When you receive a traffic ticket, it’s tempting to pay it and get on with your life. That’s the simplest option. The alternative is to go to court and fight the charges without any guarantee that doing so will have a positive outcome. That means throwing more time and money down the drain, right?
Not necessarily.
If you pay a ticket, you surrender to its negative consequences. Once you pay the fine, there’s nothing you can do to protect your driving record. By contrast, if you hire a seasoned traffic defense lawyer to defend you, you stand a fair chance of getting the charges dismissed or reduced.
With that in mind, let’s explore what happens when you decide not to fight a ticket, and instead just pay the accompanying fine.
You Admit Guilt (Even If You’re Not Guilty)
Paying a ticket is the same as telling a judge you’re guilty. It doesn’t matter whether you actually violated the law. By paying the fine, you’re admitting that you did so.
Your Driving Record Suffers A Blow
Each conviction for a traffic violation adds points to your record. These points are a black mark. They should be avoided at all costs. Not only do they stick around for years, but the more you accumulate, the worse the consequences.
Your Car Insurance Rates Climb
Expect your premiums to increase by as much as 15% if you receive a basic speeding ticket. If you’re caught driving more than 15 mph above the posted limit, expect an even larger increase.
It gets worse. According to analysis by Insurance.com, a conviction for reckless driving can bump your rates by 22%.
Every auto insurer is different of course. Yours may be more forgiving than others. But why take the chance? If you’re pulled over and cited by a police officer, the first thing you should do is call a traffic defense attorney. A seasoned attorney can help you successfully fight a speeding ticket, challenge a DUI charge, or defend against a reckless driving citation.
Your License May Be Suspended
Your driver’s license can be suspended if too many points accrue on your record. That means you’ll lose your driving privilege. Such a predicament can have a serious impact on your lifestyle and livelihood.
How many points can you accrue before you become at risk of having your license taken from you? If you receive 12 points within 12 months, your license can be suspended for 30 days. If you receive 18 points within 18 months, the suspension can last for three months. If you accrue 24 points within 24 months, your license may be suspended for an entire year.
Never pay a traffic ticket without first speaking to the traffic defense attorneys at Skubiak & Rivas. We’re ready to aggressively defend you against whatever charges you’re facing. Contact us today by completing the form on this page or calling us at 407-894-4449. Let the experienced traffic defense counsel at Skubiak & Rivas help you keep your driving record clean.
