Despite your best efforts to abide by the rules of the road, traffic violations can still happen. A momentary lapse in judgment or patience, or even inattention, could lead to flashing blue lights in your rearview mirror. Traffic tickets are a hassle that, in some cases, can result in significant consequences.
All drivers, especially young motorists, should take every traffic ticket seriously. There can be significant consequences associated with these citations. However, teenage or young adult drivers should also remember that, if accused of a serious traffic violation, they can turn to dedicated criminal defense representation to help protect their futures. Before you or a loved one pay your ticket or plead guilty to a traffic offense, consider discussing your legal options with a Woodstock traffic lawyer.
Many people think that they should just pay a first ticket. However, your first ticket is usually the easiest ticket to try to keep off your driver’s history. The benefits to this can include limiting the points on your license, potential insurance premium increases, and prosecutors looking for harsher penalties on future tickets. Under 21 drivers are at greater risk of license suspensions, due to the strict rules associated with convictions on those tickets.
State law outlines an array of traffic offenses that drivers commit regularly. These offenses can either be related to the specific actions a driver takes behind the wheel or they could involve compliance issues such as vehicle registrations or tags. In either situation, a Woodstock traffic attorney might be able to help.
One of the ways traffic offenses differ from other criminal charges is that they are “strict liability” offenses. There is no question of intent with most traffic offenses: Either a driver has taken an action that violates the law, or they have not. For example, it is unlawful to run a red light, regardless of the reasoning behind it. Some of the most common traffic violations seen on local roads include:
Because these are strict liability offenses, the state does not have to prove much to secure a conviction. While this leads many drivers to believe a conviction is inevitable, that is not the case. Many of these cases are negotiated by the use of aggressive mitigation tactics, especially with the help of a skilled legal representative.
It is important to understand that when juveniles—people 16 and younger— are ticketed during a traffic stop, they go through a different process than adults do. Just like with criminal charges, a juvenile court also handles traffic charges. When a juvenile court hears a traffic offense, it will classify the charge in one of two ways: as a juvenile traffic violation or as a delinquency case.
Juvenile traffic violations are considered less serious. Some common examples include speeding less than 24 miles over the speed limit, failing to obey a traffic signal, or texting while driving. On the other hand, delinquencies are more serious, the juvenile equivalent of a criminal charge. A delinquency case could have significant consequences, including, in some limited scenarios, the possibility of detention in a juvenile facility. Some serious traffic offenses that could subject a juvenile driver to delinquency charges include:
Any of these offenses could result in lasting consequences for a juvenile, including a suspension of their driver’s license. However, a hardworking attorney in Woodstock can assess the charges against a young driver, determine the best strategy for the situation, and help a defendant minimize the impact a traffic offense could have on their future.
If you or a loved one are charged with a traffic offense, you might wonder what effect this will have on your life. You might even be tempted to pay the fine, simply to avoid going to court. However, doing this could have significant repercussions on your ability to drive, insurance rates, and your future traffic issues.
Instead, consider taking your case to a Woodstock traffic lawyer. Our dedicated legal team can help you deal with a ticket, traffic arrest, or conviction in the most advantageous way possible. Call our office today to get started on your case.
Ghanouni Teen & Young Adult Defense Firm
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