When you get pulled over and issued a traffic ticket, your first instinct might be to plead guilty and pay the fine. You might not realize that you could endanger your driver’s license or insurance coverage. You could even inadvertently end up with a criminal record.

Consult a Norwich traffic lawyer about the best course of action in your case. The legal team at Ruane Attorneys could review the alleged violation and explain the consequences of a guilty plea. If you choose to contest the ticket, we could assemble compelling evidence to help you resolve the matter with minimal repercussions.

Common Moving Violations in Norwich

Sometimes, people feel their cases are too minor to require legal advice. In other cases, such as DUIs or accident cases, defendants might wonder whether they need criminal representation. Our local traffic attorneys handle many types of cases, including:

• Speeding
• Reckless driving
• Driving on a suspended license
• Texting while driving
• Failing to stop for a school bus
• Following too close
• Driving without insurance
• Driving an unregistered vehicle

Depending on the circumstances, an attorney could appear in Norwich court on your behalf. However, some charges require you to be present. Your attorney will explain whether you are required to attend court in your case.

Consequences of Traffic Offenses

When an officer issues a ticket, they rarely explain the consequences of a guilty plea. Paying the fine for many moving violations can result in points on a driver’s license. For example, speeding or failing to signal carries one point, disobeying an officer or going through a stop light carries two points, and driving while impaired or passing a stopped school bus equals three points on a driver’s license. More severe offenses could carry four or five points.

Points are removed from a license after two years. If a driver accumulates six points, they must take a driver education course. A driver with 10 points could receive a 30-day license suspension. When the driver’s car insurance renews, premiums may rise if the driver has a new conviction on their record.

Pleading not guilty and letting a Norwich traffic ticket attorney handle the case is often a more cost-effective option. Depending on the violation, our legal team could gather evidence that casts doubt on the police officer’s proof of the traffic violation.

Taking a Ticket to Traffic Court

Prosecutors in traffic court are under pressure to resolve cases quickly. They are incentivized to dismiss tickets or accept pleas to a less serious infraction when a driver contests a ticket. An attorney challenging a case must understand how to make their case concisely.

Depending on the reason for the ticket, a Norwich traffic lawyer could present evidence demonstrating that the allegation is false, the evidence of the infraction is unreliable, or the issue has been corrected. For example, an attorney might assert that a radar gun was calibrated incorrectly or present evidence that a driver has purchased insurance. Having legal counsel in court could make a big difference in the outcome of a traffic case.

Contest a Traffic Ticket with a Norwich Attorney

You may think that fighting a ticket is not worth the effort or expense, but this is untrue in many cases. Hiring a Norwich traffic lawyer could save you hundreds of dollars and spare you significant inconvenience.

Pleading guilty could lead to fines, penalties, and increased insurance premiums. It could also result in license suspension, affecting your daily life and career. Avoid those consequences by calling Ruane Attorneys today and setting up a consultation.