Traffic violations can occur due to multiple reasons such as skipping a red light, parking on the wrong side of the street, absence of insurance, speeding, etc. The aftermath of a traffic violation can lead to temporary or even permanent suspension of a driving license, jail time, fines in large amounts or even a rise in monthly insurance rates. Opting to visit a traffic violation lawyer is a wise choice under such circumstances. The lawyer can come to a mutual agreement with the judge to reduce your monetary penalty, cut down your jail time or can even help you to get back to legally driving at a sooner date.
There are quite a few questions people have related to a number of traffic violations. Keep reading to clear out some of these doubts –
Q1. Can I drive despite losing my license?
A1. If you drive despite having a revoked driving license due to violating traffic rules or despite misplacing your license, the consequences can be an even bigger fine than the first time along with a prolonged driving ban. Rather use public transportation and save yourself further troubles.
Q2. What is the “financial-responsibility act”?
A2. This is a safety responsibility act that authorizes officers to suspend an individual’s driving license if they violate traffic conditions, injure or kill a person or even damage any personal or public property. As long as they can prove they are in a state to accept the financial responsibility of their actions, they are comparatively safer.
Q3. What is a “fixable ticket”, also known as a “correctable violation”?
A3. Any illegal modifications like tinted windows, hydraulics system, extra lights under the car or any dysfunctional vehicle equipment like gear brakes, headlights or the horn can lead to a fixable ticket. One must repair the defects and obtain the signature of a DMV employee to avoid a hefty fine.
Q4. Differentiate between a felony and a misdemeanor?
A4. The majority of traffic violations are related to disobeying government-imposed rules and regulations. Some are misdemeanors and lead to fines with possible jail time, whereas some are felonies that occur via consistently violating rules and causing repetitive damage to public property. Traffic violation lawyers can help to significantly reduce the charges that the culprit has brought upon himself/herself.
Q5. If I commit a traffic violation in another state will it impact me in the home state that has licensed me?
A5. Yes, any traffic violation record is noted by the DLC (Driver License Compact). They believe in the concept of “One Driver, One License, One Record”;any traffic-related misconduct in another state is reported to the driver’s license issuing state and matters are taken up considering home state laws.
Q6. In what way can a traffic ticket affect my insurance rates?
A6. There is usually an increase in insurance rate if more than one accident or traffic violation instance occurs in a period of 1 to 3 years. Overall, depending on the intensity of the violation, a number of violations and the company’s insurance policies, there may be greater insurance premiums that can arise.
Q7. What is a “moving violation”?
A7. You need may need a traffic violation attorney if you are caught in a serious ‘moving isolation’ case where you took a sharp turn disobeying the signal in sight, overtook a vehicle in the wrong lane, speeding or failing to stop when an officer attempts to make you. Non-moving violation is the exact opposite. For example – Parking under a “No Parking” sign, illegal installation of a backroom in your vehicle or repairing your car in the middle of the street.
Q8. Explain “traffic violation is a strict liability offense”.
A8. This means that criminal intent is not necessary to be convicted. Even a simple form of traffic violation such as an incorrect turn, inaccurate parking, parking in a ‘handicapped-only’ location, parking at the gates of a building, can result in traffic violation and you will face legal action.
Q9. What will happen if I drive without registering my vehicle?
A9. If you are driving a motor vehicle then it has to mandatorily be registered by the state’s DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). A license plate, vehicle registration documents or both may be necessary to prove that the vehicle has been successfully registered. The penalty for driving an unregistered vehicle can vary from state to state. Depending on how long has it been since the registration has expired, an appropriate decision can be taken on the punishment in the form of a fine, jail term or revocation of the driver’s license.
It is always better to abide by the rules and drive safe unless you are fine getting your license revoked by the DMV or paying thousands of dollars worth of a fine or hire traffic violation lawyer to fight for your case or dismiss fine.