Getting pulled over is never fun, whether it is for a boilerplate speeding ticket or a more serious traffic offense with the potential for steep fines and other criminal consequences. However, while it is possible to fight traffic tickets through the Florida court system, trying to do so without thorough knowledge of how these cases work, and how to effectively pursue a positive case result, very often ends poorly.
If you want to minimize the impact your traffic offense has on your future prospects, contacting a Lake Mary traffic lawyer should be your top priority. Your experienced defense attorney could work diligently on your behalf to achieve the best possible resolution to your case, while also keeping you aware of your options and what to expect from the legal process.
Every traffic offense defined in the Florida Statutes has a point value assigned to it. For example, driving 15 miles per hour or more over a posted speed limit is a three-point offense, reckless driving is worth four points, and leaving an accident scene prematurely is a six-point offense. These points are assessed in addition to applicable monetary fines and other administrative or criminal penalties whenever someone pays a traffic ticket, or is otherwise found guilty by a court of committing the offense in question.
Any Florida driver who receives 12 points on their driver’s license within a continuous 12-month period is subject to an automatic 30-day suspension of their license. Likewise, accruing 18 points within 18 months will lead to a three-month suspension, and 24 points within 36 months is punishable by a one-year suspension. Anyone whose license is suspended in this way must apply for reinstatement and pay various associated fees in order to have their license restored. Additional steps are required for anyone seeking a “hardship” exception to a suspension so they can drive to work or fulfill other employment obligations.
Because of this points system, multiple traffic offenses over a relatively long period of time can add up to a huge problem if they are not managed effectively. A Lake Mary traffic attorney could explain the penalties for a specific offense or series of offenses in detail during a confidential consultation.
Anyone who wants to avoid having points put on their license or any of the other repercussions a traffic conviction may have their work cut out for them if they try to contest their ticket in court by themselves. Every court handles these cases a little bit differently. Courts sometimes impose even harsher sanctions against people who challenge traffic tickets and lose, as compared to what they would have been subject to if they just paid their ticket in the first place.
A qualified lawyer’s assistance can be absolutely vital to effectively contesting all sorts of moving and non-moving traffic violations in Lake Mary, including:
Legal counsel could also provide crucial advice about alternatives to paying a traffic ticket, like participating in driver improvement school.
Traffic cases in Florida may not seem like a serious matter compared to other criminal proceedings, but make no mistake: a single traffic ticket could have a big impact on your future. This is especially true if you have been found guilty of traffic offenses in the recent past. If you have paid a ticket without going to court, that counts as a guilty plea in the eyes of state authorities.
Whether you want to challenge your ticket in court or just be more aware of your legal options, a Lake Mary traffic lawyer could provide the clarity and guidance you need. Call today for a private meeting.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
