what happens when a ticket goes to a lawyer

Contacting an Attorney

The first step is to call a law firm and speak with a paralegal about what happened. Getting the details of the circumstance, what town you got the ticket in, how many tickets you have previously received, and what the violation you received are all important factors.

What Happens Next?

If you contact us and decide you want to hire us, an attorney will be assigned to your case. After the payment is received and the retainer agreement is signed, the paralegal will send our appearance to the courthouse. Once a court date is received, an attorney will be sent on your behalf.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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 resolve a traffic ticket?

Usually, the quickest and easiest way to resolve a citation is to admit guilt and pay the citation online or by mail. This article, however, discusses what you can generally expect if you decide to handle your ticket by going to traffic court.

What happens when you show up for a court date?

When you show up for court on your trial date, the routine is similar to that of arraignment day. But usually, all the cases on the court’s calendar will be traffic trials. If there are any arraignments on the calendar, the judge will normally get those out of the way first. For each traffic trial, the judge calls the case, ...

What happens after you go to traffic school?

After the driver completes traffic school, the court dismisses or removes the violation from the driver’s record, allowing the motorist to avoid drivers license points.

What is the first day of traffic court?

Arraignment: First Day in Traffic Court. Most citations have instruction on when and where to go for court. The first court date is usually called an “arraignment.”. You should get to the courthouse early so you have enough time to figure out what courtroom you need to be in.

What is a plea of not guilty?

Typically, pleading not guilty is the equivalent of requesting a traffic court trial. When you enter your plea, the judge sets a date for your trial and subpoenas the officer who gave you the ticket to come to court on that date.

What happens when an officer testifies in a citation?

Then, the defendant has the opportunity to cross-examine the officer. When the officer finishes testifying, the defendant also has a chance to testify and present evidence.

Why do drivers request a trial?

Many drivers request trials not because they want to fight their ticket, but because they’re hoping the officer won’t come to court. If the officer does show up to court, and you don't want to do the trial, chances are you'll still have the option of changing your plea to not guilty.

What does a lawyer know about traffic law?

However, your lawyer knows just about everything there is to know when it comes to traffic law. They know how to argue for you and they know how to fight for your rights. In addition to knowing they will fight for your rights, it’s nice to know that you have somebody that understands the law fully on your side.

Why do you need a lawyer on your side?

Because of this, having a lawyer on your side may make the judge more likely to rule in your favor, regardless of whether or not you are guilty. As you can see, there are many benefits to having a lawyer on your side.

How can a lawyer help you?

There are a few different ways that having a lawyer on your side can help you. 1. They Know How to Get Out of It . When you get a traffic ticket, your first instinct isn’t likely how to find a mistake on the ticket or how to prove that you didn’t do whatever the ticket said that you did. However, a lawyer will know how to find the things ...

Is it worth hiring a traffic lawyer?

While most people just pay the ticket and move on, it may be worth it to hire a traffic lawyer to fight your ticket. Many people get tickets when they don’t necessarily deserve them. For example, maybe you got a speeding ticket when you were just keeping up with the flow of traffic. Perhaps you got a parking ticket for backing into ...

Do traffic lawyers charge reasonable fees?

While this may be true for some lawyers, most traffic lawyers have quite reasonable rates . After all, what would the point be in hiring a lawyer if their fees are more expensive than your ticket would be? Because of this, most traffic lawyers charge low rates for their clients.

Can you get a ticket reduced if you are guilty?

Even if you think you are guilty of the ticket, it doesn’t hurt to see if you can get your ticket reduced or perhaps dismissed because of an error on the ticket. Hiring a lawyer is likely cheaper than paying the ticket itself, so you don’t have much to lose.

Is it expensive to hire a traffic lawyer?

This is part of the reason it’s not typically expensive to hire a traffic lawyer.

Points on Your License

Like many states, Florida uses a points system. Each ticket you receive results in a number of points on your license. The number of points varies with the severity of the offense. Once you reach a certain number of points within a given time frame, your license will be suspended.

Insurance Rates Increase After a Traffic Ticket

If you are convicted, plead guilty to, or "waive" a traffic ticket, you will receive points on your license. 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.

Traffic Tickets for Commercial Drivers Could Cost You Your Job

If you drive commercially, the consequences of a traffic ticket can be even greater, even if you were not driving professionally when you received the ticket. 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).

Want to Fight Your Traffic Ticket? Contact the Law Office of Jody L. Fisher Today

If you've been charged with a traffic violation and want to fight it, contact me at the Law Office of Jody L. Fisher today. Based in Leesburg, I represent people throughout central-Florida. Call (352) 503-4111, or complete our online information form.