i have a lawyer to help fight a traffic ticket what are my chances

by Prof. Barry Medhurst Sr. 5 min read

Hiring a lawyer to fight your traffic ticket may save you money in the long run. A lawyer can often get a traffic ticket reduced or dismissed, leading to lower fines and fewer points on your license. In some cases, hiring a lawyer may even be less expensive than paying the penalty for the ticket.

Full Answer

Should you hire a traffic ticket attorney?

Feb 26, 2022 · In some cases, hiring a lawyer may even be less expensive than paying the penalty for the ticket. The typical cost for a traffic ticket is around $150, but the fines can go …

Do I really need an attorney for a traffic ticket?

Nov 07, 2021 · Having too many tickets can cause a driving license suspension, even if most of your tickets are for minor offenses. Getting several tickets in a short period of time is bad news. Instead of risking losing your license, let an experienced lawyer take the lead. Beating a ticket could save your license from being suspended. Commercial Drivers

When to hire a traffic ticket lawyer?

Jan 05, 2022 · A trusted traffic attorney can help you to get the ticket reduced. A good lawyer has pro skills in negotiating on behalf of their clients to reduce the fines drastically. They have in-depth knowledge in the matter and know what to use to convince the judge to reduce the fines.

Can a lawyer always beat a traffic ticket case?

An attorney can come to court and request traffic school for you, but the result will likely be the same as if you do it yourself. By completing traffic school, you can typically keep points off your record and your insurance rates from increasing. But traffic school can be expensive.

image

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.

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.

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.

Is it worth hiring a lawyer for a traffic ticket?

It generally depends on the circumstances. For many people, hiring an attorney for a traffic ticket is definitely worth the cost. However, in some situations, a driver is better off not spending the extra money to retain a lawyer. Here are some factors you might want to consider before making the call.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What is a CDL revocation?

Commercial driver's license (CDL) holders drive for a living and are subject to stricter rules than other drivers. Under these rules, certain traffic violations can lead to CDL revocation. So, the stakes in traffic court for commercial drivers can be very high. With so much on the line, it would make sense to get an attorney involved.

How do lawyers win a case?

Lawyers Often Have Relationships With Judges or Prosecutors. One of the best ways to win a case is to be friends with the judge and the prosecutor. Unless you’ve spent a lot of time in the courthouse, odds are you won’t have that kind of relationship with them.

Can an attorney do all of that for you?

Nobody likes to take time off work, spend hours reading the law, and wait even more hours in a courthouse just to lose their case. Attorneys can do all of that for you and are significantly more likely to get a successful outcome.

How many points do you get for speeding in New York?

Almost every state in the country uses some kind of point system. In New York, for example, that point system lists speeding tickets at between 3 and 11 points. Get 12 points on your license within 18 months and you’re looking at a suspension. Beat your ticket, however, and you’re looking at a point-free license.

Why do lawyers charge fixed fees?

Prices vary between law firms, but most only cost a fraction of the ticket value. Some lawyers use fixed prices to help ensure that everybody is treated fairly. Others offer prices based on the difficulty of the case and how likely they are to win.

What is Winit app?

The WinIt app helps connect you with many of the local attorneys in your area, not just the ones you can find on Google. These lawyers come with plenty of reviews from satisfied (or dissatisfied) clients, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.

Do you have to go to traffic court?

You don't have to go to traffic court and you don't have to keep track of court dates. In most situations, your presence is not required at a contested hearing. The attorney will appear on your behalf and keep track of all court dates.

What are the advantages of hiring a lawyer?

Advantages of Hiring a Lawyer 1 You don't have to go to traffic court and you don't have to keep track of court dates. In most situations, your presence is not required at a contested hearing. The attorney will appear on your behalf and keep track of all court dates. 2 Prevent against raising your insurance premium. Many people think that hiring an attorney is too costly because most times, the cost of hiring an attorney is more than the face value of the traffic ticket. But this cost is far less than the cost to your insurance and your driving record if you admit to the violation and pay the fine. 3 Knowledge and expertise. A great number of tickets and officer reports are written up imperfectly. Since a certain amount of gamesmanship is involved in defending a traffic ticket, an attorney is always in the best position to look at the evidence and determine the best legal or technical arguments to make in front of a particular judge in a particular court. An attorney will know which errors or omissions on the traffic ticket or officer's report will be fatal to the state or city's case.

image