Lafayette County is located in the Florida Panhandle. With a population of just about 9,000 residents, the county is more rural. The major county seat is Mayo. Other cities and towns include Airline, Alton, Cook’s Hammock, Day, Hatch Bend, and Midway. The county is a dry county and has been since the Prohibition. The county is known for its fairs and festivals and rural activities that transpire year round.
The county’s law enforcement agencies ensure the protection and safety of its residents. Mayo Police Department, Mayo County Sheriff’s Department, and Florida Highway Patrol all share in finding and citing traffic violators. These law enforcement agencies write two types of citations: criminal and civil. Criminal citations require a hearing. At these hearings, you, your Lafayette County Traffic Attorney, any witnesses, the citation issuing or arresting officer, and the judge or magistrate presiding over your case. The judge will hear your case and any defenses you may have and determine which plan is best for you. You may be required to take a treatment program. Your treatment program can include substance abuse treatment, community service, in-house rehabilitation, probation, etc. They can also determine that you may need to attend a Driver Improvement course to sharpen your skills before releasing you back on to the roads.
A civil citation can be handled with three different options. The first option is pay the fine or fee and accept the points on your record. The second option is to attend a driver improvement course as aforementioned and pay the fine or fee. This option will keep the points off of your license. There are some limitations as to how many times you can take the course: one time in twelve months and five times total in your lifetime. The Driver Improvement Course is four (4) hours long in length. It is available in the form of a DVD/video, in person in a classroom setting, and online. You must tell the Clerk of the Court that you wish to take the course within thirty (30) days of getting the citation. The Clerk of the Court can be reached at the courthouse (which is where any and all hearings are heard) at 120 West Main Street, Mayo, Florida. You must then take the course within sixty (60) days. Upon completion, you should submit your Certificate of Completion to the Clerk as soon as possible so as to avoid any further fines or fees or license suspension. If you have taken the course already the prescribed number of times, you may need to either keep the points on your license or contest the ticket. Contesting the ticket is the third option. This option will require you to have a hearing. At the hearing, you, your Mayo Speeding Ticket Lawyer, any witnesses, the citation issuing officer, and a judge or magistrate will be present. At the hearing you will be able to present any defenses available to you. Your Lafayette County Traffic Attorney will be able to determine which defenses are pertinent and applicable to your case. They can also outline all details and procedures you may go through.
Points on your license can cause two separate detrimental events: a higher insurance premium and a license suspension. A higher insurance premium can result if your insurance company in its sole discretion determines that you are a “high risk” driver. Once they have deemed you as such, you may be required to carry an SR-22 insurance policy. This policy costs up to four (4) times as much as regular insurance premiums. Furthermore, if you accrue points rapidly, your license may be suspended. If you accrue twelve (12) points in one year, your license may be suspended for one month. If you have eighteen (18) points that have accrued in one year and a half, your license may be suspended for three months. Finally, if you have twenty-four (24) points in three (3) years, your license may be suspended for an entire year. Any additional points/violations, will result in a three (3) month suspension added to any existing suspension you already have.
Points accrue according to the following scheduling:
| POINTS | VIOLATIONS |
|---|---|
| 0 | Non-moving violations |
| 3 | Unlawful Speed 15 miles per hour or less over the speed limit, child restraint violation, littering |
| 4 | Unlawful Speed 16 miles per hour or more over the speed limit, passing a stopped school bus |
| 6 | Leaving the scene of an accident (<$50 damage) or collision resulting from unlawful speed |
A Lafayette County Traffic Lawyer can assist you if you find yourself with a traffic citation. They can assist you in determining your rights, a plan to assist you, counsel you through the issues in your case, and attend hearings for you. They can determine if any defenses are applicable to your case and may be used in an effort to have your citation dismissed or your penalties reduced. There are deadlines in traffic citation issues, so it is best to contact a Lafayette County Speeding Ticket Attorney as soon as possible to ensure that they meet all necessary deadlines and you do not forfeit any of your rights. They will make sure that you have your concerns met and all your questions area addressed. Contact your local Mayo Traffic Lawyer today so that your rights are protected and to ensure all deadlines are met properly.
