Hiring an Orlando Lawyer for your Traffic Ticket
Traffic citations can have serious repercussions with your privilege to drive. Simply paying for a moving violation will cause points to be accessed against your license. Accumulation of points leads to suspensions. If you think you may be close to a points suspension or are already suspended due to too many points we may be able to help. Obtain your official Drivers License Record at the Clerk of Court and we will review it for free. If we see something that allows us to get your license reinstated we will point this out.
Should you hire an attorney for your traffic citation?
Here are a few situations in which you should always hire an attorney to represent you:
The "Driving While License Suspended" ticket. All Suspended License citations should be handled by a knowledgeable Attorney - please call us immediately if you receive a "Driving While License Suspended Citation."
The "speeding ticket" is usually best to hire an attorney. The defenses are complex and the repercussions of challenging a speeding ticket and losing can be harsh. We know what to expect from the judges and hearing officers and the police when we go to court.
Traffic Accidents: All Careless Driving/accident citations issued due to an accident are suspect and should be challenged - call for a free consultation.
All Commercial Drivers License cases should have an attorney representing the driving / CDL holder.
Any time you are cited for Toll Violations you need to hire an attorney to keep points off, reduce fines, and prevent suspensions.
The Benefits of Hiring an Attorney.
Florida law limits an individual to 5 opportunities within a 10 year period to go to traffic school. You cannot attend traffic school within 12 months of the last attendance. If you have a CDL license you cannot elect a driving school at all. If your citation requires a mandatory court hearing you cannot elect a driving school.
However, an attorney experienced in handling traffic tickets will (1) know the judge or hearing officer, (2) probably have dealt with the law enforcement officer before, and (3) has a pretty good idea what will happen before a hearing. An attorney has a much better perspective of the situation and can make the best decision to protect your driving privilege.
Moreover, an attorney may be able to have the court order no points be accessed against you. if the court orders attendance to a traffic school, the statutory limitation does not apply. This means that despite any previous schools you have taken you may still be able to keep your license free of any points. The Court may still require you to attend traffic school but the points will be kept off you license.
The Option and Benefits of electing driving school.
If you elect to attend and complete a state certified traffic/driving school instead of setting your infraction for a hearing, you will receive the following benefits pursuant to Florida law.
- Your insurance rates cannot go up and your policy cannot be cancelled except for citations involving accidents that cause loss to the insurance carrier. (§626.9541(1)(o)12, Fla. Stat.)
- Points will not be added to your driver's license record, adjudication of guilt is withheld, safe driver status is maintained if applicable, and the fine is reduced by 18%. (§318.14(9), Fla. Stat.)
Driving School Enrollment Procedure
- Within 30 days from the date you received the traffic citation and prior to attending class you must perform the following:
- Inform the Clerk of Court in the county where you received the traffic citation that you want to go to traffic school, and;
- Pay an election fee to the Clerk of Courts in the county where you received the citation.
Call the traffic school of your choice to register for class. Available traffic schools are listed in your local telephone directory under the heading "Driving Instruction" or "Driving Schools."
Notes Concerning Options
- If you elect the driving school option, you must complete the class and provide proof of completion within the time constraints imposed by the Clerk of Court in the county where you receive the citation. A registration fee is required by the traffic school.
- If you elect the option to just pay the civil penalty, points will be applied against your license when applicable and your insurance rates may go up or your policy may be cancelled.
- If you elect the option to request a court appearance (with or without an attorney) for the violation(s) and it is determined that an infraction has been committed, the Court may adjudicate you guilty, assess points, impose civil penalty not to exceed $500.00 ($1,000.00 for certain violations) or require you to attend traffic school, or all of the above. Additionally, your insurance rates may go up or your policy may be cancelled.
Our Office...
We represent people from all over the state of Florida and beyond for traffic tickets in the Orlando area. Please contact us for a consultation today. Our consultations are always free.
