What Should I Do if I Get a Traffic Ticket
Summary
Most people are unsure about what to do when they receive a traffic ticket. Here we will provide you with the answers to your questions and provide you with the insight you need in order to make the best decision with respect to your options when you receive a traffic ticket.
What to do if you Receive a Traffic Ticket
If you receive a traffic ticket, the first steps you should take are as follows:
- Take notice of the deadlines: It's important to be aware of the date by which you must answer your ticket. Some tickets require you to appear in court by a certain date and others require you to enter your plea by that date. Not responding timely and properly can result in a default conviction and/or the suspension of your license.
- Review the information entered on the ticket: Understand the specific traffic violation for which you are being charged and confirm that all the details entered by the police officer were correct such as date, time, location and vehicle description.
- Know the consequences: Determine the fine that may be assessed, any points related to the moving violation, any DMV penalties that may be incurred and the potential for an insurance premium increase.
- Understand the law related to your moving violation: Research the traffic law you are accused of violating as well as any potential defenses to your particular traffic charge.
- Consider your options: There are two general options after receiving a traffic ticket as listed below.
Traffic Ticket Plea - Guilty or Not Guilty
1. Plead Guilty and Pay the Fine
It is important to know that if you just pay the fine you are pleading guilty. This is almost NEVER the best option. Pleading guilty to a moving violation results in the following:
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- The violation will be listed on your driver’s abstract (your driving record);
- DMV points will be added to your license for most moving violations;
- A Driver Responsibility Assessment will be assessed if you accrue 6 or more points on your license during an 18 month period;
- Insurance premium increase; and
- Possible driver’s license suspensions for incurring too many points or too many speeding tickets in a specified period of time.
2. Plead Not Guilty and Fight Your Ticket
This typically involves pleading not guilty and proceeding through the legal process, such as appearing in court to plea bargain with a prosecutor or going to trial.
Should I Hire a Traffic Ticket Lawyer
Whether you should or should not hire a traffic ticket attorney to fight your ticket depends upon several factors:
- Severity of the Violation: If your traffic violation is a minor non-moving violation that does not result in DMV points being added to your license, such as a broken taillight or a cracked windshield, you may choose to handle it on your own. However, if your traffic ticket is for a moving violation, there are generally significant consequences that are best left to a traffic ticket lawyer to handle.
- Potential Consequences: Traffic tickets can have a significant impact on your driving record, insurance premiums, and your driving privileges. A traffic lawyer can often defend your charges in order to avoid these consequences.
- Legal Knowledge: If you're unfamiliar with the traffic laws and local court procedures, a traffic lawyer can provide peace of mind by presenting the best defense on your behalf.
- Convenience: Defending a traffic ticket is time-consuming. If you hire a lawyer, they will handle all of the paperwork, negotiations, and court appearance on your behalf which allows you to focus on other priorities in your life.
What can a Traffic Ticket Lawyer do for Me?
- Appear in court on your behalf: In most cases, we can appear in court on your behalf so that you don’t have to.
- Gather evidence relevant to your defense: This might include photographs, witness statements, or any relevant documentation that can help demonstrate your innocence or cast doubt on the ticket's validity.
- Plea bargain: We will negotiate with the prosecutor or judge for a reduced charge or penalty which will avoid the substantial risks associated with a traffic trial.
- Defend your case at Trial: If you choose to proceed to trial we will represent you at trial.
How Much Does a Traffic Ticket Lawyer Cost?
At Veltry Law, PC, we pride ourselves in offering the lowest legal fees for your traffic ticket defense on Long Island. We offer a flat fee rate of $399 for all plea bargaining in Suffolk County Traffic & Parking Violations Agency and Nassau County Traffic & Parking Violation Agency cases. Some Village, Town and NYC cases are $499.
We are so confident in our ability to have your charges reduced or dismissed that we offer a full money-back guarantee – if we do not get your charges reduced or dismissed we will refund the full legal fee!
We are also pleased to offer student and military discounts.
As you can see from above, while legal representation does have a cost, hiring an experienced traffic ticket lawyer will most definitely save you money in the long run due to reduced fines, fewer points on your record, Driver Responsibility Assessment avoidance, and insurance premium savings.
24 Hour Traffic Ticket Attorney
Veltry Law, PC has been successfully fighting traffic tickets in Suffolk County, Nassau County & NYC for over 30 years. We will vigorously defend your charges to avoid points, minimize fines and protect you from an insurance premium increase. We know what needs to be done to protect your license as well as your future.
Feel free to visit our website to learn more about our practice or call us 24/7 for a free consultation.