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| If you've ever been pulled over by a police officer, you know the feeling of fear, dread and uncertainty. Many times you don't even know why you're being pulled over. Sometimes you don't know until you get a traffic ticket. Whether you did what you were charged with or not, don't challenge the officer, or fight or get angry and abusive. Remember, the police officer is doing what he is paid to do. This is his job. He may be incorrect, but at the side of the road is not the place to fight about it. |
| It has been said that the reason that we have so many traffic laws and penalties is because of the ease, for the most part, of gaining a driver's license. After attaining a given age, we merely need to take a written test, an eye exam, and a driving skills exam, and then we get a license. Even after years and years, a re-test is usually not required unless a driver loses their licenses or a certain amount of points are racked up. As most drivers can attest, there are on the road drivers of many different types of skill levels. There are incompetent drivers, careless drivers, selfish drivers, rude drivers and angry drivers. To avoid accidents, we need to avoid those drivers. Unfortunately, many of us can find ourselves in one of those categories. We may be momentarily preoccupied by personal matters and drive right through a stop sign. When that happens within sight of a police officer, a ticket will likely result. |
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Once the ticket is received, many drivers will take what they feel is the easiest and cheapest way to go. This can be a costly mistake. A traffic offense can mean much more than fines and costs. It is becoming common knowledge that a $25 ticket will usually cost over $100 to pay, because of court costs. What is not so well known is the license suspension or other penalties, including possible jail, that can go along with a lot of traffic offenses. Further, many people believe that if their license is suspended they will be able to get a limited license which will allow them to get to work. Often the lesson learned comes too late to do anything about it. The time to make real decisions with proper legal advice is BEFORE a plea is entered and a fine is paid. There may be a little time after that but too much time will pass and then there is nothing to do but walk and catch a bus or taxi. By reviewing the charges with a lawyer who handles this area, a motorist will have all of the information necessary to make an informed decision. You may decide that it will be worth it to fight a ticket or have a lawyer represent you once you know what you are really facing. Understand, the police officer and the judge don't have to tell you what all of the potential penalties are. AND more and more non-traffic convictions are having an impact on your ability to drive. Conviction of underage drinking, minor drug offenses, and truancy are just some of the areas that a driver will lose their license even if they are not even near a car when the charges are made by the police. |
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Take a look at the points and suspensions at the pages below. |
