Wilton Traffic Lawyer
If you receive a ticket in Wilton, Connecticut, enlisting the help of a Wilton traffic lawyer can help to keep your record clean. Reach out to a top criminal defense attorney today.
What Are Some Common Traffic Charges?
Charges for speeding, driving with a revoked or suspended license, reckless driving, and driving without a current vehicle registration are common types of traffic tickets. A Wilton attorney can also help individuals facing traffic charges for:
- Reckless driving
- Driving influenced by alcohol or drugs
- Disobeying stop sign
- Driving through a red light
- Turning from the wrong lane
- Driving the wrong direction down a one-way road
- Texting or talking on the phone while driving
- Improper turns
- Driving without insurance
While certain violations such as speeding would be punishable by fines and possibly license points, certain traffic crimes are subject to additional and stricter sentencing guidelines. These grave traffic offenses include fleeing the scene of an accident, eluding police, vehicular manslaughter, and street racing.
Can I Drive Without Insurance in Wilton?
Driving without insurance is a common traffic charge (C.G.S. §14-213b). All registered vehicle owners in Connecticut must have insurance. When you operate your vehicle without the mandatory minimum coverage required by state law, you can be punished by up to $1,000 in fines, 12 month’s confinement in prison, and license points on your record. Repeat offenses could incur higher penalties.
How Is Vehicular Manslaughter Sentenced?
One of the most severe traffic charges is vehicular manslaughter (C.G.S. §53a-56b). If the driver willfully harms someone with their vehicle and the person dies, they would face much harsher penalties than if they behaved carelessly and mistakenly injured and killed the person. Second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle is a Class C felony punishable by up to ten years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
How Is Fleeing the Scene of an Accident Punished?
When someone is involved in a crash, fleeing the scene could get them in big trouble. For a first offense, the punishment would be up to $1,000 in fines and/or 12 month’s incarceration, plus license points. Per Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 14-224, street racing is illegal. The penalties for street racing could include fines as high as $600 and/or require the individual to spend up to 12 months in prison.
What Impact Does a Felony or Misdemeanor Have on Sentencing?
The most significant factor in the sentencing guidelines the court will be required to follow is whether or not a charge is an infraction, misdemeanor, or felony. Infractions are punishable by a fine amount at most, while misdemeanors and felonies carry far weightier penalties, including high fines and jail time. Speeding is an example of an infraction.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a misdemeanor in Connecticut, but can be charged as a felony if the person commits two such violations in 10 years. A Wilton traffic attorney can explain whether a single charge is an infraction, misdemeanor, or felony and what that could mean for the accused.
Get in Touch with a Wilton Traffic Attorney for Legal Assistance
The consequences of a traffic violation should not be underestimated. Depending on the nature of your charge, you could face punishments time in jail, probation, and even a permanent criminal record. A Wilton traffic lawyer could help you build a powerful criminal defense and offer advice regarding your legal options.
Contact the office of Mark Sherman Law today for your case evaluation.