Lawyers | Traffic School |
---|---|
$60 – $150 average cost | As Low as $15 – $20 |
Points may be added to your license | NO points assessed on your license |
Insurance may increase | Insurance will not increase |
Takes at least two week days in court | Takes 4 hours |
If you are considering getting a lawyer for a speeding ticket in Pennsylvania, contact McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. at (610) 991-7219. Attorney David McKenzie is a former prosecutor who will fight to help you keep your license and reduce the impact a speeding ticket will have on your future.
If you have multiple speeding tickets on your record, the penalties for speeding violations can become more severe, with higher fines under PA 75 § 3362, points on your record under PA 75 § 1535, and possibly the loss of your driver’s license. You may want to get a lawyer for a speeding ticket as they have an in-depth understanding ...
If a case does go to trial, a lawyer has the confidence to question the officer who issued the citation and knows the questions to ask.
If your license becomes suspended, you could be facing the high cost and inconvenience of finding alternative means of transportation. The loss of your job over a ticket may even be a possibility, as your contract may state that you cannot be found guilty of a moving violation.
A lawyer may be able to help you avoid a suspended license or expensive fines if you agree to a lesser charge like a nonmoving violation or if you agree to attend a traffic school. All of these alternatives are usually better than the consequences of the speeding ticket. A ticket can mean points added to your license, ...
You may want to get a lawyer for a speeding ticket as they have an in-depth understanding of traffic laws and they know the technicalities for how to get cases reduced or dismissed. For example, the courts may dismiss cases entirely if: The officer who issued the speeding ticket does not show up at the court as a witness.
A lawyer knows the steps to take to gather evidence in your case and knows how to properly file paperwork. By taking these steps on your behalf, a lawyer can save you time and let you focus on your normal, everyday activities, and your family.
Second, we have out-of-state tickets. These kinds of tickets are a pain in everyone’s side.
Finally, something many people don’t consider when getting a speeding ticket is the long-term ramifications.
Speeding tickets have been shown to increase automobile insurance premiums by around 23.2%. If you’re paying the average price for insurance, you could lose another $341 in insurance premiums this year. But that’s not the end of it. Insurance investigators can typically see up to four years of your driving record.
That’s because, with a good lawyer, you will have a much better chance of beating the traffic charges. Getting a lawyer is important. But even more important is getting a good lawyer. Knowing what to look for in a lawyer can make or break your case. Here are a few questions you should ask when looking for a lawyer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We’ve probably all seen one of those videos where people sit in their car and shout through the window at the officer, “Am I being detained? Am I being detained? Am I being detained?” Unlike those people, traffic lawyers actually do know the law.
In particular, a traffic ticket attorney specializes in laws related to driving; such lawyers defend traffic court cases varying from routine moving violations (such as running a traffic light) to more serious situations (such as driving under the influence ). Regardless of the violation circumstances, a seasoned lawyer works to reduce your traffic ...
Regardless of the violation circumstances, a seasoned lawyer works to reduce your traffic ticket penalties, negotiate alternative penalties, and/or dismiss the ticket altogether.
Generally, reducing ticket penalties means getting the judge to reduce or dismiss your fines and/or driver's license points .
Attorneys specialize in particular areas of the law— meaning they are well-versed in legal language and can use that knowledge and experience to identify flaws in the case brought against you (or at least lessen your penalties ).
Public defenders, or court-appointed attorneys, are lawyers who help people who can't afford private legal defense.
From a speeding violation to forgetting to use your turn signal, even the most routine traffic stop can add up quickly; thus, sometimes, hiring a traffic ticket lawyer can make a difference—especially regarding reduced fines, keeping points off your driver's license, and avoiding increased insurance rates .
Not only can traffic school help you get a ticket dismissed, but it can also remove driver's license points (or prevent points from accumulating, depending on your state's laws) and even lower your car insurance rates .
3. How a Lawyer Can Help You 1 Negotiate – Lawyers are master negotiators since it’s a big part of their job. For more serious cases, your lawyer could cut your jail time in half or even get you off on probation/community service. For traffic tickets, it’s more likely that they will try to get the case thrown out or a reduced fine. 2 Consultation – Some lawyers offer a consultation at a reduced or even free price (if you have benefits). They can give you an honest and unbiased opinion about your case, and analyze several different approaches and outcomes for you to make an informed final decision. 3 Representation – Lastly, they and you can decide to move forward with the case, in which they will represent you in a court of law.
Most people hire lawyers for more serious accusations rather than just a speeding ticket . However, those who are wrongfully accused may hire a lawyer to either get the case thrown out, lower the penalties, or even seek compensation. 2.
In such cases, do your best to research the offense and then apply tips in avoiding speeding tickets when you’re back on the road.
Consultation – Some lawyers offer a consultation at a reduced or even free price (if you have benefits). They can give you an honest and unbiased opinion about your case, and analyze several different approaches and outcomes for you to make an informed final decision.
Follow these extra tips to make sure you make the best decision. Take your time – Always take your time. Not many good decisions in life are made in a hurry. It takes a while to process your case, so take the time to do some research.
Experience matters – Just from a statistics standpoint, a more experienced lawyer will do a better job at getting you out of trouble.
For more serious cases, your lawyer could cut your jail time in half or even get you off on probation/community service. For traffic tickets, it’s more likely that they will try to get the case thrown out or a reduced fine.
In addition to the fine, you will most likely earn demerit points on your license, which stay on there for three years.
The main reason why you should consider hiring an lawyer if you get a speeding ticket is you should do your best to protect your driving record.
When it comes to common speeding tickets and other types of traffic tickets, a traffic attorney will review your case and work with you to reduce your penalties, negotiate alternatives, or dismiss your ticket entirely if applicable.
In the traffic context, penalties exist to keep people safe. By punishing and deterring bad behavior on the roads , the law encourages safer driving. As such, instead of imposing traditional penalties, traffic judges may allow alternative retributory methods. A common option is traffic school.
For moving violations like speeding, penalties come in one of two forms: a fine or points on your license. Both can cost you in the long-run. Fines and point systems vary state by state, but no matter where you are, they carry negative consequences: namely, increased insurance premiums and even license suspension.
The legal jargon for this process is known as “pleading down.” This means that you agree to plead guilty, a move that will show up on your driving record. However, you would plead guilty to a less serious violation in exchange for dismissal. For example, if you were ticketed for driving 30 miles per hour over the speed limit, you can choose to plead guilty to driving 15 over instead - and you can get your case dismissed.
Finally, even if the judge dismisses your ticket, you may still be ordered to pay the fine associated with your ticket.
By attending traffic school, violators can earn the court’s goodwill - in some cases, enough to warrant dismissing their tickets. They can also earn a reduction in their license points, help prevent additional points from accruing, and lower their insurance premium rates.
Finally, consider the attorney’s success rate. Ask for numbers or check analytics. Alternatively, check the attorney’s profile online. Google his or her name and look for social proof in the form of reviews or website testimonials. Satisfied clients are one of the greatest marketing weapons for good lawyers so if you can’t find any, take this as a red flag.
If you’ve been ticketed you may think the simplest thing to do is pay the fine and move on. In some cases, this may be true, but don’t underestimate the potentially negative consequences.
Traffic attorneys know the law inside and out, the know the technicalities and they understand the machinery of your local municipal court. They are worth paying for in some cases, but not in others. Use your best judgment when making this decision and don’t forget the key points.