COMIC: What Happens When Teens Get Speeding Tickets?
Transcript
Panel 1: A worried purple character sits in a car, holding a ticket that says “U drove 2 fast.” A speech bubble with the comic title comes from the character’s mouth and says, “I just got my license and got a speeding ticket: Now what?”
Panel 2: A large speeding sign that says “speed limit 55” stands with its hands on its “hips” far above a bunch of cars that are clearly speeding. The text says: “Whoa, slow down! Speeding is dangerous, even for experienced drivers.”
Panel 3: A car winds through a road, going fast, 80 mph. To its left is an image of a driving record on a computer screen. To its right, some “driving laws” stand upright. Below, the text says: “The penalties for your ticket will depend on your driving record, the circumstances of the speeding ticket, and your state’s laws. Let’s take a look.”
Panel 4: An orange character, holding a book bag and books, asks “drive me home?” The other character looks embarrassed, grabbing its arm and saying “I can only drive my mom and my sister! Sorry!” They are standing in front of an orange car. The text says: “Most states have different levels or classes for driver’s licenses. If you’re under 18, your license probably comes with restrictions. Your state may limit how many people can be in the car when you are driving or only allow you to drive around members of your family.”
Panel 5: Below, a turquoise character, holding a ticket, says “no fair.” The text says: “Being under 18 may also mean that you will have to do more than an adult would to keep your driver’s license in good standing after you get a speeding ticket.”
Panel 6: A green character says to a judge holding a gavel, “I was only 1 mph over and keeping up with the speed of traffic!” The text says: “If you get a speeding ticket, typically it will come with a court date if you want to contest the ticket. If you think the police officer was wrong to give you a ticket, you can plead not guilty and appear in court to make your case.”
Panel 7: An orange round character says, “OK. I was going too fast, I’ll pay.” The character is holding a ticket that says “U drove 2…fast..broke this law..fine: $500..court date 9/1/22.” The text says: “If you plead guilty or no contest, you will probably have to pay a fine. In fact, paying the ticket means pleading guilty. If your state uses a point system to keep track of your traffic violations, points will be added to your driving record. The points you receive will depend on the severity of your traffic violation.”
Panel 8: On the left is a ticket that says, “Driving 150 mph in a 25 mph zone, Fine: High, Points: Lots, Court Date: 10/2/22.” The ticket has an arrow next to it that points to a license with an “X” over it. All this is above a car that appears to be speeding along an empty road. The text says: “Could your license get suspended for speeding? Possibly. In some states, teen drivers only need a handful of points to earn a license suspension.”
Panel 9: A sad student is sitting at a desk, listening to a teacher who is pointing at a visual of a four-way stop and saying, “Very simply, right of way goes to car on right.” The text says: “Some states allow you to take a course to remove the violation of points from your record. Some also make newly licensed drivers like you take a driving course before you can move up to the next class of driver’s license.”
Panel 10: A car is driving along a windy road, with a speed limit of 55 mph. The text says: “Make sure to stick to that speed limit! To learn more about traffic tickets and driving laws in your state, visit FindLaw.com.”
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