Question: I was recently pulled over for speeding and instead of issuing me a ticket, the police officer let me off with a warning. Will that show up on my driving record?
Answer:
While it’s possible a speeding warning can show up on your driving record, it shouldn’t negatively affect you or your insurance rate.
Police officers have discretion over giving a warning or a ticket when you’ve committed a minor offense, such as speeding or a parking violation.
Though you may get an earful, there are no legal consequences to a warning, such as fines, a mandatory court appearance, insurance rate increases or points on your license.
What’s the difference between a written and a verbal warning?
If a police officer gives you a warning (instead of issuing a ticket) after pulling you over, it might be either verbal or written.
- Verbal warning: Nothing will happen, as there’s nothing for the officer to file with their department. Your insurance rate won’t be impacted, and the warning won’t appear on your driving record—so breathe easy. But don’t assume your luck will hold if you’re caught speeding again.
- Written warning: The officer will file a written warning, usually with the issuing police department. This helps officers keep track of whom they’ve pulled over. In some cases, a written warning will appear on your driving record, but shouldn’t affect your insurance rates the way a citation would.
What happens after you receive a warning?
In an interview with WKMG, a news channel based in Orlando, Florida, Trooper Steve Montiero noted that, even if there are no immediate consequences from a warning, you shouldn’t go back to bad driving habits.
That’s because officers keep track of who they stop, even if they only issue a warning. If you get pulled over repeatedly by the same officer or agency, you might get recognized—and you might get a ticket.
When do you get a ticket vs. a warning?
If you commit a more serious violation, such as driving impaired, you’ll almost certainly be cited. But for less serious violations, police officers have their own philosophies as to when to give a warning or a ticket. In a blog post, veteran police officer Brett Hershberger suggests considering each situation individually. He says he regrets issuing citations in the past to drivers who had made honest mistakes or who were already in difficult situations.
If you’re lucky enough to get a warning, then you’re not likely to have any legal consequences. Just don’t take your luck for granted.
Xuyun Zeng is a content strategist with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Alice Holbrook is an editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, including car insurance. She\’s passionate about creating easy-to-understand content that demystifies intimidating topics for readers. Previously, she worked for NerdWallet, and her work has been featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among others.
