Bridgeport Traffic Lawyer
Just about everyone has been pulled over and ticketed for a minor traffic offense. While, it is very common to simply want to pay the ticket and move on with your life, versus going to court and contesting the charge, it is important to understand that paying a traffic ticket legally constitutes a guilty plea to the ticketed offense. If you are found guilty of enough traffic offenses in succession, you may find yourself facing much harsher penalties than just fines. You may be subject to license suspensions and an increase in your insurance rates.
For those reasons, among many others, you should be proactive about protecting your rights after a traffic stop, and seek help from a defense attorney who will formally contest your ticket in court. If you want to explore your options and make the best decision for your future, you should contact a Bridgeport traffic lawyer sooner rather than later.
How to Fight a Traffic Ticket
Every traffic ticket should have information printed on it about how to inform the court that you intend to plead not guilty to the offense you were ticketed for, as well as an answer date, which serves as a deadline for submitting your plea. It is also possible to submit a not guilty plea to a traffic ticket by calling the Centralization Infractions Bureau (“CIB”) during regular weekday business hours at (860) 263-2750 or by using the CIB’s website.
Usually, pleading not guilty to a traffic offense in any of these ways will result in the court scheduling you for a hearing to contest the ticket. The court will likely send you a notification of a date, time, and location of the hearing and order you to appear for an in-person hearing. During your hearing you will have the opportunity to present evidence and testimony to contest the claim(s) made by the officer who ticketed you. In some situations, though, you may be able to resolve a ticket entirely online through the state’s ticket review program, as a Bridgeport traffic attorney can further explain during a private initial meeting.
When Is Contesting a Traffic Offense Worth the Effort?
It is worth mentioning that unsuccessfully contesting a traffic ticket can sometimes lead to a court imposing harsher punishments against you than what you would have faced had you just paid the initially assessed fine. On the other hand, failing to contest multiple traffic offenses within a three-year period could lead to enhanced penalties, thanks to the points system instituted by the state Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”).
The DMV levies anywhere from 1 point to 5 points upon conviction for a motor vehicle violation. These points remain on your license for a period of 24 months.
If you accumulate six or more points in a twenty-four-month period, the DMV will issue a warning letter indicating that once you hit 10 points, your license will be suspended. If you do hit that 10 or more-point mark, your license will be suspended initially for a period of 30 days.
After that suspension, your record is not wiped clean. All points remain for twenty-four months, so if you receive any additional violations and have points assessed to your license, your license will be suspended until your total accumulated points drops below 10.
Contact a Bridgeport Traffic Attorney for Assistance
Even one traffic conviction can have a serious impact on your financial security, and repeat offenses can severely limit your personal freedom as well. Understanding and effectively enforcing your rights after a traffic stop can be vital to minimizing both types of harm from a traffic ticket, especially if you already have one or more convictions on your record.
You have support available from beginning to end of your legal proceedings from a seasoned Bridgeport traffic lawyer. Call today to learn what Mark Sherman Law could do for you, and check out our Avvo.com profile to see what satisfied past clients have said about working with us.