Police Citation: What All Drivers Should Know in 2025

A police citation is a formal warning that law enforcement has issued you for breaking the law, frequently resulting in fines, license points, or even legal repercussions.

This article provides a detailed breakdown of what receiving a police citation means, the potential impact on your driving record, and how it could affect your insurance rates. Learn more in our article, “How Auto Insurance Companies Check Driving Records.”

Understanding the severity of a citation helps you prepare for the financial and legal steps needed to address it properly. Learn how to manage citations to avoid further complications. You can use our free quote tool above to find and compare rates for high-risk drivers in your area today.

Breaking Down Citations and Their Role as Tickets

The debate between a citation vs. a ticket is quite common, but there is no difference between the two. Therefore, if a citation officer issued you a written citation for a traffic violation, you received a ticket. Regardless of the terminology, the citation penalty remains the same.

Most people receive traffic citations when they don’t follow traffic laws. Some of the reasons you may receive a traffic citation include:

• Speeding
• Distracted Driving
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident
• Driving Without a License
• Reckless Driving
• Running a Stop Sign or Traffic Light

You could receive a traffic citation for more than one of the reasons listed above at the same time. For instance, you may have been a distracted driver who ultimately ran a stop sign. If that’s the case, you can expect your traffic ticket to be more severe. See more details in our guide titled, “Driving Without Auto Insurance.”

Understanding if a Citation Equals a Legal Charge

A traffic citation, similar to a traffic ticket, is not associated with criminal charges. However, a traffic citation for an illegal action can result in substantial fines, community service, or even jail time. This illustrates the driving citation meaning and how it compares to the ticket or citation on meaning according to the law.

Leaving the scene of an accident where you were at fault, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or being involved in an accident resulting in serious injury or death are some of the most severe offenses. Additionally, receiving a ticket from the police for speeding or cited by police check can have serious repercussions.

If you are driving and are involved in an accident — regardless of the severity of the impact itself — you cannot leave the scene until law enforcement arrives. You must also remain at the scene until an officer dismisses you.

Driving under the influence of illegal substances or alcohol can result in a criminal charge, especially if it’s a repeat offense. This emphasizes how serious receiving a citation from law enforcement is because it may have serious legal repercussions.

Finally, suppose you’re involved in a car accident where someone is seriously injured or killed. In that case, you can expect to be charged, leading to one or more negative outcomes, including receiving a citation when getting pulled over. This can also be considered a criminal citation, meaning severe legal consequences.

However, receiving a traffic citation is not equivalent to facing a legal charge. If you receive an officer citation related to your vehicle, it does not mean you have been legally charged with a crime. Law enforcement notifies you of legal charges, which may necessitate taking legal action.

Essential Steps When You Get a Police Citation

If you receive a police citation, follow any instructions that law enforcement gives you. Feel free to ask questions if you’re unsure about the situation or need assistance in understanding it. After receiving your citation, you can contact the number provided on the ticket for additional inquiries. 

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Understanding the Record Implications of a Citation

A traffic ticket or citation is likely to go on your driving record, but there are instances in which this may not happen. Judges can dismiss tickets when you show up to traffic court. Or you may have the option to pay the fine for your traffic citation and have the points stay off your driving record.

The length of time that points remain on your driving record after a police citation depends on your state’s laws. In some states, more severe citations, such as those for a DUI, may stay on your record for more than ten years. This emphasizes the meaning of the driver’s citation and its implications.

If you have a lot of points on your driver’s license that ultimately impact your record, you may find that most insurance companies are unwilling to do business with you. In this case, you may need to find high-risk auto insurance.

The Essentials of High-Risk Auto Insurance Coverage

High-risk auto insurance is a way for drivers with poor driving records to still get coverage. Most companies that offer auto insurance for high-risk drivers provide only the state’s minimum auto insurance requirements.

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If you’ve accrued a lot of points on your driver’s license, you’re probably in high-risk territory. Insurance companies can perform a police citation lookup to check for driving infractions and get the specifics about your driving history.

High-risk insurance can also cost a lot more than car insurance for a premium or standard driver. Take a look at the table below to see how one speeding ticket can impact car insurance rates in three different states:

Impact of Speeding Ticket on Monthly Auto Insurance Rates

If you’re looking for car insurance as a high-risk driver, you’ll want to research online before you buy any specific or comprehensive coverage. Be sure to compare plans and rates from multiple companies — large and small — to see the average for high-risk car insurance premiums in your state. Then you’ll be able to find a company that offers the coverage you want at a reasonable price.

No matter your driving history, you can always shop around online to see what car insurance rates are like in your area and what you should expect to pay for coverage. You can use our free quote tool below to find and compare auto insurance rates from several companies in your area.