Palm Beach County is located in the metropolitan Miami area on the east coast of Florida. The county is home to many popular Florida cities: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Greenacres, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Lake Park, Lake Worth, Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Riviera Beach, South Palm Beach, Tequesta, Wellington, among many other incorporated cities and towns. There are approximately 1.5 million people that inhabit the county.
Palm Beach County is a booming metropolis that must be well patrolled. West Palm Beach Police Department, Boca Raton Police Department, Delray Police Department, Boynton Beach Police Department, Palm Springs Police Department, Palm Beach Police Department, Riviera Beach Police Department, South Palm Beach Police Department, Tequesta Police Department, Wellington Police Department, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department, and Florida Highway Patrol are the law enforcement agencies that monitor the area. The law enforcement agencies that patrol the area may issue one of two types of citations: criminal and civil. Criminal citations are violations including the following: reckless driving, driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, among other violations. Criminal violations do require a hearing. At the hearing, you, your Palm Beach County traffic attorney should you choose to hire one, any witnesses, the citation issuing officer or arresting officer, and a judge or magistrate presiding over the case will be present. Criminal citations have steeper penalties than civil citations. These penalties can include jail time, probation, community service, fines or fees, court costs, etc. There is also the possibility of treatment programs being required for your case. The court may determine you are a candidate for a treatment facility or program, to which you must attend if ordered.
Civil citations can be remedied in one of three ways. The first of which is to pay the fine or fee and have the points assessed on your license. The second is to attend a driver improvement course. These courses are approximately four (4) hours in length. The courses are available online, in person in a classroom setting, or on DVD/video. If you elect to take the course, you must notify the clerk of the court within thirty (30) days of receiving your citation. The clerk of the court can be found at: 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida. Once you have satisfied that condition, you must complete the course within sixty (60) days, At the end of the course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. The Certificate of Completion must be filed with the clerk of the court. This will ensure that you do not incur any more fines or fees. There are limitations as to how many times you can take the course. If you have taken it in the last twelve (12) months, you may be ineligible to take the course. Also, if you have already taken it five (5) times you may not be able to take it again. This leaves us with two options: wither pay the citations as already stated OR contest the citation. If you choose to contest the citation, you may need the assistance of a Palm Beach Traffic Lawyer who can assist you in getting the best case scenario for your citation. You will need to notify the clerk of the court within 30 days of the citation of your desire to contest it. The clerk will then give you a hearing date. At the hearing, you, your Palm Beach Speeding Ticket Lawyer should you choose to hire one, any witnesses, the citation issuing officer, and a judge or magistrate presiding over your case will be present. You or your Palm Beach County attorney can present your defenses to the judge who will determine if they are pertinent to your case and plausible to use in your case. Then, they will issue a verdict. Bear in mind that after contesting the citation, if you are found guilty, the judge may impose additional fees and fines for court costs.
Points on your license can bring up two hardships: possible license suspension and higher insurance premiums. License suspension can result if you have accrued too many points in a short period of time. Your license can be suspended for one month if you accrue twelve (12) points in one year. Your license can be suspended for three months If you accrue eighteen (18) points in a year and a half. Your license can be suspended for an entire year, if you accrue twenty-four (24) points in thirty-six (36) months. Any additional violations can result in three months of suspension being added to any existing suspension. These suspensions can add up over time. In addition, your insurance company may determine that you are a high risk driver. If they determine that you are such, you may be required to pay for a more comprehensive policy called an SR-22 insurance policy. These policies are up to four (4) times as much as safe driver insurance.
If you find yourself with a Palm Beach County traffic citation, contact a Palm Beach Traffic lawyer to assist you. Your lawyer will determine a best plan for you, determine a likely outcome for you, and educate you about your rights and the process. Contact your Palm Beach County lawyer today!
