Traffic tickets are a great way to ruin your day. Even good drivers will receive one or two in their lives whether it’s going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit on the freeway or rolling that neighborhood stop sign. All it takes is a little bad timing.
The consequences can impact your insurance premiums, and fines for citations are unwelcome expenses. For repeat offenses, you could face suspension or revocation of their driver’s license. Infrequent offenders may find an option to retain their clean driving record.
Bryan County offers a Traffic Diversion Program that may allow for dropped charges. The aim of the program is to prevent repeat offenses by addressing the underlying reasons for the violation.
How it works
Offenders apply directly to the county for admission to the program and the solicitor general of Bryan County will review each case. The only ineligible charges are driving under the influence and vehicular homicide. Admission to the program is not an admission of guilt but waives all rights to a speedy trial. After the offender has completed the course, the solicitor general will order the case for dismissal.
Reading the fine print
The Traffic Diversion Program is no “get out of jail free” card. There are specific conditions offenders must meet to complete the program:
- Stay out of trouble. Bryan County prohibits participants from violating any more laws while in the program. This includes complying with any conditions of bond, if applicable. Should any violations occur, offenders have 72 hours to report them.
- Make sure you can complete it. Failure to complete the program will result in the county picking up charges again.
- Consider the cost. The program is not free, which should factor in to the decision to apply. There is a $40 program supervisor fee and $4 photo fee. The solicitor general may also determine an additional program fee on top of that.
A viable alternative
The Traffic Diversion Program is a good way for clean drivers to retain a pristine record. It may also a repeat offender retain their license or prevent insurance premiums from rising. However, if you have a good record and the traffic violation is minor, it may be easier to pay the fine and move on when you consider the admission fees and time spent completing the program. It all depends on the severity of the charge and whether it’s worth it to you.
