You’re driving along enjoying the summer weather when suddenly you get a traffic ticket for crossing the street while drunk. You realize that you’ve been cited with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) and are now facing possible jail time or hefty fines. What should you do? You don’t want to pay your fines, and you certainly don’t want to risk your driver’s license. Suppose this sounds like the situation you find yourself in. In that case, you should contact a Florida traffic lawyer who can help you navigate the legal system and find the right combination of solutions to getting out from under the financial burden of your OWI citation.
Many people think that WilliamsLegal Traffic Lawyers Adelaide deal only with traffic citations, which could not be further from the truth. Traffic lawyers represent people who have been hit by vehicles due to negligent behaviour on the part of someone else. While some people think that traffic lawyers deal only with traffic violations, the reality is that the law covers a wide spectrum of circumstances. It is also the responsibility of a qualified Florida traffic lawyer to be knowledgeable in all aspects of the law.
For example, did you know that WilliamsLegal Traffic Lawyers Adelaide can help you get your driver’s license immediately suspended after being charged with a misdemeanour? Many times, people arrested for DUI do not immediately have their licenses suspended, and instead, their licenses are taken away for some time until the hearing is over. If you’ve been given a DUI arrest warrant, your driver’s license may even be suspended for up to a full month! It can be extremely detrimental to your immediate well-being while you’re waiting to go to court to have the charges dismissed.
In addition to a suspension of your driver’s license, traffic lawyers can help you receive the funds you need to pay your fines as well as any court costs that may result from your offence. Even if the charge against you is a misdemeanour, some districts will automatically renew your citation with an added fine as part of your original sentence. Others, however, will charge additional fines for failure to appear at court as required by your traffic court date. A common non-moving violation that can cause points to be racked up is a second violation within three years of a prior moving violation. Suppose you’ve already had your initial violation for moving violations. In that case, your lawyer can help you challenge your case in traffic court and possibly reduce the penalties or dismiss the entire charge.
Some counties will allow you to “prove” that you were not driving while intoxicated by showing a breath or urine test, for example. Unfortunately, this type of test is not recognized in every state. Some jurisdictions will not let you present this evidence in traffic court, claiming that it doesn’t prove that you were not driving when the violation occurred. (Even in jurisdictions that recognize a Breathalyzer test, there may still be strict requirements for showing evidence of alcohol in blood or urine.) In such cases, a Florida traffic lawyer can file a motion challenging this evidence and, if it is allowed, can have the evidence thrown out. As with other types of criminal charges, a motion to suppress can be helpful.
Another way that reckless driving can get you in trouble is by raising your insurance rates. As a driver, it is common for insurance rates to go up when involved in an accident, even if you are not charged with a violation. However, by operating a vehicle without adequate insurance coverage, you can increase your risk of having to pay excessive amounts for coverage later. That’s why it’s important to hire a qualified and experienced professional who can help you understand your insurance policy and review what you currently have. A skilled Florida traffic lawyer can also assist you with making sure your insurance rates aren’t affected due to mistakes or omissions in the documentation you may need to provide to your insurance provider.
Even if you have no prior criminal record, you may still find yourself in trouble with traffic tickets. For example, you can receive a traffic ticket for failure to yield to a stop sign, obey a traffic signal, obey a posted speed limit, or abide by a posted condition. When these charges are issued, they will often appear on your driving record, which can remain for up to two years. Hiring qualified lawyers can help you fight these infractions in court and reduce the impact they have on your driving record. If you already have traffic tickets on your record, lawyers can help you work out a reasonable solution to your problem.
Speeding laws vary depending on where you live. In non-moving violation cases, traffic lawyers can advise their clients about their rights and legal options to fight speeding tickets in court. If you’re convicted of a non-moving violation, a traffic ticket can be dismissed if you hire an attorney who can help you fight the charges.