Gadsden County is located in the Florida panhandle. The county seat is Quincy, Florida. The population of the county is approximately 45,000 people. The county is considered part of the Tallahassee metropolis area. Chatahoochee, Greensboro, Havana, and Gretna are the other cities located in the county. Interstate 10, US 90 and US 27 cross the county. The local law enforcement agencies are Chatahoochee Police Department, Greensboro Police Department, Havana Police Department, Gretna Police Department, Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Highway Patrol. These agencies secure the local roads.
The law enforcement agencies can write two different kinds of citations, which are criminal and civil. Criminal citations do require a hearing. You must present yourself at the hearing. Should you not come to the hearing, your judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest. At the hearing, you, your Gadsden County Traffic Lawyer, the citation issuing or arresting officer, any witnesses, and the judge or magistrate presiding over your case. Criminal violations include: driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving without a license, reckless driving, among other violations. The penalties and programs for criminal citations include jail time, probation, fines and fees, drug and/or alcohol treatment programs, etc. The judge or magistrate determines what your sentence, treatment and/or your penalties are at the hearing.
Civil citations include careless driving, unlawful speed, failing to stop or yield at a traffic signal, failure to show proof of insurance, among other violations. These citations are addressed in one of three options. These options include: 1) pay the fine or fee and accept the points on your license, 2) take a Driver Improvement Course and pay the fine or fee, or 3) contest the ticket by attending a hearing. The second option will require you take a Driver Improvement course. These courses are usually about four (4) hours in length. They are available in three (3) formats: online, in person, or on DVD. The course need to be court approved to ensure that they meet and educate you about the proper traffic laws and regulations. You may only take the course one (1) time in twelve (12) months and five (5) times in one year. If you attend a hearing to contest your ticket, you may not have no points assessed and/or no fees or fines to pay. At the hearing, you, your Quincy Speeding Ticket lawyer should you choose to hire one, any witnesses, the citation issuing officer, and your judge or magistrate presiding over your case will be present. You or your Gadsden County Traffic Attorney can present your case including your side of the facts, any and all defenses, and the plea you wish to enter regarding the ticket. The hearing along with any and all communication with the Clerk is at the courthouse, which is located at: 1 East Jefferson Street, Quincy, Florida. The clerk can assist you in getting a hearing set, permitting you to elect to take Driver Improvement Course, and answer your questions about procedural issues.
Points can be kept off of your license by taking the Driver Improvement course or fighting the ticket in court. When points accrue, your license may be suspended and/or you may be facing higher insurance premiums. Should your insurance company deem you to be a “high risk” driver, you will be required to secure and carry an SR-22 insurance policy. These policies can be up to four (4) times as expensive as a safe driver. When points accrue at a rate of twelve (12) points in a year, your license may be suspended for one (1) month. If they accrue at the rate of eighteen (18) points in eighteen (18) months, your license may be suspended for three (3) months. If they accrue at a rate of twenty-four (24) points in three (3) years, your license may be suspended for one (1) year. Any additional violations will result in the addition of three (3) months added to the existing suspension. The points accrue as a result of the following schedule:
0………………………..Non moving violations
3………………………..Speeding (15 miles per hour or less over the speed limit), littering, child restraint violations
4………………………..Speeding (16 miles per hour or more over the speed limit), passing a stopped school bus, reckless driving
6………………………Leaving the scene of the accident (<$50 damage) or speeding resulting in a collision
Gadsden County Traffic lawyers may assist you in understanding your rights, educating you about your defenses, and determining the best plan of action for your case. A Quincy Speeding Ticket attorney will help you most effectively the sooner they hear about your ticket. They can give you pointers about your case and possible defenses. The multiple roadways in the county give rise to these violations so you should not feel alone if you are facing a citation. A Gadsden County Traffic attorney knows your plight and can assist you keeping your rights safe and protected today!
