what does a traffic attorney do

What does a traffic ticket lawyer do?

• Keep your driving privileges. If you've had multiple tickets in the past, you may have accumulated enough negative points on your driving record to put your driving privileges in jeopardy.
• Represent you in court. ...
• Avoid higher insurance rates. ...
• Arrange a plea bargain. ...

Full Answer

What do you need to know about being a traffic lawyer?

A traffic lawyer is a legal professional who specializes in cases involving vehicular violations. Many people consider tickets and driving related offenses to be minor, but in many instances, there is a great deal at stake. Perhaps you are unaware but some vehicular offenses can result in a significant amount of jail time and may even become part of a person's criminal record.

What does a traffic ticket attorney do?

Apr 15, 2020 · Because of this, your traffic lawyer is going to have all of the information that they require, no matter what county your ticket was received in. The ultimate goal for your traffic lawyer here, is to ultimately have the entire case dismissed . These particular motions are going to actually be based off of the actual ticket itself.

What is a traffic lawyer violation?

May 30, 2009 · Most Traffic Attorneys charge per appearance in court for continuances, motions and trials. To feel comfortable with a Traffic Attorney you should know his background. He must have been admitted to the bar and qualified to work in your jurisdiction. A good Traffic Attorney should be familiar with the court, the judge and specific laws in your city, county and state. …

Can a lawyer represent you in traffic court without being present?

Having a good traffic lawyer from the beginning will likely save you time and money. It will also likely prevent anything unexpected from happening to your driving privileges. For example, lots of police officers will tell the people that they have ticketed that they can simply pay off their ticket through the mail. Some people follow that advice.

Why You Need Representation for a Traffic Ticket

Do you really always need a lawyer for a traffic ticket? From a practical perspective, the definitive answer is probably. It is shocking how many completely misunderstood issues surrounding how speeding and stop sign cases there are. To start with, every county has its own rules.

Howard A. Kurtz, Partner

The question is why you need a lawyer for a simple traffic ticket. Well, even in something as simple as traffic ticket, you have a lot at stake. If handled improperly, your insurance could go up by leaps and bounds for a full three years. Worse yet you could make a whopper of a mistake and end up getting your own license revoked.

Seth A. Blum, Partner

The most common mistake that people make is simply mailing in a check and paying a ticket off. Lots of people don’t realize that is the same thing as pleading guilty. You may not realize it when you’re mailing in a check, but this will come back to bite you when it’s time to write another check to your insurance company.

What is a traffic ticket lawyer?

In particular, a traffic ticket attorney specializes in laws related to driving; such lawyers defend traffic court cases varying from routine moving violations (such as running a traffic light) to more serious situations (such as driving under the influence ). Regardless of the violation circumstances, a seasoned lawyer works to reduce your traffic ...

How to get a traffic ticket dismissed?

Because they're familiar with the traffic laws, many traffic ticket lawyers can get a ticket dismissed if: 1 The issuing officer doesn't appear in court. 2 You agree to plea to another less serious non-moving violation. 3 You comply with an unsupervised probationary period.

Why is it difficult to represent yourself in traffic court?

One of the problems with representing yourself is the lack of experience and legal knowledge. The average person just doesn't know what the best courses of action are in a given case. Experienced traffic attorneys have the best idea of what tactics and options are available for obtaining good results. And, it's not all legal knowledge. Attorneys who spend lots of time in traffic court are familiar with the tendencies of the different judges and sometimes of the law enforcement officers who write the tickets. This local knowledge can prove valuable in deciding how to defend against a ticket.

How many times do you have to go to court for a traffic ticket?

If you decide to fight a traffic ticket, you'll generally have to go to court at least twice. But if you hire an attorney, you typically won't have to go to court at all. In other words, your attorney can represent you in court without you being present.

Is a minor traffic violation a criminal charge?

In short, the consequences of a minor traffic violation conviction are generally much less severe than those for a DUI or other criminal charges. So, whereas you might be able to contest a traffic ticket without an attorney, fighting a serious charge like a DUI without legal representation typically isn't a good plan.

Can a traffic violation be avoided?

For instance, sometimes traffic violation points can be avoided by negotiating a moving violation ticket down to a non-moving violation.

Do traffic lawyers win at trial?

Traffic lawyers with lots of trial experience are far more likely to win at trial than the average Joe or Jane. Simply put, attorneys who have spent countless hours in a courtroom and have knowledge of the law know what to focus on at trial. For non-lawyers, it's easy to get off track.

Is it worth hiring a traffic attorney?

In some circumstances, hiring a traffic attorney clearly isn't worth the expense. For example, if you're eligible for traffic school and don't have a reasonable chance of beating your ticket, it's probably best to forgo hiring an attorney. Generally, you can sign up for traffic school without even going to court, so there isn't much benefit of having legal representation—you can just do it yourself.

Can you get a license suspension for multiple tickets?

Getting multiple tickets within a short period of time can lead to license suspension. For drivers who are in this situation, beating a ticket could make all the difference. And to increase the chances of winning in traffic court, hiring an attorney might be the way to go.

How to fight a traffic ticket?

A driver planning to fight a traffic ticket should know: 1 A local attorney is the best option. Local lawyers who routinely work in the court where the case is handled is a better option because they know the other people involved in your case, such as the judge and the police officers. 2 Beware of legal plans with reduced fees. Prepaid legal services give members legal fees at a reduced rate. However, the lawyer involved may know little about traffic court. Also, the reduced fee may only be to consult, not represent the driver. 3 Never rush to hire a lawyer. Rushing may hinder a driver in finding the best lawyer.

What is legal position?

A lawyer will listen to the facts of the situation before analyzing your legal position. The term “legal position” how the ticket can resolve in your favor. Receiving advice will help determine how to proceed with contesting the traffic ticket.

What to do if you are charged with a misdemeanor?

If you are charge with a misdemeanor, felony or DUI, then you should seek legal representation. Also if you are facing jail time because of a serious charge, you should seek legal representation. Find the Right Criminal Lawyer. Hire the right lawyer near your location.

Can a traffic ticket raise your insurance?

Traffic tickets can be expensive and they may even raise your insurance rates or affect points on your license. An experienced lawyer will be able to explain your rights, help build your case, and represent your best interests in court. Post Your Case - Get Answers from Multiple Criminal Defense Lawyers.

What is prepaid legal services?

Prepaid legal services give members legal fees at a reduced rate. However, the lawyer involved may know little about traffic court. Also, the reduced fee may only be to consult, not represent the driver. Never rush to hire a lawyer. Rushing may hinder a driver in finding the best lawyer.

Do I need a lawyer for a traffic ticket?

You do not need a lawyer for a traffic ticket, but a traffic ticket lawyer will be able to argue and get a lower fine, which can make a huge difference in how much you pay for the ticket. A lawyer can also help get the case dismissed and the ticket thrown out which will help your insurance rates stay put and you wouldn’t need to attend traffic ...

Why don't traffic violators hire lawyers?

They often wrongly assume it’s cheaper to settle a fine or serve a probationary period than hire an attorney.

What happens if you have points on your driving record?

The more points you have on your record, the higher the premiums you’ll pay for auto insurance. A lawyer can ensure the violation isn’t added to your driving record, thereby preventing you from higher insurance premiums. Beyond saving money, you’ll also save time.

What happens if you run a red light?

If you run a red light, drive without a valid license, hit the road when impaired, drive a vehicle with burned-out headlights or fail to yield, you’ll be guilty of a traffic lawyer violation.

What Do Traffic Attorneys Do?

You probably already know that most lawyers specialize in one or a few areas of law. Traffic lawyers specialize in the rules and regulations binding motorists on the public roads.

Are Traffic Lawyers Worth the Money?

Lawyers handle billing differently for traffic tickets. Their rates vary based on the complexity of your case and the location in which you were ticketed. Many firms charge an hourly rate to represent you in court to fight your ticket. Others apply a flat fee.

Tips for Finding a Lawyer

Finding a good lawyer can feel like a wild goose chase - but it shouldn’t have to.

Handle Your Ticket Off The Record!

At Off The Record, we’ve found an innovative way to handle speeding tickets outside of the traditional court process. To do this, we’ve developed an app (for iOS or Android, or old-fashioned web) that connects you with an experienced traffic lawyer in your area.

How to take care of a traffic violation?

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. If you’re found guilty, consequences for minor infractions will likely just be a fine or traffic school, but criminal convictions can come with jail time and permanent marks on your record. In these cases, the cost of hiring a lawyer may be worth it to increase your odds of beating the charges and properly pleading your case. Become familiar with your crime, figure out what penalties you’re up against, and research how much a lawyer will cost in your area to decide if hiring an attorney is the right decision for you.

What happens if you don't show up for court?

If you commit a criminal traffic violation, you risk being arrested and brought to jail to await a trial, which may require paying bail. In other less serious cases, you’ll likely just be asked to sign the ticket verifying that you will show up for court on the date assigned. The difference here is that you’re probably going to have to attend court, even if you plan to just plead guilty. If you fail to attend court, your misdemeanor could be increased to a felony and a warrant may be put out for your arrest.

Can a police officer show up to court?

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. The best case scenario is that your officer doesn’t show up to court to prove your guilt, as the judge will typically dismiss the charges, as long as they aren’t anything too serious.

Do you have to sign a traffic ticket?

While this doesn’t admit your guilt, it does indicate that you recognize that you must appear at court to fight the ticket or pay the fine within a certain number of days .