The Plinko Game: How I Turned an Indiana Speeding Ticket from a Costly Mistake into a Winning Strategy

The Day I Dropped the Puck: My $1,800 Speeding Ticket Mistake

It was a clear, sunny afternoon on I-465.

I was in the flow of traffic, maybe a little too much in the flow, when I saw the flash of red and blue lights in my rearview mirror.

My stomach sank.

The officer was professional, polite, and pointed out that I was doing 14 mph over the limit.

He handed me the citation, and my mind immediately went to one place: I need to be responsible and get this over with.¹

That evening, I did what millions of people do.

I went online, found the county court’s payment portal, entered my ticket number, and paid the $185 fine.²

I felt a sense of relief.

I had taken care of my responsibility.

The problem was solved.

Or so I thought.

Six months later, an email from my auto insurer arrived.

It was my policy renewal.

I opened the attached document, expecting the usual small adjustment.

Instead, my jaw dropped.

My premium had jumped by nearly $35 a month.

Confused and angry, I called my agent.

“It’s the speeding ticket from last spring,” she explained calmly.

“It added points to your record, so the conviction triggered a rate increase.”

I did the math, and the true cost of my “responsible” decision became painfully clear.

That $35 monthly increase added up to $420 for the year.

And as I later learned, a speeding ticket typically impacts your insurance rates for three full years.³

The total damage from that single, “simple” $185 ticket was going to be over $1,400 in extra insurance payments, on top of the original fine.

My attempt to quickly solve a small problem had created a much larger, more expensive one.

I had followed the most obvious path, and it led me straight off a financial cliff.

The Default Trap: Why Just Paying Your Ticket is the Losing Move

My costly mistake sent me down a rabbit hole.

As a paralegal, I was determined to understand the system that had just blindsided me.

What I discovered was a meticulously designed machine with clear, escalating consequences, and paying your ticket is the button that turns the machine on.

When you pay a fine, you are not just resolving an issue; you are formally admitting guilt to a civil infraction.⁴

In Indiana, while most traffic violations aren’t criminal offenses (unless certain lines are crossed), they are still formal legal judgments.⁶

This admission of guilt is reported directly to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), which then activates its points system.⁸

This system is the heart of the long-term consequences.

Here’s how it works:

• Points for Violations: Every moving violation has a point value based on its severity. For speeding, the breakdown is straightforward: 1-15 mph over the limit is 2 points, 16-25 mph over is 4 points, and 26 mph or more over is 6 points.¹⁰
• Two-Year Window: These points remain active on your driving record for exactly two years from the date of conviction—the day you paid the fine.⁸
• The Danger Zone: If you accumulate 18 or more points within that two-year period, the BMV can place you on probation or suspend your license.¹²

This points system is the first step on an escalation ladder that can lead to life-altering penalties.

The most severe is being designated a Habitual Traffic Violator (HTV).

This isn’t an arbitrary label; it’s a legal status with strict definitions under Indiana law.¹⁴

You can become an HTV by, for example, accumulating three major offenses (like reckless driving or DUI) within a 10-year period.

The penalty? A staggering 10-year license suspension.¹⁴

Furthermore, a simple speeding ticket can escalate into a criminal matter.

Driving more than 25 mph over the limit can be charged as Reckless Driving, a Class C misdemeanor that carries the potential for jail time and fines up to $500.¹⁵

What starts as a simple infraction can quickly become a criminal record.

The fine on the ticket is just the cover charge.

The real costs are the points, the insurance hikes, and the risk of climbing that ladder of consequences.

MPH Over Limit	Typical Base Fine & Costs Range	BMV Points	Potential Escalation
1-15 mph	$165 – $185	2	Low
16-25 mph	$175 – $205	4	Medium
26+ mph	Mandatory Court Appearance	6	High risk of Reckless Driving charge
Work Zone	$450+	6-8	Potential for felony charge if workers present
School Zone	$195 – $215+	4-6	High fines and scrutiny

Note: Fines and costs vary significantly by county.

This table represents common ranges based on state and local fee schedules.²

My Epiphany: It’s Not a Courtroom, It’s a Plinko Board

After digging through legal statutes, county court websites, and BMV regulations, I had my epiphany.

I had been thinking about my ticket all wrong.

I saw it as a moral failing that required me to “take my medicine.” But the system, especially for minor infractions, isn’t primarily designed for moral judgment.

It’s a system of bureaucratic processing designed for efficiency.²⁰

That’s when the analogy hit me: handling a traffic ticket is like playing Plinko.

Think about the game from The Price is Right.

You drop a puck at the top of a large, pegged board, and it bounces its way down to a slot at the bottom.

• The Puck is your ticket.
• Dropping the Puck is the moment you decide how to respond.
• The Default Path: If you just pay the fine, it’s like dropping the puck and letting it fall straight down. It will hit all the default pegs: “Conviction,” “BMV Points,” “Insurance Notification.” It will inevitably land in the worst-value slots at the bottom: “Pay Full Fine + Surcharges,” “Higher Insurance for 3 Years,” and “Closer to License Suspension.” This is the path I took, and it’s the path most people take.
• The Strategic Player: A smart player knows the board. They understand that there are ways to influence the puck’s path. In the Indiana traffic system, these are the strategic options available to you.
• The Flippers and Bumpers: The most powerful tool is the Infraction Deferral Program. This is the hidden flipper on the board that can knock your puck away from the penalty slots and guide it toward a winning outcome.
• The Winning Slots: These are the high-value results you’re aiming for: “Ticket Dismissed,” “No Points,” and “No Insurance Impact.”

The goal isn’t to argue that you’re a perfect driver who did nothing wrong.

The goal is to play the game.

It’s to understand the board’s mechanics and use the available tools to guide your puck to a winning slot.

The system isn’t looking to punish a good driver who made a minor mistake; it’s looking to process the ticket efficiently.

The court system would much rather take a higher administrative fee from you upfront than spend the time and money on a formal court proceeding for a minor ticket.²²

That shared desire for efficiency is your leverage.

This realization transformed me from a passive defendant into an active player.

Your Playbook: The Three Paths to the Bottom of the Board

Once you see the system as a Plinko board, you realize you have a choice.

You don’t have to let the puck drop straight down.

Here are the three fundamental paths you can choose, each with its own risks and rewards.

Path A: The Default Path (Paying the Ticket)

This is the simplest but most costly option.

As we’ve covered, paying the fine is an admission of guilt.⁹

It guarantees a conviction, points on your record, and an almost certain insurance increase at your next renewal.

This is the path of least resistance, and it leads directly to the lowest-value slots on the board.

Path B: The All-In Bet (Fighting in Court)

This is a high-risk, high-reward strategy.

You are betting that you can convince a judge to dismiss your ticket entirely.

• When to Consider It: This path makes the most sense when you have a strong, factual defense. For example, if you have dashcam footage proving you weren’t speeding, photos of a completely obscured speed limit sign, or a clear case of mistaken identity.²⁴
• The Process: To fight your ticket, you must plead “not guilty.” You can do this by checking the appropriate box on the ticket and mailing it in, or by appearing in court on your assigned date to request a trial. You must do this within 60 days of the citation.¹¹
• The Challenge: Winning is harder than you think. Because a traffic ticket is a civil case in Indiana, the state doesn’t have to prove your guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.” It only has to prove it by a “preponderance of the evidence,” meaning it was simply more likely than not that you committed the offense.²⁶ This is a much lower bar for the prosecutor to clear.
• The Downside: If you lose, you’ll have to pay the original fine plus additional court costs, and you’ll still get the points and the insurance hit. You may want to consider hiring a traffic attorney, who can help negotiate or build a defense, but that adds to the upfront cost.¹

Path C: The Strategic Off-Ramp (The Infraction Deferral Program)

For most drivers with a relatively clean record, this is the golden path.

The infraction deferral program is the most powerful flipper on the Plinko board.

It’s a formal agreement offered by the county prosecutor’s office.²⁷

• How It Works: You agree to pay an administrative fee (which is higher than the ticket fine) and commit no new traffic violations for a set period, usually six months.²²
• The Payoff: If you successfully complete the program, the ticket is dismissed. It’s as if it never happened. There is no conviction, no points are sent to the BMV, and—most importantly—your insurance company is never notified.²⁸ This path allows you to completely avoid the long-term financial pain that I experienced.
• The Catch: Not everyone is eligible. Common disqualifiers include holding a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), having received another ticket or deferral within the last year, or being cited for an excessively high speed (often 25+ mph over the limit).³⁰

Choosing the right path requires a rational assessment of your situation, your driving history, and your tolerance for risk, not an emotional reaction to being pulled over.

The Deferral Program Deep Dive: A County-by-County Field Guide

Here is where we move from theory to action.

While the Indiana Code allows for deferral programs, each of Indiana’s 92 counties runs its program independently through the local prosecutor’s office.²⁷

This means the costs, eligibility rules, and application procedures can vary dramatically from one county to the next.

What works in Marion County might not work in Lake County.

CRITICAL FIRST STEP: If you want to pursue a deferral, DO NOT PAY YOUR TICKET. Paying the ticket closes the case and makes you ineligible for deferral.²⁷

The table below is your starting point.

Find the county where you received your ticket to see the specific rules and contact information.

This is your guide to finding the “flipper” on your specific Plinko board.

County	Program Cost (Approx.)	Key Eligibility Rules	How to Apply & Contact
Allen	Varies by infraction	Must appear in person to sign up. Not all infractions are eligible.	Appear in person at the Infraction Deferral window. Link 34
Boone	Varies; requires contact	No CDL. Must not have already paid ticket. Most qualify for a 9-month program.	Email: bcpotraffic@co.boone.in.us or Call: (765) 483-5705. Link 35
Clark	$192.50	Allows safe drivers to maintain a good record. Ticket dismissed after 6 months.	Contact Prosecuting Attorney. Link 36
Hamilton	Varies by violation ($225+)	No moving violations in past 12 months. No CDL. Ticket not in a work zone.	Call 317-770-8860 or use online form. Must apply at least 1 week before court date. Link 29
Huntington	$192.50 (1-15 over), $252.50 (16-25 over)	No moving violation convictions in past 12 months. No CDL. Max 4 points on license.	Fill out online form or contact Deferral Coordinator at (260) 358-4846. Link 31
Lake	Varies	No moving violations in past year. Must be 18+. No CDL. No accident involved.	Contact Prosecutor’s Office. Link 37
Marion	~$229	Available for eligible moving violations to keep them off your record.	Email: MCPO.ticket@indy.gov. Link 38
Miami	$192.50	Good driving history. No CDL. Not for speeds 25+ mph over. Must apply by noon the day before court date.	Fax or email application from website. Link 40
St. Joseph	$192.50	No CDL. No deferrals in other counties. Not for major violations (e.g., passing school bus).	Do not pay ticket. Set a court date, then submit agreement form. Must be received 7 days before court. Link 27
Tippecanoe	$192.50	No CDL. Speeding less than 25 mph over. No deferral in past 6 months.	Apply online or in person. Deadline is 7 days prior to court date. Link 41
Wells	$192.50 (≤20 over), $252.50 (>20 over)	No CDL. Max 4 active points. No deferral in past year. Not for speeds 30+ mph over.	Complete online application. Prosecutor’s office will mail contract if eligible. Link 32
Whitley	$192.50	Speeding citations only (max 20 mph over). No CDL. Max 4 points on license.	Complete online or printable form. Office will verify eligibility. Link 33

Disclaimer: This information is for guidance and is subject to change.

Always verify the current rules and fees directly with the prosecutor’s office in the county where your ticket was issued.

The Final Boss: Taming the Insurance Monster

This brings us back to the real final boss: your insurance company.

Successfully navigating the court system is only half the battle.

The ultimate goal is to prevent that painful premium hike.

Insurance companies don’t have spies on the highway.

They find out about your ticket when the court reports a conviction to the BMV.

At your next policy renewal, your insurer runs a check of your Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).³

If they see a new conviction and new points, their risk-assessment algorithm kicks in and adjusts your premium upward.

A successful deferral prevents this entire process because no conviction is ever reported.

The financial impact of a conviction is not uniform.

Each insurance company has its own model for pricing risk.

A speeding ticket that causes one company to raise rates by 15% might cause another to jump by over 50%.

Seeing the potential damage specific to your carrier is the best motivation to handle your ticket strategically.

Insurance Carrier	Average Annual Premium (Clean Record)	Average Annual Premium (After 1 Ticket)	Average Percentage Increase
American Family	$675	$762	13%
State Farm	$970	$1,108	14%
Indiana Farm Bureau	$1,487	$1,740	17%
GEICO	$1,239	$1,475	19%
Travelers	$1,400	$1,680	20%
Allstate	$1,092	$1,332	22%
Auto-Owners	$1,037	$1,332	28%
Progressive	$1,441	$1,979	37%
USAA	$880	$1,344	53%
Indiana Average	$1,136	$1,417	24%

Data compiled from multiple 2024 insurance rate analyses.⁴³

Your actual rates will vary.

Even if you make a mistake or are ineligible for deferral and end up with a conviction, you still have a damage control option.

Any Indiana driver can voluntarily take a BMV-approved Driver Safety Program (DSP) once every three years to receive a 4-point credit on their driving record.⁸

This won’t erase the conviction or stop the insurance hike, but it can be a vital tool to keep your point total below the 18-point suspension threshold.

Conclusion: Pick Up Your Puck and Play the Game

My journey started with a simple mistake on I-465 that cost me nearly $1,800.

I thought I was being responsible by paying my fine quickly, but I was just a passive participant taking the default path to a costly outcome.

My epiphany was realizing the system isn’t a simple matter of right and wrong; it’s a complex game with rules, strategies, and opportunities.

It’s a Plinko board.

You can choose to just drop the puck and accept the costly result, or you can learn the board, find the flippers, and aim for a better outcome.

You are no longer a passive victim of a confusing system.

You now know about the points system, the escalation ladder, and the devastating long-term cost of a conviction.

More importantly, you know about the single most powerful tool at your disposal: the infraction deferral program.

You have the playbook.

You have the county-by-county field guide.

You are a player, not a spectator.

Now, pick up your puck and make your strategic choice.

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