Missouri drivers urged to contest early
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Off The Record
Editor’s note: This is the final of a two-part story examining the way traffic tickets can affect Missouri drivers beyond the initial fine. Part two focuses on the way tickets may be contested — and the time frame allowed — before a conviction becomes final, while part one explored how convictions can lead to long-term insurance and record consequences.Traffic law advocates are urging drivers to pay close attention to timing when contesting traffic tickets before a conviction becomes final.Resolving a traffic ticket by paying the fine typically results in a conviction that can affect a driver’s record and insurance, but those consequences are not always inevitable. According to Off The Record Founder and Chief Executive Officer Alex Guirguis, drivers who understand when a case is still open may have options to contest a citation before it becomes final, with outcomes that can change how the ticket is ultimately recorde...