Frequently Asked Questions

While it may appear that your options are straightforward—either pay the ticket or contest it in court—there are often nuances individuals facing traffic tickets are unaware of. When you choose to pay the ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the offense, which can have more consequences than just a fine. The ticket may become a permanent part of your driving record, which could affect your insurance premiums and result in increased fines for future traffic violations.

Hiring an attorney to help you fight your traffic ticket can be beneficial in several ways. Having a good traffic attorney on your side increases your chances of getting the case dismissed or reduced to a non-moving violation. Having multiple recent traffic offenses or a job that relies on your driver’s license, where a conviction could lead to its suspension or job loss, are also strong reasons to consider hiring a traffic attorney. When discussing your case with an attorney, you should expect them to provide several answers to this question.

Once an officer issues a ticket, it creates a record that cannot be erased. However, your ticket can be dismissed. Dismissal means that although the record of the citation remains, it cannot be used against you in court or by insurance companies. This outcome can save you from potential consequences.

No, once you retain our office for a traffic ticket, our attorneys can handle all aspects on your behalf unless your testimony will be needed. Our office will respond to the ticket, appear in court, and make arguments without requiring your presence unless I believe your presence is necessary. The court will send you a summons to appear when our office request the hearing on your behalf, but our office will also receive a copy of that summons and our attorneys are authorized to represent you in court.

Moving Violations, such as speeding, negligent driving, unsafe lane changes, failure to stop/yield, and defective equipment (among others), are considered more serious under state law. They count toward a maximum limit before your driving privilege is suspended, and insurance companies use them to calculate premiums.

Non-Moving Violations, like no-seatbelt violations, expired tabs, and missing front license plates (among others), generally do not count toward a maximum limit before suspension, except for drivers under 18 on conditional licenses. Insurance companies typically do not factor non-moving violations into premium calculations.

Traffic accidents are reported to the Department of Licensing, regardless of whether you received a ticket. Insurance companies will learn about the accident, potentially affecting your rates, regardless of the ticket outcome. Dismissing a ticket does not determine fault in an accident; that decision is made separately in a civil lawsuit or damages dispute.

Upon receiving a ticket, the officer should direct you to your options, often detailed on the back of the ticket. Options typically include paying the ticket (an admission of the violation), requesting a mitigation hearing (also an admission of the violation), or requesting a contested hearing (challenging the ticket).

One option not explicitly explained is Deferred Adjudication, as it is at each court’s discretion to offer. Most courts do provide this option, allowing you to defer the finding on the ticket for a specified period if you meet certain conditions. While this option may require an administrative fee similar to the ticket cost, it provides a chance for dismissal if you avoid additional tickets during the specified period. You can use this option only once every seven years, and violating the conditions results in automatic fines and a recorded conviction.

Commercial drivers are ineligible for deferred adjudication.