To Pay or Fight a Traffic Ticket?

There are several types of traffic tickets – from speeding to underage DUI – but they all put points against a driver's record. When a person accumulates a certain number of points, his driver's license is bound to be suspended for some time, depending on the violation. Those from Tampa, Florida may contest this through the help of the best DUI Attorney in their jurisdiction.

A traffic ticket is given by law enforcers to those who disobey or neglect traffic rules. You may pay or contest a traffic ticket. Most people simply choose to pay to avoid additional stress; while others hire an attorney to either remove the charges altogether, or reduce penalties. If you receive a traffic ticket (or have a couple), which option should you go for?

Paying The Ticket 

Technically, paying for your ticket means you plead guilty or no contest ('nolo contendre') to the charges against you. In the state of Florida, you have 30 days to respond to your traffic ticket. If it's not stated within the ticket, contact your county court immediately. Should you wish to pay, you may go to your county traffic court or pay online at their official website.

Even if you pay the fine, you still incur points against your driving record. It's also possible that your auto insurance premium will increase, depending on the severity of the offense. It's likely to reduce your points (or eliminate them) if the court would ask you to enroll in a Basic Driver Improvement Course. The program should be approved by your state in order to have it counted towards your points.

Fighting The Ticket 

In the event that you don't want to plead guilty, you may fight a traffic ticket. However, bear in mind that you surrender the judge's offers of lesser penalties. Also, be prepared to face additional costs (and perhaps harsher punishment) should you lose your case. Request a hearing for your case within the time allotted in your ticket; otherwise, you'll receive a D-6 Suspension. This will suspend your driver's license indefinitely, but you can just pay the fine to have it lifted.

Fighting for your traffic ticket means you need to appear in court before a judge and/or jury. There are usually instructions within the ticket itself. Usually, you can just call the county court to schedule a hearing. Make sure you include the following information:

• valid phone number
• your citation number
• valid mailing address

Getting Legal Help 

ou should consider hiring an experienced traffic attorney to help fight your case with you. In serious offenses such as DUI or vehicular manslaughter, this is even more important. Your attorney can provide you with legal options concerning your case, help you collect evidence, gather witness testimonies, and mentally prepare you for what's to come.

Most lawyers don't charge anything unless a case is won; so make sure to ask about their fees. If you can't, you can simply hire them for a limited amount of time. For example: you can just talk to them about the chances of winning your case. Whatever you choose, the aid of a good lawyer would be indispensable for fighting traffic tickets.