Types Of Traffic Tickets: Speeding, Traffic Violations (2025)

Two Main Types of Traffic Tickets: Moving and Non-Moving Violations

Although there are many types of traffic violations, they generally fall into two categories: moving violations and non-moving violations.

Moving Violations

As the name suggests, moving violations are offenses that happen when your car is in motion. These are some examples:

• Speeding
• DUI
• Running a red light
• Failure to yield
• Improper lane change
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Reckless driving

Because moving violations pose more of a risk to others than non-moving violations, they often come with stiffer penalties. It’s important to note that while serious offenses like DUI and reckless driving are classed as moving violations, they often result in arrests instead of traffic tickets.

Moving violations — even relatively minor ones, such as driving with historic tags outside permitted use - will often impact your insurance premiums because they indicate you may be a risky driver for insurance companies to cover. For instance, if you’ve ever gotten a speeding ticket, you may have noticed your average car insurance cost per month increased shortly after.

Non-Moving Violations

Non-moving violations are considered to be traffic tickets. However, they are issued for vehicle-related offenses that happen when you’re not driving. These are some common examples:

• Illegal modifications (like loud exhaust systems)
• Having an expired registration
• Parking violations
• Condition issues (like broken tail lights)
• Failing to properly display your license plate
• Too-dark window tint

Most of the time, non-moving violations will not impact your insurance premiums. However, this is not a given. If you accumulate many non-moving violations in a short span of time or fail to pay any tickets you receive, your insurer may decide it needs to increase your premiums.

Common Types of Traffic Tickets

If you’ve just received a type of ticket you’ve never gotten before, you might not know what to expect. Here’s a look at some common traffic ticket examples.

Speeding

Speeding is a factor in countless accidents every year. The faster you’re going, the less time you have to react to potential hazards. Many jurisdictions have a few types of speeding tickets, with higher penalties going to drivers who go many miles over the speed limit.

Speeding tickets can be as low as $25 or as high as $1,000. A ticket will cause an average insurance increase of 22%. You also might wonder — how long does a speeding ticket stay on your record? That depends on the state, but a speeding ticket may remain on your driver’s license for 3-11 years.

In some states, you may be eligible to attend traffic school to avoid points on your license or keep the violation off your record - but availability depends on the nature of the offense and your driving history.

Leaving the Scene of the Accident

Leaving the scene of an accident (also known as “hit and run”) can result in anything from a ticket to a felony charge. For instance, if you lightly bump a car in a parking lot and don’t stop to leave your contact information, you will likely receive a ticket.

Leaving the scene of an accident with injuries or major property damage is more likely to result in criminal charges. In many states, leaving the scene of an accident where there is a serious injury or death is a felony offense.

To reduce your risk of getting a ticket for leaving the scene, make sure you understand your state’s laws for what to do after a crash. If you hit a parked car or other stationary property (like a fence or a mailbox), most states require you to make a reasonable effort to locate the owner.

If you can’t make contact with the owner, you’re usually required to leave a note with your name, contact information and insurance information. If you don’t, you might be ticketed for a hit and run.

Running a Red Light or Stop Sign

Running a red light or failing to stop at a stop sign might not sound like a serious problem. However, some research estimates that about 20% of car accidents each year are caused by drivers failing to obey road signs and traffic lights.

If you’re ticketed for failing to obey a traffic signal, you may have several points added to your license. These tickets can be anywhere from $50 to $500, and the average insurance premium increase is 21%.

Texting While Driving

Driving while distracted is never safe, and texting is one of the most dangerous distractions of all. Not all states have a specific ticket for texting behind the wheel. However, as more states begin to recognize the hazards of texting and driving, these tickets are becoming increasingly common.

If you receive a ticket for texting and driving, you might be stuck with a fine of $20 to $250. Your insurance premiums will also likely increase — the average increase is 21%.

Have You Received a Traffic Ticket?

Even if you’re only facing a very mild offense, getting a traffic ticket can be a nerve-racking experience. In some instances, you might choose to pay the fine and move on.

However, if you think the ticket was wrongly issued to you or if it will have a serious effect on your driver’s license, it may be worth challenging it. The best way to do this is to consult with a skilled traffic lawyer. The right attorney can review your situation and help you decide whether fighting it is the best course of action.

If you’re not sure how to find an attorney, don’t worry — that’s why we’re here. ConsumerShield is dedicated to matching people in need of legal services with qualified, local attorneys. Fill out our contact form below to get started.