What to Do If You Get a Traffic Ticket
April 7, 2020
No one likes getting traffic tickets. They’re expensive, annoying, and inconvenient. But what most people don’t realize is that when you get a traffic ticket, you are actually being charged with a Class C misdemeanor under Texas law and you can be fined up to $500 (that’s not including court costs). So when you get a traffic ticket, you are actually being charged with a criminal offense in the State of Texas and it's not something that should be ignored.
One mistake that many people make is that they just pay their traffic ticket and move on. I will tell you right now that it's usually never a good idea to just pay your traffic ticket. Usually, by simply paying the fine, you are actually entering a guilty plea that will permanently go on your driving record. This can cause your car insurance rates to increase and it can also count as points against your driver’s license. If you accumulate too many points on your driving record your license could be suspended and you could incur more fees.
It’s also important to know that after you get a ticket, the city or county you received the ticket in will set a court date that you must attend. If you fail to attend your court date, it could result in a warrant for your arrest or even another citation. Handling a traffic ticket is really inconvenient for most people because it means that they have to take time off of work.
So what should you do when you get a traffic ticket? The first thing you should do is call a lawyer. A lawyer can help guide you through the process and can usually negotiate a better deal with the prosecutor to try and get the ticket dismissed. Lawyers can help you lower the fine and can often get you on deferred disposition, which can keep the ticket from going on your record (which should always be the goal). At my office, we handle a lot of traffic tickets all over the Dallas area and have the experience to help take care of your ticket with as little time and cost to you.
If you or someone you know receives a traffic ticket in the Dallas Forth Worth area, call my office today (214-296-9655) so that we can help you lower the fine and work keep the ticket off of your driving record.
*Note that nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice. For legal advice on any specific case you should contact an attorney directly.