how to get a lawyer to fight my citations

If you receive such a citation and want to fight it, you typically must appeal the citation within a brief period of time and attend a hearing. While the general process is similar, specific procedures vary among jurisdictions, so check with your local animal control agency to find out exactly what you need to do. Part 1

Full Answer

How do I write a Citation for a violation of a law?

So, figuring out exactly what law you're accused of violating is a good first step for devising a strategy. Your citation should say the code section of your violation. For instance, you might see something like "VC 22350," which would mean "Vehicle Code section 22350." Once you figure out what you're charged with, look up the statute.

Do I need a lawyer to fight a traffic ticket?

Fighting a traffic ticket on your own generally requires going to court at least twice. But if you have an attorney, you typically won't have to go to court at all. And the representation of an experienced traffic attorney will generally give you a better chance of winning your case.

How do I respond to a traffic citation?

In larger cities, you also may have the option of responding to the citation online. Typically your citation also will include a deadline by which you must respond if you intend to appeal the citation.

How do you fight a Citation for animal cruelty?

If you receive such a citation and want to fight it, you typically must appeal the citation within a brief period of time and attend a hearing. While the general process is similar, specific procedures vary among jurisdictions, so check with your local animal control agency to find out exactly what you need to do.

Options for Dealing with a Ticket

Generally, when you get a traffic ticket, you’ll have several options for resolving it. These typically include:

Deciding Whether to Hire an Attorney

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.

Traffic Ticket Attorneys and Car Insurance

Your driving record is perhaps the biggest factor car insurance companies use to determine the price of your car insurance premium. Blemishes in your driving record, including crashes and traffic violation convictions, can negatively affect your rates.

Selecting a Traffic Ticket Lawyer

Traffic ticket lawyers are available throughout the county to defend clients against all types of traffic violation charges, ranging anywhere from stop sign violations to DUI/DWI.

What is the best way to resolve a traffic citation?

A common alternative option to resolve a traffic citation is the completion of a traffic diversion program. The specifics vary by jurisdiction, but diversion programs generally require the motorist to:

Where are traffic infractions prosecuted?

Traffic infractions are generally prosecuted in traffic courts , where the procedures are typically less formal than in criminal courts. A motorist charged with a traffic infraction usually has several options for resolving the citation, including:

What does a traffic lawyer know?

Traffic lawyers know the players, the economic directives, the ever-changing laws and the processes by which cases get resolved in their local traffic courts. A case may be dismissed outright if: The issuing officer doesn't show up as complaining witness.

How to dismiss a traffic case?

Traffic lawyers know the players, the economic directives, the ever-changing laws and the processes by which cases get resolved in their local traffic courts. A case may be dismissed outright if: 1 The issuing officer doesn't show up as complaining witness. 2 There is a bargain for a case dismissal in exchange for pleas on other nonmoving violations. 3 The defendant first agrees to an unsupervised probationary period and pays all or part of the fine.

What happens when you get a moving violation?

You probably aren't aware of it, but when you receive a moving violation, you enter the complex machinery of your local municipal or county traffic court, where negotiation is more the rule than the exception.

Do traffic ticket lawyers have money back guarantee?

These traffic ticket lawyers often devote their entire practice to traffic tickets, sometimes handling hundreds per day. Some even offer a money-back guarantee if they fail to get your fine reduced or keep the ticket off your record.

Can you get dismissed for a traffic ticket in Florida?

Yes, because they know the technicalities," says Brenda Di Ioia, chief traffic magistrate for Broward County Courts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "They also know which ones they can't get dismissed," she adds. "When the ticket is perfect, nobody is going to be able to do anything for you, so they plea (bargain) those.

How to respond to a citation?

1. Contact the agency that issued the citation . The citation you received will have information for the agency that issued it, including an address and phone number you can use to respond to the citation. In larger cities, you also may have the option of responding to the citation online.

How to request a hearing for a citation?

In most jurisdictions, a request for a hearing must be made in writing by the deadline listed on the citation. Your city or county's agency may have a form you can fill out to request a hearing, or you may have to send in a letter.

What happens if a hearing officer rules against you?

If the hearings officer rules against you, he or she will let you know what the process is to contest the decision. In some jurisdictions, if the citation was issued as the result of a complaint from a private individual, that individual has the right to file an appeal if the hearings officer rules in your favor.

How long do you have to pay a fine after a citation?

Some jurisdictions may provide a grace period after the issuance of the citation that allows you to fulfill the requirement of the ordinance within a few days or the week after the citation and pay a lower fine.

What is an animal law citation?

Animal law citations typically involve a violation of a city or county ordinance, such as a requirement that pets be in a crate or on a leash if off your property, or that all cats and dogs be vaccinated against rabies. If you receive such a citation and want to fight it, you typically must appeal the citation within a brief period ...

How to appeal a hearing officer's decision?

Speak in a loud, clear voice, and make your case in short, concise statements of the facts. Focus on the reasons the hearings officer's decision was incorrect, not the reasons you were hurt or upset by it. Typically this is your last chance to appeal.

What to do if an animal is taken from you?

If an animal has been taken from you as the result of an animal law violation and you have lost your administrative appeal, you typically must make arrangements to pay for the continued holding of the animal.

What can a traffic lawyer do?

A traffic lawyer can negotiate a different punishment. If the court is unwilling to lower your fine or dismiss your ticket, a lawyer can often negotiate something for you to get you a better deal. One common trade-off is agreeing to go to traffic court for a lesser fine.

Why is it important to go to traffic court?

This is the main reason why it’s always a good idea to go to traffic court. If you have multiple offenses, some traffic tickets can cost a lot of money and really hurt your bank account. A lawyer can contest the fine or get the ticket dismissed altogether. You may need evidence for court that you don’t have access to.

What happens if a traffic ticket isn't valid?

Every traffic violation has specific criteria that must be met. If something is missing, the ticket isn’t valid, and it gets dismissed. If the ticket was issued correctly, there’s a chance that a skilled lawyer can get the fine reduced or avoid points issued to the client’s driver’s license by plea bargaining.

What happens if you sign a ticket?

Signing and paying the ticket is an admission of guilt and counts against your record. This can have some long term consequences. Your car insurance rates can skyrocket, and you may even face the loss of your driver’s license if you have other violations on your driving record.

Can you fight a traffic ticket in court?

Surprisingly, the answer is yes. You can fight traffic tickets in court. If you want the best chance at being successful, it’s a good idea to find a traffic ticket lawyer that can help. Because they know the law inside and out, you’re more likely to get a lesser fine or even have the ticket dismissed altogether.

Is a traffic ticket negotiable?

Most of the time , the answer is yes. Most people don’t realize that most traffic tickets are negotiable. No one advertises that, and the truth is that most people just pay their ticket without giving it a second thought. While you might pay the fine to save yourself the time of having to go to traffic court, there is a big downside to accepting ...

Do lawyers make money fighting traffic tickets?

Quite frankly, lawyers don’t make a lot of money fighting traffic tickets, but ambitious, young criminal defense lawyers will generally take these types of cases. You can find a list of traffic ticket lawyers in our lawyer directory. Most cases are pretty straightforward.

How to file a complaint against a lawyer?

In most states, you can file your complaint by mailing in a state-issued complaint form or a letter with the lawyer's name and contact information, your contact information, a description of the problem, and copies of relevant documents. In some states, you may be able to lodge your complaint over the phone or online.

What happens if a client fires a lawyer?

When a client fires a lawyer and asks for the file, the lawyer must promptly return it. In some states, such as California, the lawyer must return the file even if attorneys’ fees haven’t been paid in full. Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Lawyers are given a lot of responsibility and often deal with serious matters, from criminal charges to child custody to tax and other financial matters. When you hire a lawyer, you are trusting him or her to represent your interests in the best manner possible. To protect the public—and the integrity of the legal profession—each state has its own code of ethics that lawyers must follow. These are usually called the “rules of professional conduct.”

What is incompetence in a lawyer?

Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on. They must also be sufficiently prepared to handle matters that come up in your case, from settlement negotiations to trial. Conflicts of interest.

What happens if you don't report a violation of the law?

If there's no evidence of a violation, the board will dismiss the case and notify you. If the violation is minor, a phone call or letter to the lawyer usually ends the matter.

What are the rules of professional conduct?

The American Bar Association publishes the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which lists standard ethical violations and best practices for lawyers. Some states have adopted the model rules as their own ethical rules, while others use it as a guide and modify or add rules.

Who reviews ethics complaints?

In most cases, a board of lawyers and non-lawyers will review the complaint. If there’s a potential ethical violation, the board will give the lawyer a copy of the complaint and an opportunity to respond.

Is it stressful to fight a ticket?

It’s extremely stressful to deal with a ticket on your own or to blindly hire someone off a five-second Google search with no guidance other than a few positive reviews. And if you have a full-time job, you probably can’t afford to ditch your family and employment to spend the day at the courthouse fighting a single ticket.

Can you keep a ticket off your record?

While it is very possible to keep tickets off your record, it is not as easy to erase them after the fact. Many people pay their tickets without considering their driving record and other collateral consequences of building up points and/or violations. After that insurance bill shows up, or after they have racked up a few violations ...