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Lawrenceville Traffic Ticket Lawyers
Many people consider a traffic violation to be a minor offense. When most people get a ticket, they simply plead guilty and accept the consequences. This is far from your only option. Lawrenceville traffic lawyers help people contest tickets in court.
While in many instances not contesting the ticket will result in a fine and an increase to your insurance premiums, under certain circumstances, a conviction can result in substantial jail time. It may be imperative to contact a skilled criminal attorney to be by your side in court.
Common Traffic ViolationsMany traffic violations, such as speeding, failure to signal, and improper lane change are self-explanatory. More nuanced examples of traffic violations include:
- Driving with a suspended license
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Reckless operation
A common issue when dealing with a charge of driving with a suspended license is whether or not the driver received proper notice that their license was suspended. While notice often occurs in open court, in other instances, the only notice given is a letter sent in the mail by the DMV.
Under Georgia Code 40-5-60, suspensions only start when a driver receives legal notice of suspension. A Lawrenceville traffic lawyer can argue that notice was never properly given.
Defining First Offense Traffic ChargesA first offense requires imprisonment for no less than two days but no more than 12 months. In addition, a fine of not less than $500 will be assessed to a maximum of $1,000. Penalties for subsequent violations are harsh and are cataloged in Georgia Code 40-5-121.
What Does it Mean When Someone Flees the Scene of an Accident?Lawrenceville traffic lawyers have seen that leaving the scene of an accident is a far more serious charge. All people involved in a car accident, regardless of whether or not anyone was hurt, have a duty to remain at the scene if there is property damage.
Leaving the scene if no one is hurt is only a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of between $300 and $1,000 and no more than one year in jail. However, leaving the scene of a serious injury or death is a felony, and jail time no less than one year is required upon conviction. More information about this law can be found in Georgia Code 40-6-270.
What is Reckless Driving?Reckless driving relies upon the legal definition of reckless. Simply put, this means that a person drove with reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property. This can be done by speeding, skipping a stop sign, or running a red light.
This is treated as a misdemeanor with penalties including up to $1,000 in fines and up to 12 months in jail. More information can be found in Georgia Code 40-6-390.
Hiring an AttorneyEven if someone is accused of a traffic violation does not mean that they have to accept the charges without their day in court. Whenever a ticket it issued, whether it be for speeding, lane violations, reckless driving, or something else altogether, the ticket will contain instructions for contesting it in court.
Lawrenceville traffic lawyers represent individuals in both motor vehicle violation hearings resulting from minor traffic violations and full criminal trials for charges like driving with a suspended license or reckless driving. A conviction for a traffic violation will result in a mark on a person’s driving record, insurance increases, and potentially a criminal record.
