If you're facing a second cell phone use conviction in Porterville or Visalia in Tulare County, CA, the stakes are higher now.
With AB-47, the distracted driving amendment to CA Vehicle Code (VC) Section 23123.5, Driving Offenses, in effect since July 2021, even a minor-looking offense can hit your driving record and wallet hard.
Dispute All Cell Phone Tickets with a Traffic Ticket Attorney
Hiring a traffic attorney is smart and could be financially necessary.
With the right legal help, you may avoid the conviction altogether. That’s especially important now that insurance companies are raising rates, even for second offenders of this traffic code.
We help drivers challenge tickets on SR 99 and Highway 198 throughout Tulare County.
When you consult with us, we’ll evaluate whether your ticket is worth disputing at trial. Likewise, the State’s evidence might not be strong enough to warrant a trial, so we often negotiate a reduced or alternate charge with no NOTS point.
We’ve fought more than twenty thousand tickets for commercial and non-commercial drivers alike.
What a Second Cell Phone Use Conviction Really Costs
Let’s break down what happens with a second cell phone use conviction under AB-47. The DMV adds one NOTS point to your record. That one point stays for three years.
More than that, it tells your insurance company you’ve become a higher risk. You’ll likely lose your 20% good driver discount, with the added risk associated with d3istracted driving, this could raise your premium by 30 to 33 percent, depending on your provider.
According to Bankrate.com:
“Full coverage car insurance costs an average of $3,026 per year in California. The average cost for state minimum coverage is $882 per year. Nationally, full coverage costs $2,692, and minimum coverage costs $808 on average per year, so California is an expensive place to buy insurance.”
Based on the average rates for Tulare County of $2,617 per year, that could mean $785.10 to $863.61 more per year for up to three years.
That adds up to over $2,355 for the average Tulare County driver—not counting the fine plus court costs, surcharges, and assessments. For many, it’s simply not worth paying the fine without fighting back.
What’s more, these figures are just the average. If you have a teen on your policy, it could be much more:
“California parents adding a 16-year-old driver to their full coverage auto insurance policy can expect an average premium of $7,037 per year.”
Therefore, before deciding, get all the information. Ask one of Bigger & Harman’s Tulare County traffic attorneys to assess your cell phone use ticket and discuss your options.
AB-47 Made It Worse for Cell Phone Tickets
Auto insurance providers have access to your driving record. Once they see a violation for cell phone use, your rates could go up even if it carries no points and is your first offense. But if it’s a second offense with NOTS point, you’ll face even worse financial consequences.
That’s why avoiding that second conviction is more important than ever.
Speak with One of Bigger & Harman’s Tulare County Traffic Attorneys About Your Ticket
We can resolve your cell phone use violations on SR 99, Highway 198, and throughout Tulare County and across Central Valley. We charge a flat fee—so there are no surprises, and we typically do not ask you to appear in court.
Dispute all cell phone Tickets with a traffic ticket attorney who knows how to protect your record and give you the best chance at avoiding a second cell phone use conviction.
A second cell phone use conviction can raise your insurance rates dramatically. Call Bigger & Harman at (661) 349-9300— Se habla Español 349-9755, they will explain your options to dispute it in Porterville and Visalia Courthouse.
We’ll review your case and help you keep your insurance rates from skyrocketing.
Let us fight the ticket—so you don’t have to fight the financial consequences.
Email us at attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com or use our contact form to schedule a consultation.
References:
CA VC 23123.5, Driving Offenses, and AB-47, Distracted Driving.
The Bankrate.com article, Average cost of car insurance in CA for 2025.