Getting pulled over by the police outside your home state can feel like just a minor inconvenience—until you realize the ticket might not stay there. Attorney Barry Kowitt warns that many states share traffic violations, so that ticket you got on vacation might show up back home. Even if it doesn’t add points, it could add problems. Let’s break it down.

How states handle out-of-state tickets

Kowitt, a practicing attorney in Florida, says the Sunshine State reports most violations to other states. “Many, many, many states have what’s called reciprocity with Florida,” he explains. “Florida will notify that other state that you’ve got a ticket.”

But how each state reacts is different. Kowitt says, “The question is, how does your state handle that? Every state is different.” Some states add points to your license. Others don’t—but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.

Points aren’t the only problem

Drivers from New York actually get a break. Kowitt says, “New York doesn’t take the points that Florida would give you and transfer it to your New York license.”

But Florida residents aren’t so lucky. Kowitt explains, “Florida assumes that you got the ticket in Florida.” For example, he says, “If you got a ticket in New York and it’s for speeding, let’s say 20 miles over the speed limit, that ticket in Florida would get you four points.”

Even if your state doesn’t add points, the ticket still matters. Kowitt warns, “Keep this in mind—it will still go on your record. It’s still a traffic ticket that you may or may not be able to fight successfully.”

Tickets can impact insurance rates, too. Higher premiums might hit you, even without getting any points.

Should you fight the ticket?

Kowitt thinks so. Obviously as an attorney, he’d love you to. But he has a good point. “Just because your state isn’t going to assess points on your license doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider fighting it.”

He believes it’s worth the effort. “We believe most tickets can be fought successfully.” Winning in court could save you fines, keep your record clean, and keep your insurance rates low.

His advice? “You need to either call us…and we’re happy to try to explain it to you, or you need to do a little bit of research.”

Out-of-state tickets don’t disappear at the border. They can follow you home, even without points. So before you pay that fine, weigh your options. Fighting the ticket could save you money—and trouble—down the road. You can see the rest of Kowitt’s advice in the video below: