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Do I need a lawyer for a traffic ticket?
April 1st, 2008
It’s always a good idea to have legal counsel when dealing with the criminal justice system. Although many people consider a traffic violation to be “no big deal,” there can be a great deal of variance in how different traffic charges are resolved. The manner in which a violation is resolved can affect you insurance premiums, the status of your driver’s license, and some traffic violations can even involve jail time! An attorney can help explain and protect your rights and help you navigate through the different pitfalls that may result from having been charged with a traffic violation.
The first benefit of hiring an attorney is being able to avoid having to take time out of your schedule to go and sit in a courtroom for your first court date. In many instances you may never need to appear in court at all. With the hectic status of many people’s lives this time savings alone is often reason enough to hire an attorney.
An attorney can also help explain to you the different options you face in resolving your case. An attorney can help you in obtaining a copy of your driving record and explaining how the current charge may affect the status of your license. Although many courts have a first offender program, your attorney may be aware of alternative options of resolving your case that can keep the violation off your record and keep you from having to attend a “defensive driving” course. This can save you even more valuable time.
An attorney can also use their knowledge of the law to help negotiate a plea agreement to better serve your particular needs. If time is your most valuable asset and you would prefer to pay a larger fine than attend a class this is something that an attorney can often work out with the prosecuting attorney. Some clients have more time than resources and would rather find a way to reduce their financial obligations under a plea agreement. An attorney can help you facilitate either option. Also, an attorney’s knowledge of the law may help them to convince the prosecutor to “reduce” the charges you face to a charge that more appropriately fits the behavior you were accused of committing. This is very helpful when negotiating traffic charges down to a different charge that does not place more “points” on your driver’s license. The DFA assigns a point value to different traffic violations based on their severity and can suspend your driving privileges based on an accumulation of too many “points.” It’s always important to consider the severity of the alleged violation and how it may affect your right to continue to operate a motor vehicle.
Some traffic violations, such as Driving While Intoxicated, reckless driving, and driving on a suspended license, can potentially involve a jail sentence. An attorney can help to evaluate the circumstances of your case and determine if the law enforcement officer involved followed proper procedure or if any mistakes were made in case. An attorney can help explain the different options available to you when facing a charge involving jail time. Under some circumstances the jail time may be suspended, you may be given credit for other activities you perform for the court, or you may be allowed to serve any time under special conditions that are less intrusive to your work and life schedule.
The common theme in all these different circumstances is that your attorney is there to help protect your rights. There are many different interests involved when you have received a traffic citation. Your money, your time away from work, your driving privileges, and possibly your freedom can all be drastically affected. Navigating the criminal justice system can be more complicated than it seems and many times some rights you may not be aware of can be compromised. It can be quite helpful to have an attorney protecting your interests even with “just a traffic ticket.” Many people believe that the costs may be too high to hire an attorney for a traffic violation when in reality it can be quite reasonable. When you consider the costs involved in potentially loosing your driving privileges, spending time away from work to make court appearances, and the possibility of going to jail, it is wise to consult an attorney and make an informed decision before proceeding on your own. Feel free to contact our firm and talk to one of the attorneys in the firm that handles these type of cases. We can give you an idea of how much it would cost to hire us so that you can make an informed decision before going it alone.