A traffic tickets is an annoyance, and sometimes people prefer to pay and put it behind them. Yet in some cases, fighting a ticket could save you money in the long run.
An Avalon Park traffic lawyer could help you get a ticket dismissed or reduced to a less serious infraction. You could save money on the fine and other possible penalties like traffic school, and you might get fewer points or no points on your license, which means your insurance rates might not go up. You owe it to yourself to speak with a local defense attorney before paying a ticket.
When you get a traffic ticket, you usually have three options: pay the fine and accept the points associated with the infraction; pay the fine and go to traffic school to avoid the points; or plead not guilty. Pleading not guilty is usually the best choice.
Paying the fine is an admission of guilt that stays on your record. An Avalon Park attorney could defend a driver with citations for any non-criminal traffic violation, including:
The driver usually does not have to appear in court to contest a non-criminal traffic ticket if they engage an attorney to appear for them.
Prosecutors and judges in traffic court are usually eager to resolve tickets without going to trial. Working with an experienced attorney could minimize the consequences of a traffic violation.
Florida, like many states, has a system to track a driver’s record. Whenever someone is convicted of a traffic infraction, they get points on their license. The number of points depends on the offense:
Most points stay on a driver’s record between three and five years, although points from serious infractions might remain longer.
A driver’s license will be suspended for 30 days if they accumulate 12 points in one calendar year, 90 days if they accumulate 18 points in 18 months, and one year if they get 24 points in 36 months. Apart from the inconvenience and expense of a license suspension, points will increase a driver’s insurance rates. Working with an Avalon Park attorney to challenge a traffic ticket could result in a plea to lesser charge with fewer points, or a dismissal that avoids points altogether.
Multiple defenses could be available to challenge a traffic ticket. The specifics depend on the infraction but there are several categories of defenses that are often applicable.
A judge might dismiss a ticket with significant technical violations like the officer citing the wrong law. If the driver faces a speeding charge, an Avalon Park attorney could question the accuracy of the speed measuring technology, the competence of the officer to use it, and the quality of the police department’s maintenance of the device.
A legal advocate could question the police officer who wrote the ticket to determine whether they saw the driver commit the infraction. In an appropriate case, subpoenaing police body cam or dashcam footage might help defeat a traffic charge.
A traffic ticket costs far more than the fine. You might also pay in points on your license leading to increased insurance rates and eventually a possible license suspension.
Engaging an Avalon Park traffic lawyer to contest a ticket is a convenient and cost-effective strategy. Call today to discuss your situation with The Umansky Law Firm.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
