how much does an attorney charge to defend a traffic ticket

A typical lawyer fee to handle a traffic ticket or moving violation will range from around $50 to $250, with the average about $155. Each state and county varies. For example, in North Carolina, the average lawyer fee is around $130.

Full Answer

How much do lawyers charge for traffic tickets?

Apr 05, 2017 · Generally, traffic ticket and other criminal matters are handled for a flat fee, rather than on an hourly basis. The fees can range from under a $100 to a few thousand depending on your matter, and the attorney you choose.

How much does a traffic ticket attorney make?

The basic traffic lawyer cost for speeding charges ranges from $50-$250 for representation in traffic court and in some instances, it can run $200-$500 for direct legal services over a simple speeding ticket or other traffic offense. In these cases, most attorneys charge a flat fee that ranges from $100 to $250.

Are traffic ticket lawyers worth it?

Fees start as low as $60-$150 to have a lawyer spend a few minutes appearing as your representative in traffic court (so you don't have to attend) but, depending on location and circumstances, if can run $200-$500 for limited and fairly straightforward legal services for a simple speeding ticket or other traffic offense. In these cases, most attorneys charge a flat fee …

When you should hire a traffic ticket attorney?

For a very, very, broad ballpark of how much a traffic lawyer is going to cost, in some states, a lawyer may only charge $60 – $150 for very basic representation in traffic court whereas in other states, this same type of representation may wind up costing upwards of $400.

How much does a speeding lawyer cost?

The basic traffic lawyer cost for speeding charges ranges from $50-$250 for representation in traffic court and in some instances, it can run $200-$500 for direct legal services ...

Can a traffic ticket affect your insurance?

Having traffic tickets can lead to heavy fines, affect your driving records or increase your insurance rates. Having a lawyer fight for you to can reduce your fines or totally get your ticket dismissed. There are a few different ways on how a lawyer can assist you.

How does plea bargaining help?

A lawyer’s plea bargaining can greatly help in reducing the penalty you might have to pay in terms of jail or fines. 3. The lawyer is you in court. If you tackle charges like driving-under-influence or just speeding, your lawyer can go to the courthouse and attend the hearing for you.

Is traffic a crime?

Traffic laws are generally divided into infractions or violations. An infraction is not considered a crime, the only penalty is a fine, and a person who is guilty of an infraction can't be jailed, have a jury trial or a court-appointed lawyer. Most non-moving or non-dangerous incidents are infractions. Generally someone accused of a misdemeanor ...

What happens if you are accused of a misdemeanor?

Generally someone accused of a misdemeanor or felony violation will go through the booking and bail processes, and have the right to a jury trial and a court-appointed attorney.

Traffic Defense Lawyer Cost

If you are looking for a defense lawyer for a traffic violation ticket, there is a good chance that you are concerned with how much they are going to cost.

Money Now May Mean Saving More Money Later

Spending money now may mean saving more money later. Depending on your particular circumstances, spending money on a lawyer now may wind up saving you lots more money in the long run.

Types of Traffic Violations

To determine what type of ticket you have and the penalties you’re facing, it’s important to understand the types of traffic violations and their resulting tickets. A traffic infraction is when you violate any type of law involving vehicle operations.

What Do I Do When I Get a Traffic Ticket?

To determine the process you will have to follow, it will greatly depend on your state. However, to generally get an idea of the process, the types of traffic tickets can be divided into three main categories:

Penalties for Traffic Tickets

While punishment will vary based on what state you’re in, most states will have similar systems. Some general penalties associated with traffic violations include:

How Much Does a Traffic Lawyer Cost?

So you’ve decided that you want to look into fighting the ticket. The question is how much it’s going to cost you because, in some cases, it’ll cost you more time and trouble to hire a lawyer than it would be to pay the fine.

Is It Worth It?

The question here also depends on how severe the charges are and what penalties you’re up against. In criminal cases, it’s almost always going to be beneficial to have an attorney on your side. However, in the case of a minor traffic violation, it’s best to do your research and see how much the fine will be versus what the lawyer will cost you.

Defenses for Traffic Violations

Whether you hire a lawyer or not, you may find yourself having to come up with a defense for your violation to either remove the charges altogether or lessen the penalties.

Making Decisions

The process of taking care of your traffic violation will require many decisions, beginning with whether you will plead guilty and pay the fine or fight it. You then must decide if it’s worth hiring a lawyer to help plead your case. Then, you’ll need a defense for why you aren’t guilty, which you’ll probably have to present to the court.

What can a traffic attorney do?

Traffic attorneys can help people facing charges or who have received a major ticket for speeding, DUI, hit and run, reckless driving, red light violations, radar tickets, and other traffic violations . Even for minor tickets, trained professionals can help reduce charges and sometimes prevent clients from getting points against their driver’s ...

How long is a traffic violation a misdemeanor?

This type of traffic offense is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $2,500 fine. Through negotiations with the supervising attorney for the State's Attorney's Office, the offense was reduced from a misdemeanor to a petty offense (noncriminal) with court supervision (no conviction).

What is a traffic infraction?

Traffic infractions include moving and nonmoving violations such as speeding, running a stop sign or parking illegally. A police officer can issue a ticket without a trial or court, unless the charged individual chooses to contest it. Multiple traffic infractions can lead to loss or suspension of a driver’s license.