Traffic laws are typically broken up into two categories; an infraction and a violation. An infraction is not considered a crime and the penalty is usually a fine. Most traffic tickets, such as non-moving violations and non-dangerous moving violations are considered infractions. More serious violations may be classified as misdemeanor or felony traffic violations. These may include Driving under the Influence (DUI), reckless or aggressive driving, driving without auto insurance, and failure to stop at the scene of an accident.

Millions of traffic tickets are issued each year in the United States. The average fine costs around $150, but in some states, a driver can be fined up to $2,000 or more. The states of Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas have enacted a Driver Responsibility Program that establishes a system which assigns points to moving violations and applies surcharges to offenders, based on the type of offense. Under some of these laws, drivers may face a separate fee after they are convicted or found responsible for the offense. Due to the exorbitant fees charged by each state, the traffic ticket system is an industry generating billions of dollars each year.

Traffic Tickets: “Strict Liability Offenses”

The majority of traffic tickets are issued for “strict-liability” offenses. This means that no particular criminal intent is required to convict a person of the offense. The only proof needed is that the person did the prohibited act. Strict-liability traffic offenses typically include such offenses as:

  • Speeding
  • Failure to use turn signals
  • Failure to yield
  • Turning into the wrong lane
  • Driving a car with burned-out headlights
  • Parking in a handicap spot without the required sticker
  • Overdue parking meters
  • Moving Violations Non-Moving Violations

Processing Traffic Tickets

Many jurisdictions provide for administrative processing of most traffic tickets as minor offenses or “infractions,” thereby removing them from criminal court altogether. In those cases, an offender is not subject to incarceration or large fines and is not entitled to a lawyer or a jury trial. The fine for speeding tickets can be quite large, as some states impose a fine based on the rate at which the offender was exceeding the speed limit. Even though most traffic tickets are handled in an expeditious manner in the court system, a “conviction” for a traffic infraction can have a negative effect on a person’s driving privileges and insurance rates. If you have an attorney accompany you to traffic court, you can often get your charge, and the resulting fine and consequences, reduced.

Even good, safety-focused drivers can be charged with a traffic violation. If you have been charged with breaking a traffic law and would like to learn more about your rights to “fight” the ticket, the best place to start is to speak with an attorney in your area who is experienced with traffic violation legal services. A traffic ticket attorney will evaluate all aspects of your case and explain all options available to you, including the administrative procedure and driving record penalties you can expect — and will work with you to ensure the best possible outcome for your case.

Related Posts
Reason to buy investment property under a real estate trust
If you want to be one of those who were wise to disguise their names as owners to their real estate investment, you can consider doing it so with a ...
READ MORE
Bankruptcy filling without an attorney
Within the 2005 legal guidelines, customers have to choose credit score guidance before submitting a new individual bankruptcy request. Consumers are also subjected to an easy method check, to determine ...
READ MORE
What is a mortgage?
A mortgage is an accepted legal recourse wherein a person makes his personal (movable) or real (immovable) property as a security to a loan so that, if the person who ...
READ MORE
Important part in your dui case
You might not agree with the results of the police report for your DUI case the first time you see it. The report contains the results of the field sobriety ...
READ MORE
How copyright work
The term copyright is not a novel term. However still here are many who have no idea about how copyright work? If you are one of those who are in ...
READ MORE
Help with divorce cost
Divorce is anyway not a very pleasant experience. And when you consider the emotional, physical and financial trauma two of them undergo, it is really tedious to deal with it. ...
READ MORE
House Buyers: What should a property attorney do for you
The exercise place of residence and residence law deals with a variety of relevant problems, including the following: privileges and interests in residence and actual property; sales, buys and other exchanges of ...
READ MORE
The Consequences of Getting a Ticket
It is the penalties and the fines that irk people so much every time they get pulled over for traffic ticket. The citation can greatly affect the driving privileges and ...
READ MORE
Driving license suspended? how to preventions
Driving privileges can be revoked for reasonable violations. These violations may pertain to driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated that leads to disobedience to simple or complex road ...
READ MORE
Law and order
Law and order are the two most important aspects for a nation to grow.There are different types of laws.Federal laws apply to everyone whereas State and Local laws apply to people ...
READ MORE
Reason to buy investment property under a real
Bankruptcy filling without an attorney
What is a mortgage?
Important part in your dui case
How copyright work
Help with divorce cost
House Buyers: What should a property attorney do
The consequences of getting traffic ticket
Driving license suspended? how to preventions
Law and order