they can and will find out about any HTA tickets issued in Canada. They usually only check/ask upon renewal date of your insurance. If your telling them the day you get your ticket, your burying your own grave. I dont know what the policy is regarding premiums, but they may see it fit to raise your premium on the day you called, rather than raising it on the renewal date. Basically, tell only if they ask.

About getting a ticket in a different state, it really depends. In NYC and Michigan it is garaunteed that they will forward your ticket to Canada, depending on the severity of the ticket, its upto the states discretion wiether or not to forward your ticket. Each state has its own protocols on how to handle out of country drivers.


insurance companies dont care about speeding tickets unless you apply for a new insurance company or you have a new claim for an existing insurance company (during renewal). If you are just renewing...my agent says they they care.

[pandaharo]

You can actually get thrown in jail for less than a speeding ticket, a parking ticket will suffice if they felt like it.


LOL :lol: yes....reminds me of when I had to drive down to Seattle to bail out my friend who got thrown in jail and car impounded for doing 120mph+ on the I5. He ended up paying a US $1000 fine and can't drive in washington state for 1 year.