The police issue traffic tickets to deter people from unlawful driving practices. However, it is not uncommon for tickets to be issued to innocent drivers. If this happened to you in Ridley, Pennsylvania, our lawyers want to help you fight your traffic ticket.
The costs of tickets can add up – not just the face value of your fines but in the form of higher insurance costs and points assessed on your license. Too many people overlook these costs and pay their tickets just to get them over with. Our firm does not take your right to defend your case lightly. We can help you contest the ticket.
To drive in Pennsylvania, you are required by law to carry the relevant licensing, insurance, and certifications applicable for operating your vehicle. For example, this can include training for operating a commercial vehicle. You can find details on driving requirements, provisions for vehicle operation, fines, and penalties in Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.
You are also bound by the laws that apply to the jurisdiction in which you drive. You can receive a ticket for any violation—even those of which you are unaware. Tickets can be accompanied by points assessed on your license, as well as jail time for serious offenses, such as violations that lead to bodily injuries to others.
The fines and charges you face for a ticketed violation will depend on the nature and severity of the alleged violation. For example, non-moving violations are typically administrative in nature. In these cases, you may only receive a fine. You can choose to pay the fine or contest it.
However, serious violations can be accompanied by much harsher penalties, including criminal charges. For example, drinking and driving and causing bodily injuries to someone in an accident can lead to fines of up to $10,000 and jail time, as per the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
Higher-order charges—such as third-, second-, and first-degree misdemeanors, and even felonies—can be levied against you for serious violations. Examples include driving with a high blood alcohol content (BAC) level and repeat offenses, especially within a short time span.
Many people are either unaware of or simply disregard the compounded costs of traffic tickets. For example, most speeding tickets carry fines of $35, but you can face additional charges for every 5 miles per hour over the legal limit. Exceeding the speed limit in a school zone can lead to fines of as much as $500.
The fines ramp up quickly for other types of serious violations, such as reckless driving, which can lead to:
Violations involving alcohol use can lead to even higher fines, lengthier jail sentences, and longer license suspensions.
If we can show that you are innocent or received punishments that are not commensurate with the violations you are accused of committing, we could get the charges dismissed or reduced. Legal strategies for doing so are outlined below.
We do not recommend paying your ticket just to get things over with and get on with your life. Doing so can have serious, long-term consequences.
There is the immediate cost of the ticket that you have to contend with. However, you may also lose points on your license and be classified as a habitual offender. Such offenders can face license suspensions for as much as five years.
Multiple violations can make it difficult for you to rent a car or enjoy low-cost insurance. Insurance companies can screen you based on your driving history, and traffic tickets and citations will show up in their search.
If you were not at fault, were unfairly issued a ticket, or were issued a ticket with penalties that do not fit the alleged violation in question, you can contest the ticket. Here are a few ways our firm can help:
We can use variations of the same strategies for many different types of traffic offenses. For example, for texting and driving violations, we can attempt to show you were not texting and driving and should therefore not have been issued a ticket. The same applies to:
We can help you contest a traffic ticket in Ridley. Our traffic ticket lawyers will walk you through everything you need to know about the case, from how we will defend against the charges to the evidentiary requirements for dismissing or lowering them.
Do not hesitate to contact us to learn more. Call the McKenzie Law Firm, P.C., today for your complimentary case review.
