The streets of Long Island are teeming with traffic, and it’s not uncommon for drivers to get pulled over and ticketed for various violations. Whether the violation is minor pulled over with a busted tail light or not having your insurance paperwork on you or serious speeding or driving while intoxicated, it can impact your finances and cause significant disruptions in your life. When the consequences are so severe, it’s often worth the cost to hire a traffic lawyer to help you dispute your ticket.
In most states, traffic tickets are classified as civil rather than criminal cases. However, this doesn’t mean that the state is trying to “go easy on you.” Instead, it means that they must prove their case by a much lower standard of evidence than would be required in a criminal trial. This can significantly impact your chances of beating a traffic ticket in court.
It’s important to keep in mind that when you pay a traffic fine, you are essentially pleading guilty to the offense. This can have negative effects on your record, including a steep increase in insurance rates and the possibility of license suspension. It can also jeopardize your job security, especially if you are a professional driver or have employer-sponsored insurance.
Most minor Legal assistance for traffic violations in Brooklyn, such as speeding or running a red light, will not result in jail time and can be handled through an online court process. However, more serious offenses such as reckless driving or driving with a suspended/revoked license are considered misdemeanor crimes. In some cases, they may even carry the potential for jail time and the possibility of losing your job as a result of a conviction.
While it is possible to fight a traffic ticket without an attorney, hiring an experienced one can help you avoid expensive penalties and save money in the long run. A skilled traffic attorney can use their knowledge of New York traffic laws and Nassau County regulations to fight your case in court, potentially getting your charges dismissed or reduced.
Some of the key reasons to consider hiring a traffic violation lawyer include:
Dispute the Police Officer’s Personal Opinion
Since many traffic violation cases involve an element of interpretation, an attorney can be helpful in disputing an officer’s judgment. They can review radar readings, witness statements, or other recorded observations to expose any inconsistencies and weaknesses in the police’s case against you.
Fight or Pay the Ticket
While it’s tempting to just pay the traffic fine and move on, doing so can have a significant impact on your record. Besides the financial penalties, it can lead to increased insurance rates and could threaten your employment or your life if you’re a professional driver or have insurance through your employer.
It’s usually best to hire a traffic attorney for more serious violations, where the costs of paying the fine and the risk of higher insurance premiums are much higher than the cost of an attorney. In some cases, the cost of an attorney will be covered by legal plans that cover the expense or by your employer’s insurer.