Depending on the circumstances of your traffic ticket, you may receive a mandatory court summons. A court hearing is usually reserved for drivers who are caught driving over 30 mph over the posted speed limit and other more serious violations such as driving over 50 mph over the speed limit or causing a serious accident as a result of speeding.
The good news is, according to traffic court rules, a qualified attorney from our law firm can appear in court on your behalf. This is especially useful for those who picked up a ticket when traveling outside of their home state.
You should never ignore a ticket, but before you do anything, you should consult with an experienced attorney who can advise you on how to proceed.
At The Ticket Lawyers in Florida, we understand how stressful the thought of attending a court hearing can be, but our team of traffic ticket lawyers can put your mind at ease. We have 75 years of combined experience working with clients just like you. We can fight your charges and protect your driving record.
Contact us today at (866)-985-7740 for a free consultation. Our telephone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Any criminal violation of Florida traffic laws comes with a mandatory court summons, and you will be required to appear in front of a judge. Examples of criminal traffic tickets that are deemed criminal by the Florida Legislature include:
Most traffic violations are classified as misdemeanors but could be increased to a felony charge, depending on the facts of your case. If alongside your speeding charge, you are accused of driving under the influence, vehicle homicide, or leaving the scene of an accident, you would then face more serious felony charges.
If drivers continue to willfully disobey Florida road traffic laws, they will face harsher punishments. Under Florida law, it is possible to have your license terminated if:
The loss of your driver’s license could have a negative long term impact on your life, particularly if you drive for a living.
Penalties for traffic misdemeanors include license suspension, fines, points on your driving record, and mandatory traffic school. As well as criminal charges, these types of violations can have further impacts on your life, such as causing your insurance premiums to increase and preventing you from accessing certain jobs. This is why you should seek to have these charges dismissed with the help of an experienced traffic ticket lawyer.
If an initial court date is not written on your citation, the clerk of court will mail a notice to the address you gave when you were given the ticket once it has been scheduled. If you fail to appear in court on the date given, a warrant may be issued for your arrest, and your license could be suspended. This could lead to further issues as you may be unaware that you don’t have a valid license until you are stopped for another violation or attempt to renew their license. As a result, you would face charges for driving on a suspended license. As stated in Florida Statute 322.34, there are serious penalties for this charge, including 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. You would need to settle any outstanding charges before you are able to renew your license. This is why it is so important that you attend a mandatory court hearing or instruct an attorney to do so on your behalf.
In order to have a traffic ticket dismissed in Florida, you will need to contest your charges with the help of an attorney who has the knowledge and experience of Florida law. Your attorney will look at the facts surrounding your case, and in the case of a speeding ticket, they will look for any weaknesses in the method used to calculate your speed. For example, a laser or radar speed detection device should be properly calibrated and maintained, and the officer using one of these devices should have had the necessary training. No method used to detect a driver’s speed is foolproof, and it is possible to have your ticket dismissed by calling this evidence into question.
If you have received a speeding ticket in Florida and believe that you have reasonable grounds to contest it, you do have some options. Any traffic ticket can be contested and withdrawn if there is enough evidence in your favor. Once you have been issued with a ticket, you have 30 days in which to respond with your decision that could be any one of the following:
If you choose to contest your Florida traffic ticket, you would be wise to seek legal representation. Remember, the judge will usually be on the side of the police, and contesting will not be easy.
The police officer who issued your Florida traffic ticket has 5 days to file it with the clerk, according to Florida Statute 316.650. However, the statute does not specify what happens if the officer fails to comply with this. Some judges may dismiss your ticket if the ticket was not filed on time, but others may not. The right attorney can assist you in filing a motion to dismiss. If your ticket is not dismissed under these circumstances, remember that you have the right to a speedy trial. So, if you are not given a date for a hearing in time, your case would have to be dismissed. The time frame depends on the classification of your charges. In the case of a misdemeanor, it would be 90 days.
Although most drivers comply when an officer asks them to sign a standard traffic ticket, you are not actually obligated to do so under Florida law. However, it makes things easier if you comply with the requests of the officer at the police stop and can help your case later in court. Plus, when it comes to a criminal citation and a court summons, you are required to sign. But don’t worry, signing these tickets is not an admission of guilt. Rather it’s simply to acknowledge that you have read and understood the document. After doing so, make sure you speak to a traffic ticket lawyer, so you know what step to take next.
To avoid the repercussions of a serious traffic violation, some drivers choose to ignore tickets, but not only will it not go away, but the consequences could also escalate and lead to indefinite license suspension. Therefore, you should get in touch with a qualified traffic ticket attorney as soon as you are issued a Florida traffic ticket.
If your license has been suspended after you have failed to comply with traffic court, a traffic ticket attorney can help you acquire a D6 clearance to present to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) and have your driving license reinstated. You will have to pay a license reinstatement fee at your local driver’s license office, but this is certainly worth it to get back on the road legally.
Also, if your license is suspended following your court hearing, you may be eligible for a hardship license, and a qualified attorney can help you apply for this.
More information regarding clearing license suspension and hardship licenses can be found on the FHSMV website.
There are several reasons why a person feels that they are unable to make a court appearance. For example, if a ticket is issued in a state outside of your home state, it can be a logistical nightmare traveling back and forth for hearings. Others may have physical or mental health difficulties that make the thought of a criminal hearing even more daunting. Luckily, a traffic ticket attorney from our law firm can step in. We can attend traffic court on your behalf if you are unable to attend yourself.
A local law firm with the knowledge and experience of the laws and rules of the area where you picked up is the best person to defend you against the charges and points you are facing.
If you or a loved one require representation in court or legal advice with regards to your traffic ticket, then contact The Ticket Lawyers Today for a free consultation.
Traffic tickets, especially those that come with a mandatory court summons, can have negative impacts on your life if they are not handled properly. Our team of experienced attorneys can defend you against any charges you may face and achieve the most favorable outcome possible for you. This is the best chance you have of protecting your driving record.
Don’t waste any time. The sooner you have the right legal support, the better. Call us at (866)-985-7740 to get started.
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