TRAFFIC CRIMES
Traffic Offenses can run the gamut from Felony DUI to Riding a Bicycle Without a Headlight, and the possible sentences are equally wide-ranging. Defendants can be sent to jail for days, or weeks, or months. They can lose their license, be sent to substance abuse treatment, and be charged thousands of dollars. Or, as I witnessed once, an especially nice judge and prosecutor might agree that waiting in court for 4 hours is punishment enough, and dismiss the case. (Don’t count on this one).
Whether you should contest your charges and get an attorney to help you is a decision that depends on many factors: the seriousness of the charge, the likely sentence, the effect on your license and insurance, your future plans. And there are also some consequences that you probably haven’t thought of: that reckless driving conviction might make it difficult to get into Canada this summer, or that DUI conviction might keep you from getting your dream-job 5 years from now.
No attorney can predict the future, but we can educate you about the law, tell you what we’ve seen, and help you make an informed decision. If you are hesitant to pay the fine and send in your ticket, or if you have a more serious charge which requires an appearance in court, I urge you to at least contact an attorney for a free consultation. You can set up one with me here.
For Information on Specific Traffic Crimes:
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- Driving with a Measurable Controlled Substance (Metabolite DUI)
- Reckless Driving