Almost all adults know that they have the right to defend themselves against criminal allegations. However, many people don’t realize that this right extends to traffic citations.
The average person who receives a ticket after a traffic stop will just pay the ticket because it seems like the easiest thing to do. However, paying a ticket is basically the equivalent of pleading guilty. You can go to court and fight a traffic ticket, and there are plenty of good reasons to do so.
Fighting the ticket will keep your insurance rates down
How much you pay for auto insurance depends largely on a combination of your demographic factors and driving history. Your age, the crash and crime rates in the zip code where you reside and the number of driving infractions on your record all influence how much you pay to insure your vehicle.
Just one speeding ticket could raise your insurance costs by 25%. The more tickets you have, the greater risk you represent to the insurance company and the more they will charge you for coverage.
Too many traffic tickets could cost you your license
Paying a ticket is a guilty plea to the traffic citation, which means there are consequences for your license. South Carolina assesses points for every infraction and keeps a tally of your total points.
The state might suspend your license if you get too many points in a short amount of time. Defending against a pending ticket is the only way to ensure that you never accrue enough points to put your license at risk.
Even personal traffic tickets can be a big deal for professional drivers
If you have a commercial license, even violations that take place in your personal vehicle can affect your eligibility and also your professional insurance costs.
Fighting a traffic ticket with the help of an experienced traffic defense attorney can help keep your driving record spotless and even help protect your career and source of income.
