Why should I hire a traffic lawyer to handle my traffic ticket?
Oftentimes someone gets a traffic ticket and they think it is easier to just go to the court and pay the ticket instead of going through the process of hiring a traffic lawyer. In this blog we will talk about the consequences of doing that and what the best options would be for most situations.
Consequences of paying for a speeding ticket
Paying a traffic ticket, the way it is given by the officer is an admission of guilt. By paying the traffic ticket, you are admitting guilt to whatever the officer alleged on that citation. The problem is, people often don’t understand that there are some potentially serious consequences that come with certain traffic infractions. Here are just a few examples:
- If your citation says that you were going 80 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone, paying that traffic ticket outright is an admission of going 25 miles of the speed limit. In North Carolina, your license will be suspended for that.
- If your citation is for a moving violation, most of those will result in insurance points and those insurance points will lead to an insurance rate increase for your automobile insurance for the next three years. You may think you are just going to pay the $200 ticket instead of paying an attorney and still having to pay a fine, but in the long run you spend a lot more money on insurance premiums.
- Some traffic citations are not just infractions but are in fact misdemeanor charges as well, so showing up to court without consulting with an attorney first and admitting guilt to these charges can result in a criminal record.
Benefits of hiring a traffic lawyer
One of the drawbacks of dealing with a traffic ticket yourself is the hassle that is involved. You would typically have to drive down to the courthouse, park, go through security, stand in line in a courtroom, and wait your turn before you finally get your matter resolved. Another problem with handling things yourself is not knowing the consequences to what you are doing, or not knowing what other options you have.
With most North Carolina traffic citations, if you have any attorney he or she can make that appearance for you so you and save you not only a trip, but also a lot of inconvenience. A traffic lawyer can also give you information regarding consequences regarding driver’s license points, insurance points, and any other consequences.
Though you always have the options of handling things yourself, a North Carolina Traffic lawyer can a do a lot more for you than you realize and can be worth a lot more than you realize. If you received a traffic citation in Mecklenburg County or the surrounding areas, contact us.