If you receive a ticket for an alleged traffic violation, there is always a chance that you will be able to successfully fight the charges in court. Even minor traffic violations can have serious consequences, so it’s always worth considering defending yourself against the charges instead of automatically accepting the outcome.
Here are five reasons why you may want to consider contesting a ticket for a traffic violation.
1. Minor driving offenses can quickly add up
The law does not consider each traffic offense individually. The more charges you accumulate over time, the worse the outcome of a single ticket may be.
Each ticket can add points on your driver’s license. Once you cross a certain threshold, the authorities could suspend or even revoke your driver’s license.
2. Traffic violations often raise insurance rates
The more points you get on your license, the higher your insurance rates will likely go. Increased insurance rates resulting from traffic violations can stay elevated for years to come.
3. Losing your license impacts your way of life
Consider all that you use your car for and the large impact that losing your license would have on all aspects of your life. How would you pick up your children from practice? When would you be able to go get groceries? How many buses would you need to take to get to the office?
4. Losing your license can impact your employment opportunities
You do not need to be a commercial driver to rely on your driving privileges. Making sales calls, working as a real estate agent, working as a delivery driver and many, many other jobs require you to be mobile and capable of being behind the wheel.
5. Driving offenses could result in jail time
Serious traffic violation offenses may result in time spent behind bars. If you have a history of traffic violations, especially repeats of specific offenses, then your chance of receiving a punishment of jail time increases with every additional ticket.
Many traffic offenses rely on the opinion of a police officer or the results of a machine; neither are fallible. Consult an experienced traffic defense attorney to find out more about how you can build a defense against a traffic ticket. While a ticket may not seem like a big deal now, you might look back later and be glad you fought off the charges.