Traffic Ticket Defense May Be More Important Than It Sounds
Many people believe that the way to respond to traffic citations is to just pay them and forget about them. The problem with that approach is that “the system,” including the Georgia Department of Driver Services and the auto insurance industry, does not forget. Points will add up in your driving record and auto insurers will likely charge you higher rates or refuse to insure you. In addition, though points only last on your record for two years, once an insurance company has raised your rates, you should not expect them to reach out and willingly reduce the rate just because those points have gone away after two years. In addition, under Georgia law, every traffic citation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000.00 fine and 12 months in jail.
Certain offenses such as driving with no insurance, suspended registration, and driving while license suspended will also carry automatic license suspension. Neither the Court nor the prosecutor are required to advise you if the offense you have been charged with will suspend your license. As a result, it is always a good idea to speak with an experienced defense attorney. What may seem like small offense and fine may carry hidden consequences like a license suspension that could result in your loss of employment if you can no longer drive or even mandatory jail time. Finally, If you get too many traffic tickets and points on your record, your license may also be suspended.
If you can, avoid the repercussions of traffic tickets for offenses such as:
- Speeding
- Illegal lane changes
- Driving with nonfunctional brake lights and other lights
- Reckless driving
Young Drivers (Under 21), beware: If you are a young driver or the parent of a young driver, your life may become very inconvenient after a police officer issues a traffic ticket. Drivers aged 16 and 17 may have their driver’s licenses suspended after accumulating only four points on their records. A speeding ticket alone can cause this unwanted consequence. In addition, drivers over the age of 18, but younger than 21 can still have their license suspended if the offense that they have been charged with results in four points or more being applied to their record. This means, even a simple speeding ticket can still suspend your driver’s license. At Sarah Cornejo Law, our attorneys have experience resolving and negotiating traffic tickets for young drivers in order to protect their privilege to drive.
Failure To Appear
It happens, especially with traffic citations. You were stopped and cited for a minor offense: failing to stop at a stop sign (“disregard of a traffic control device”). This is a relatively minor matter, but before you know life happens and you forget to pay the ticket or go to court. Or you lose the citation. Before you know it, you are receiving a notice from the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services that you failed to appear for court and your license is suspended. This is very common. Failing to appear for court on a traffic citation will result in your license being suspended, and before you know it you could be stopped again and charged with Driving While License Suspended, which if you plead to will automatically suspend your license even if you have resolved the failure to appear. It is important if you find yourself in this situation to contact an experience defense attorney immediately. At Sarah Cornejo Law, we will work with you to get the Failure to Appear removed from your record and protect your privilege to drive.
Cited For An Accident
Accidents happen in the blink of an eye. Often it is minutes, if not hours, before a police officer responds to the scene. In that time, the positions of the vehicles have moved and the other driver has had an opportunity to think about what they want to tell the officer. As a result, when the officer arrives you may be surprised when they hand you the ticket and place you at fault. This can seem unfair when a crash that was not your fault triggers this result. Just because an officer says you’re at fault, that doesn’t mean you are.
The attorneys at Sarah Cornejo Law have experience reviewing hundreds of accidents. With our individualized approach to each case, we gather all of the evidence in order to make sure your rights are protected. In the past we have been able to successfully contest fault in multiple accidents allowing our clients to get the financial and medical help they need because of the accident.
Stay In Control Of Your Future After Being Ticketed
You may feel discouraged and unmotivated to fight back after receiving a traffic ticket. We urge you to reconsider. Instead of just accepting it without questions, get a skillful defender on your side. An initial consultation is the first step to taking back your future after you have been cited for a traffic offense or charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI).
Get an experienced lawyer and a strong defense on your side after receiving any traffic ticket, whether you are a minor or an adult. Call 770-709-5955 or send an email inquiry to request a free initial consultation and care review.