The reality of life is that we all drive. We have to get to work, school, the grocery store, visit friends and family, go to the gas station, eat at restaurants, grab coffee, go shopping at the mall, pick up our kids, and otherwise run errands. Unless you live in a large city where driving is not a necessity, you are likely to run into police officers from time to time. Sometimes you have had too much to drink while other times you are in a hurry. In other instances you are involved in an accident and the police make a wrong determination on fault for the accident. Perhaps you make a split second decision to negotiate a turn or accidentally hydroplane. If you have a traffic charge many of them are prepayable offenses. Other offenses require you appearance in court. The question then becomes whether you should get an attorney.
Unless the traffic charge is a non-moving violation, prepaying the ticket or being found guilty in court will result in DMV-demerit points. A loss of points on your driving record will generally mean an increase in insurance rates. Additionally, misdemeanor traffic charges carry potential jail time and/or a loss of privilege to drive in addition to a misdemeanor record. Many of these issues can be avoided by having an attorney help you in your case. Remember, prepaying your ticket may be cheaper in the short term. It is later that the consequences may rear its ugly head. This does not have to be the case because we handle hundred of these types of cases every year and can help. In addition, if it is a type of traffic charge that we feel you are better off simply prepaying we will advise you of that. However, most times, we can put you in a better position than if you simply prepay it.