Columbia Traffic Lawyer
Many people have gotten a ticket for speeding, running a stop sign, or another traffic violation at some point in their life, and it is understandable to just want to pay the associated fine and move on. However, if you have a history of convictions for traffic offenses, putting another guilty plea on your record could have extremely serious consequences, potentially including the loss of your driver’s license.
Taking a traffic ticket to court is not always the best course of action, but a conversation with a criminal defense attorney could help clarify whether it is appropriate for your situation. If so, a knowledgeable Columbia traffic lawyer could work with you to collect evidence and defend your best interests from start to finish of your case.
Is It Worthwhile to Fight a Traffic Ticket?
Although the fines associated with traffic tickets vary based on the specific offense a ticketed person allegedly committed, the immediate monetary impact of a traffic offense is generally not that severe. For example, someone who gets pulled over and ticketed for driving less than ten miles per hour over the posted speed limit in Columbia may be subject to a small fine.
However, regardless of how severe or minor a traffic ticket is, choosing to pay the associated fine constitutes a guilty plea to a misdemeanor criminal offense, which could result in increased insurance premiums in the future. Furthermore, traffic convictions in South Carolina result not only in fines and sometimes jail time, but also demerit points on a convicted party’s license.
To reuse the above example, a ticket for exceeding the speed limit by less than ten miles per hour is worth two demerit points, and more serious offenses, like reckless driving, can be worth as many as six points if convicted. Since anyone who accumulates 12 or more demerit points may face license suspension for a maximum of six months, anyone with previous traffic offenses on their record may want to seriously consider talking to a local traffic attorney about contesting a new ticket.
The Process of Contesting Traffic Offenses
If someone wants to contest their traffic violation, they have two options for how to do so. First, someone who is willing to acknowledge culpability for an offense but would like to lessen the consequences a guilty plea would result in can request a mitigation hearing. Through such a hearing, a court may agree to reduce the fine an individual owes, allow them to participate in a long-term payment plan, or sentence them to community service instead of forcing them to pay the fine.
Conversely, requesting a contested hearing effectively constitutes a “not guilty” plea, meaning that the purpose of the ensuing hearing would be for a plaintiff to argue their innocence of an alleged traffic offense. Assistance from an experienced traffic lawyer in Columbia is often crucial when going into one of these hearings, as a seasoned legal professional could help request a discovery period, negotiate with prosecutors on a plaintiff’s behalf, and take other actions intended to increase a defendant’s chances of success.
Speak with a Columbia Traffic Attorney to Learn More
Traffic court may not seem as serious as criminal court at first glance, but the repercussions of multiple traffic convictions can be severe. Beyond just increasingly steep fines and insurance rates, convictions for certain traffic offenses could leave you facing jail time, and successive convictions may eventually result in your license being suspended.
Whether you want to contest a traffic offense or simply mitigate the penalties you might face for one, an experienced Columbia traffic lawyer could help you seek your desired outcome. Call today to set up a consultation.
