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A speeding ticket can quickly accumulate in cost. It includes the fine, in some cases a Driver Responsibility Assessment, and points on your record that could cause your insurance premiums to rise. Hiring a traffic lawyer can help you avoid these consequences. A reasonable attorney will have relationships with prosecutors, judges, and officers.
You Don’t Know What You’re Doing
If you’re a novice at fighting traffic tickets, you probably have little chance of winning without an attorney. By presenting mitigating circumstances to the judge, the law office of Genine Mejia can help you improve your chances of having the ticket reduced or dismissed. For example, if you were speeding and there weren’t any signs posted in the area, that can be an argument for getting the ticket dismissed. However, arguing that you were trying to pass an even faster car on the highway or felt dizzy because of an illness is not a valid justification for breaking the law. If you’re going to fight your ticket, you’ll need to enter a plea of not guilty in the municipal or city court that handles your case (which is usually listed at the bottom of the ticket). You can do this in person or by mail. Your lawyer can take this on your behalf, saving you the time and hassle of missing work to go to court.
You Don’t Want to Pay the Fine
Some drivers feel it’s best to pay their speeding tickets and put the whole thing behind them. However, accepting a ticket means admitting guilt to the alleged violation, often leading to higher insurance rates. By hiring a lawyer, you can get the charges against you reduced or dismissed altogether. It will keep points off your record and save you money on your premiums in the long run. Judges are often willing to negotiate a speeding ticket in mitigation. If you can prove that something influenced the officer’s radar reading (for example, nearby cars or other moving objects), it may be enough to get your case dismissed. It’s important to note that this will only work if you can attend your informal or formal hearing and argue your case. Otherwise, you’ll have to face a default conviction.
You Don’t Want the Points on Your Record
Most states have a system that assigns points to drivers who get traffic tickets. These points usually appear on your driver’s record and sometimes cause your insurance rates to increase. A traffic ticket lawyer has the education, training, and experience to understand how to challenge these tickets in court and get them dismissed. For example, if you were ticketed for changing lanes on the highway too fast, you could argue that your speed was justified because you were trying to avoid a pile-up caused by someone else. If the judge agrees, they might be willing to drop the ticket to a lesser offense with fewer or no points.
Also, many traffic attorneys can go to court on your behalf, so you don’t have to miss work or take time off from school. They can even negotiate with the prosecutor to keep your ticket off your record. Fighting a speeding ticket rather than paying the fine is always a good idea.
You Don’t Want to Go to Court
Many people who get tickets want to pay them, put the incident behind them, and move on. They may also be interested in a traffic school program that will keep points off their record and avoid fines. However, there are reasons you might need a lawyer to fight a speeding ticket, even if you don’t want to go to court. Your lawyer can negotiate with the prosecutor, which might result in a reduced charge or even a dismissal. You can try to disprove the officer’s case by showing inconsistencies in their evidence. You can also question the officer during cross-examination, making them more prone to doubting your innocence. Ultimately, deciding whether you want to spend the time and money fighting a traffic ticket would be best. It might be worth it if you could save money on your insurance rates. Then again, it might not be.
