Defending Against Traffic Citations

If you are like most drivers, you have probably received at least one traffic citation in your driving history, likely in the form of a speeding ticket. Once cited, you can try to decrease your penalty by doing things such as attending traffic school, paying a fine, or possibly just fighting the ticket in court.

But, what you need to know is this—the rules of the road differ from state to state. A single citation in the state of Georgia is usually more costly than the same from other states. Georgia’s citation fines are actually some of the highest in the nation, not to mention the long-term penalties that may come with them. There are plenty of things you need to know about traffic citations before you decide to dispute one in court. We will briefly discuss just a few here.

Citations can eat at your pockets, especially after fees and surcharges are tacked onto them. They can be up to a few hundred dollars, depending on the severity of the violation. Then, there are the non-monetary penalties such as license suspensions and revocations that could come with them. To make things even better, citations have the potential to increase your insurance premiums which is even more costly in the long run. So, it pays to slow down on the roads and be attentive to try to avoid citations altogether.

When you receive a citation in Georgia, one penalty you will face is the state’s point system. Points are added to your driver’s license if you are found guilty of a traffic violation. More points equals more problems. You should also know that collecting more than 14 points on your license within a 24-month period will cause your license to be suspended. Think about this—a single citation can land you up to 6 points on your license with each additional citation landing even more points. So, if you have received multiple citations within a 2-year period of time, it is best to seek legal advice on where you stand Be sure to reach out to an attorney for assistance if you are faced with such a penalty.

If your citation is more than a minor violation, or you decide to dispute your citation, you will likely be facing a judge to state your case. If your citation makes it to the courtroom, there are three plea options available for you in Georgia:

1. Guilty;
2. No contest; or
3. Not guilty

Each plea option comes with its own pros and cons. In order to maximize your odds of a positive outcome, you should contact a lawyer to assist you throughout the process. Even if your case does not have the potential to be dismissed entirely, many attorneys are still able to negotiate lower penalties on your behalf and can sometimes prevent a court appearance altogether. Just remember, your lawyer will need to know everything about your case in order to get you the best result. That means pictures, videos, and any other evidence can really come in handy.

If you or someone you know need legal assistance with a traffic citation, contact an attorney immediately to get the best results.

For helpful information from the Georgia Department of Driver Services, visit https://dds.georgia.gov/organization/about-us/contact-us.