Why It’s Important to Hire an Atlanta Traffic Lawyer Before Paying a Traffic Ticket

While the initial gut reaction is often to simply pay a traffic ticket, doing so will result in pleading guilty and points on your Georgia driving record which could trigger higher insurance rates. A skilled Atlanta traffic attorney can help you fight the case and possibly get the charges dismissed or reduced.

Appeals

A person may appeal the decision of their case by filing a request with the Court of Appeals. Typically, an individual will do this for any conviction that comes from Municipal (city) or State Court.

A well-trained Atlanta Traffic Lawyer is going to know how to work with prosecutors to get the charges lowered or possibly dropped. This is important because accumulating too many points on your driving record will result in a driver’s license suspension.

For instance, Commercial Driver’s License holders will face serious repercussions for any traffic violation. It is important to call a traffic attorney as soon as possible so they can review your ticket and determine the best way to proceed.

Failure to Appear

When a driver is cited for a traffic violation, they are required to appear at a court hearing. Failing to do so could result in a bench warrant being issued with their name on it. This would allow police to pick them up at any time, whether they are at home, work or social event.

Failing to show up for a court date can also cause your driver’s license to be suspended. Since a single ticket for most Georgia traffic offenses can cause a 6 month license suspension, an Atlanta Traffic Lawyer could help you get your case resolved to avoid this consequence.

If you have missed your court date, it is important to act quickly. There is a window of 30 days that you can request a new hearing after hiring an Atlanta Traffic Attorney. They may be able to negotiate with the solicitor to have your case dismissed or resolved in a different manner than you would have gotten without legal representation.

Misdemeanors

Most traffic violations are misdemeanor offenses in the State of Georgia. In Atlanta, these cases are handled by the City Court. As such, they are often treated less seriously than crimes committed in other counties and municipalities. This is why it is especially important to hire an Atlanta traffic lawyer with experience in this area of law.

It is never a good idea to just pay the fine on your ticket. Doing so can be considered a guilty plea and may result in points being assessed on your driving record by the Department of Driver Services, which will then be reported to any other states you drive in. This could cause your car insurance rates to spike for years.

Having an Atlanta Traffic Lawyer who is well-versed in the intricacies of these matters can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. It can help you avoid having to miss work, care for your family, or handle other responsibilities while the case is ongoing.

Felonies

At some point, almost everyone gets a traffic ticket. But, not all traffic offenses are the same and some of them have serious consequences for drivers, such as license suspensions and increased insurance premiums. For these reasons, it’s important to talk with an Atlanta Traffic Lawyer before simply paying a traffic ticket.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, you might be able to avoid points on your license by pleading nolo contendere. However, this plea does not keep your driver’s record clean and a conviction will still show up on the Department of Driver Services record in Georgia and may report back to your home state.

Most cases that originate in the city of Atlanta will be heard in the municipal court, but a request for a jury trial could move the case to Fulton County or DeKalb State Court. In either case, an experienced Atlanta traffic attorney will know how to approach these issues and work to get the charges lowered or dropped.