If it's your first moving violation in years, it might not make sense to hire a lawyer for a traffic ticket. But in some circumstances, it's worth it to spend the money for an attorney to defend you, even if the charges you're facing are relatively minor. Points on Your License
Handling your ticket this way is usually fairly simple without an attorney, but it does require you to come to court. Plus, the violation will go on your record. If you can’t go to court—many people can’t take off from work or school—you can hire an attorney to go for you.
Jan 17, 2017 · Your insurance rates might increase. And if you drive commercially, you might jeopardize your Commercial Drivers' License (CDL), and your job. If it's your first moving …
Lawyers | Traffic School |
---|---|
$60 – $150 average cost | As Low as $15 – $20 |
Points may be added to your license | NO points assessed on your license |
Insurance may increase | Insurance will not increase |
Takes at least two week days in court | Takes 4 hours |
Practice Type | Average Hourly Rate |
---|---|
Personal Injury | $463 |
Real Estate | $243 |
Tax | $264 |
Traffic Offenses | $296 |
MPH OVER LIMIT | NO TRAFFIC SCHOOL | SCHOOL/CONSTRUCTION ZONE TRAFFIC FINES |
---|---|---|
6 to 9 MPH | $129.00 | $154.00 |
10 to 14 MPH | $204.00 | $304.00 |
15 to 19 MPH | $254.00 | $404.00 |
20 to 29 MPH | $279.00 | $454.00 |
Generally, when you get a traffic ticket, you’ll have several options for resolving it. These typically include:
Your decision on whether to hire a traffic attorney might depend on which option you choose for resolving your ticket. But it normally doesn’t hurt to at least talk to a lawyer before deciding. Many traffic attorneys offer prospective clients a free initial consultation, and you don’t have to hire an attorney you consult with.
In Florida, points on your drivers' license may lead to an increase of up to 50% on your insurance rates. This is because, from an insurance standpoint, your past driving behavior is used to predict your future behavior on the road. Once the insurance companies consider you a "high risk driver" you will be subject to higher insurance premiums.
The number of points and the length of the license suspension in Florida are as follows: 12 points within a 12 month period results in a 30-day license suspension. While it may seem difficult to rack up 12 points in a year, it can actually happen pretty quickly if you're not careful.
People who drive for a living, like over-the-road truck drivers and taxi or limousine drivers, must obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Once you obtain your CDL, you are held to a higher standard when it comes to moving violations.
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 ...
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.
If you decide to fight a traffic citation without legal representation, you’ll need to appear in court to represent yourself. To do this, you’ll have to take time off of work, journey to the courthouse, and sit through all court proceedings.
Traffic tickets are expensive. A typical speeding ticket can be upwards of $500 depending on the details of the incident, including how many miles per hour over the posted speed limit you were going. On many occasions, hiring a lawyer is cheaper than paying a fine upfront, and even when it isn’t, there’s a chance your lawyer can mitigate fines and charges. Paying the ticket is an admission of guilt and will likely result in MVA assessing points to your driving record. In the event your lawyer cannot get the charges dropped, he or she can still possibly get a probationary sentence, the fine reduced and/or the points withheld.
The attorney can negotiate the best deals for you. Extracting the best deal also depends on your driving record and factors like weather and traffic considerations. An experienced traffic attorney can help you navigate through the hurdles involved to fetch you the best results. Save money.
An attorney can help you fight traffic tickets, speeding tickets, and traffic warrants in the following ways: 1 Offering you the best advice 2 Negotiating a resolution for you 3 Representing you in traffic court 4 Getting the ticket dismissed 5 Keeping all charges off your driving record 6 Prevent points against your license.