Types of Traffic Tickets & How To Defend Yourself

There are a lot of individual traffic infractions in California, from citations for ignoring stop signs to violations of recent rule updates about how to deal with construction. Even the basic speeding ticket comes with several degrees of severity, depending on how excessive the violation of the maximum safe speed posted in that area. Despite all the ways you can wind up getting a traffic ticket, though, there are really only two types of ticket when you get right down to things.

• Infractions involve minor rule violations, typically things like ignoring a stop sign or exceeding a posted speed limit
• Misdemeanors are more serious charges, usually things that compromise public safety in a more serious way, like driving under the influence or recklessly, and excessive speeding

While many people understand the seriousness of the charges for misdemeanors and rush to hire a DUI attorney who can help them defend themselves, fewer people realize how much a Sacramento traffic ticket lawyer can help them when they’re facing an infraction.

Defend Yourself and Your License

California’s point system for individual driving records is a revolving assessment of penalties related to the severity of the ticket and the amount of time since it occurred. While not every ticket comes with points, some of infractions and just about all the misdemeanor-level charges do. If a driver has too many points, the court can assess whether to suspend a license. A traffic ticket lawyer Los Angeles can help minimize these points by arguing for a lesser ticket or even a dismissal. Even more importantly, in the event the ticket can not be overturned, an experienced lawyer can help make a compelling argument against license suspensions at those evaluation thresholds. In this state, your license can be evaluated for a suspension under the following conditions:

• Four points or more in under 12 months
• Eight points or more accrued in 24 months
• 12 points or more across a 36 month span

Most tickets are only a point or two, but misdemeanors can sometimes carry higher penalties, and it’s a good idea to keep tickets off your record because even a single point can trigger an insurance rate increase. That’s a great reason to hire an attorney who can help you challenge the ticket or minimize its impact on your record. One solution to help minimize the impact of a ticket is traffic school, but that requires court approval, and experienced assistance is usually the best chance to make a compelling case for that kind of compassionate consequence if a ticket can not be dismissed.

Learn More About Fighting Tickets

Traffic lawyers focus their practice on the areas of the law concerned with both private and commercial driver’s licenses, so they are the best option for legal assistance when you’re facing a ticket. Educational clinics can help you know your rights, and some general law practices will also cover traffic infractions sometimes, but only people who make it their business will have the depth of experience to fully understand the law, the local personalities in the law enforcement community, and the recent cases that govern how judges assess tickets and penalties for them. That makes them a powerful resource.