Atlanta Traffic Lawyer

When you get a traffic ticket, you are being charged with a crime. Every moving violation is a misdemeanor, and while they are usually lower-level misdemeanors with only financial consequences, they are still crimes. Paying a ticket may seem like the easiest way, but it can result in unforeseen consequences. 

Paying a ticket is the equivalent of a guilty plea to those charges. Enough tickets can cost you your license, and even a single ticket has a damaging impact. This can increase your car insurance rates, impact your employability at some jobs, and leave you vulnerable to civil suits if there was an accident. An Atlanta traffic lawyer could help you understand all the potential consequences of paying a ticket and help you plan the best defense strategy. Call today to consult with one of our hard-working criminal defense attorneys about your case.

Traffic Offenses are Misdemeanors

In many states, many moving violations are not crimes, but a separate category of offense. However, this state classifies all traffic tickets as crimes. In addition to impacting someone’s insurance rates and driving record, tickets go on a person’s criminal record. 

Most traffic offenses are misdemeanors. They include speeding, illegal U-turns, tailgating, improper lane changes, running a red light or stop sign, and failure to yield. They reflect everyday traffic offenses, which even the most cautious driver may occasionally commit. 

However, some offenses are felonies, like fourth-offense DUIs, fourth-offense driving without a license, and a school bus driver committing a DUI while operating the bus. Although this specific scenario will not apply to most drivers, even misdemeanor traffic offenses can be a predicate offense, allowing a related felony charge. Those charges may be vehicular homicide, vehicular feticide, or severe injury by a vehicle. 

In other words, if the misdemeanor offense results in an accident that causes severe injury or death, it may support a felony charge. While it is always important to consult an Atlanta attorney about any traffic ticket, it becomes essential if the ticket is tied to an injury. Not only could it impact insurance settlements and liability findings, but it could also serve as a stepping stone to felony charges. 

Potential Penalties for Traffic Offenses

A misdemeanor offense can carry a fine of up to $1,000 and a sentence of up to 12 months in jail. It is unusual for an offender to get jail time. When someone gets more than a fine, the court usually orders community service or probation. However, the specific charge and the circumstances impact someone’s potential sentence. The more reckless the alleged behavior, the greater the risk of potential jail time. 

Tickets also lead to points on a person’s driver’s license. If you get 15 points on your license in 24 months, the state can suspend your license. Insurance companies will probably increase your premiums well before that time. 

If the traffic offense is a felony or supports a felony offense, you could pay a more significant fine and face a one-year sentence or more in prison. The exact punishment depends on the specific crimes charged. Even if prison time is unlikely, a felony conviction can impact someone’s employment opportunities and any civil court decisions that go beyond traffic accidents, like custody disputes. 

Talk to an Atlanta Attorney About Traffic Offenses

When you are charged with a traffic offense, you need all available information before you make a decision. An attorney could help you understand all of the potential consequences of the charges against you. We could also discuss your various options, which may include paying the ticket, pleading not guilty and going to trial, or exploring plea deal options. Schedule a consultation with an Atlanta traffic lawyer to learn more.