Most of us have received a traffic citation at some point in our lives and gone to court to avoid the points and conviction. The first thing the judge says is "how is your driving record?" Hopefully, your record is clean over the last few years which increases the likelihood of getting probation before judgment which avoids the points.

All judges have a computer right in front of them. With one click of the mouse, they can see your driving record in all 50 states. Never lie to the judge. If you do so, you may not only get the points, but you may also receive the maximum fine which is $500.00 for most tickets.

Many people cannot remember when they last received a ticket. It is always wise to download your complete driving record from the Motor Vehicle Administration. There is a small fee. You can then see everything on your driving record since you first obtained your license.

There is also a second driving record you may wish to download. This is your "probation before judgment" record. This shows every time you have received probation before judgment. Yes, the judge can see this too.

It is easy to download both records from the MVA website. You can also go in person to the MVA and get your driving record there. It is especially important to obtain your driving record if you receive a DUI, driving on a suspended, or driving without a license charge.