If a citation does not inform a defendant of the right to take a driver safety course, what can the defendant do?

Taking a driver safety course can be a valuable option for defendants when cited for certain violations. If a citation does not inform a defendant about the right to take this course, the defendant can indeed choose to take the course before the case is resolved. Successfully completing a driver safety course can sometimes lead to benefits such as a reduction in fines, dismissal of the citation, or prevention of points being added to the defendant's driving record.

Receiving unclear or incomplete information regarding this right can impact a defendant’s ability to make informed decisions about how best to address their citation. Therefore, even if the citation lacks this information, a defendant is often still permitted to enroll in the driver safety course independently, as long as they do so in accordance with the court's deadlines and requirements.

This option is advantageous as it empowers defendants to proactively address their infractions and potentially minimize the impact on their driving records and insurance rates.