Having a "good" driving record means you have not been charged points for driving violations. However, it does not mean you've never received a written warning from an officer for poor driving, for instance. Written warnings are differentiated from traffic citations in a variety of ways. The most important of which is the former does not appear on your permanent driving record, whereas the latter does.
Identification
Every state department of motor vehicles uses vehicle codes to differentiate various counts of driver negligence. Such codes appear on a driving record for a set period of time and may adversely affect insurance rates, depending on the severity of the violation and the number of transgressions reported. All vehicle codes are documented in court and are issued to the driver as evidence of the conviction.
Although a written warning contains vehicle codes or a written description of your offense, it is not an actual citation and therefore is not reported on your driving record. Depending on the jurisdiction, the written warning will most likely show up on an in-house system, which isn't disclosed to the department of motor vehicles or outside third-parties. In some states, warnings records are maintained by the State Patrol.
Time Limits
In lieu of issuing you a citation, an officer may opt to issue you a written warning. In general, less serious violations receive a written warning. For example, a speeding ticket -- an example of a minor offense -- may receive a written warning, but an at-fault collision most likely will not. In some cases, you may be asked to correct an issue that resulted in the written warning, such as a broken tail light or an out-of-date vehicle registration.
In comparison, traffic citations remain on your permanent driving record for years. For example, traffic violations remain on a driving record in Wisconsin for five years, whereas alcohol-related offenses remain for 55 years. In some states, if you receive multiple written warnings for the same violation in a certain period of time, you may receive an automatic citation the next time you are pulled over for the same violation. Not all states adopt this policy.
Considerations
Points remain on your driving record from the date of the conviction up to a set period of time, which is determined by state law. After receiving a ticket, you have a set period of time to contest the ticket in court. The clock starts ticking on the violation once you receive a conviction or you pay the ticket amount. The department of motor vehicles cannot charge you any points for a written warning, nor demand payment for fines or penalty fees. You will not be required to appear in court or provide an admission of guilt for any charges.
Warning
You will not lose your license or be subject to a higher auto insurance rate because of a written warning. Having multiple traffic tickets, on the other hand, can cause you to lose your license for a set period of time or be ordered to attend a safe-driving course. States evaluate the severity of your traffic violation in concert with your driving record to determine what penalty is appropriate under the law.
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