Manatee County, located on the Western coast of Florida just south of St. Petersburg, is the home of beautiful beaches, natural preserves, and cultural events and activities. Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key, Palmetto, Ellenton, and Bradenton are all in Manatee County. There are a wide array of wildlife and tourist attractions for visitors and residents to enjoy. The County has a vibrant village of artisans in Bradenton. With a population of over 350,000 people in Manatee County, there are many instances of traffic violations. More than 30,000 traffic citations each year are regularly written, of these more than half are for unlawful speed.
Most recently, the Manatee Sherriff’s office conducts a saturation patrol in an effort to comply with the national campaign “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” These saturation patrol units crack down on DUI arrests, patrolling for misdemeanor offenses and felony violations. Furthermore, the patrolling units include air patrolling units. These airplanes track your speed by measuring how long it takes you to get from one indicated location to another. A ticket is then issued and sent to your home. Any citation, whether given from an officer on the land or from the air, can be fought by a Manatee County Speeding Ticket Lawyer.
When issued a citation, points may be assessed to your license. These points can end up in your license being suspended if you accrue a certain amount in a certain time frame. The table below indicates the point values, the time frame, and the consequence:
| POINTS | TIME FRAME | CONSEQUENCE |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Within 12 months | 30 days |
| 18 | Within 18 months | 3 months |
| 24 | Within 36 months | 1 year |
Any moving violation has points associated with it. Points may be assessed as follows:
Six points may be assessed for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage over $50 or speeding violations resulting in an accident. Four points may be assessed for the following: reckless driving, moving violations resulting in an accident, attempting to pass a stopped school bus, speeding 16 miles per hour over the speed limit or more, or ignoring traffic signals or devices. Three points may be assessed for the following: minors driving after curfew hours, speeding 15 miles per hour or less over the speed limit, all other moving violations, driving with an open container, or driving with a child not in a child restraint. These violations can be compounded should you be found in violation of two or more of these. A Bradenton Traffic Attorney can assist you in determining your options and how to keep points off of your record.
The Manatee Sheriff’s office is not the only law enforcement agency in Manatee County. The other law enforcement agencies include Bradenton Beach, Longboat Key, Bradenton, Holmes Beach and Palmetto City Police Departments with Florida Highway Patrol. These agencies together issue citations for speeding violations, careless driving, driving without a license or a suspended license. A Manatee County Traffic Attorney can assist you in fighting any of these citations, or any criminal citations that may be issued to you.
Manatee County Courthouse is located at 2002 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, Florida. Manatee County is in the 12th Circuit. There are a number of judges and hearing officers that hear traffic cases. The Clerk of Court can also be reached at this location in order to request a hearing date should you wish to have a hearing regarding your civil infraction. They can also reschedule a hearing should you have a reason warranting sufficient reason for a continuance or different hearing date.
A Manatee County Traffic Attorney can assist you in defending your case. They will counsel you about your rights, present to you possible defenses, and determine the likely outcome of your case. They may also assist you in keeping points off of your license. Traffic citations have a quick thirty (30) day turn around, so it is best to contact your local Manatee County Speeding Ticket lawyer today!
