Perhaps you—like most people—simply don’t take a speeding ticket all that seriously. Of course you were likely embarrassed to be pulled over, perhaps you were annoyed if you felt you were not speeding (or at least not speeding all that much), or you may have just wanted to have the entire issue over and done with. If so, you—like 80-90% of the population—probably dropped a check in the mail and put the issue behind you. While this is certainly the most expeditious way to handle a speeding ticket, it is hardly the best way. What you may be unaware of is that by paying your speeding ticket you have effectively pled guilty to the offense and now have a conviction for the offense.
That conviction can add three to four points to your driving record (three for driving under 15 mph above the speed limit and four for driving over 15 mph above the speed limit). Those points can have very serious repercussions, both now and in your future. Those three or four points could result in a serious increase in your automobile insurance rates both now, and for several years to come. If you accrue enough points on your driving record, you could have your driver’s license suspended for one month, three months, or even a year. As you can see, the consequences of simply paying your speeding ticket could well be more than you bargained for. Other than paying your speeding ticket, you have the following options:
- You can attend driving school to avoid the points, however you can only attend driving school once per year and five times in your lifetime. You will still have to pay all the fines and fees associated with your speeding ticket, and will have to pay for driving school as well. If you are a CDL holder, taking driving school is not an option for avoiding the points on your driving record.
- You can argue your case in court to the judge. While this may sound easy, unless you are a practiced public speaker and have a solid knowledge of Florida laws regarding speeding issues, your arguments are likely to fall flat. In the vast majority of speeding cases, unless the officer fails to show up, the judge will side with the police officer’s version of events.
- You can hire a Florida traffic attorney who will tenaciously argue your case with a goal of keeping points off your driving record. Your Florida attorney knows which questions to ask the police officer, and may challenge the officer’s training with the device used to measure your speed as well as whether the device was properly calibrated. Your Florida traffic attorney likely has a good working relationship with the judge and other court personnel, which works in your favor. Having an experienced attorney by your side presents a professional appearance to the judge, telling him or her that you are taking your charges very seriously and will fight hard to ensure your ticket is dismissed, or, at the least, that the charges are reduced.
How We Can Help With Your Florida Speeding Ticket
The attorneys at the law firm of The Law Place offer you skilled representation, a genuine commitment to your case, and superior client service. Our attorneys bring over three decades of combined experience to the table on your behalf. We have a clear understanding of how the court systems operate and the most expedient manner to achieve our goals. In short, we are both skilled negotiators and aggressive litigators and we take your speeding ticket very seriously. The Law Place offers unparalleled personal attention; we are accessible, responsive and have a solid knowledge of Florida traffic laws. Whenever possible, we will do our best to have your speeding ticket dismissed, by raising technical questions about how your ticket was issued and whether the device used to calculate your speed was properly maintained and calibrated. Our attorneys will use every resource at our disposal in order to minimize the damage your speeding ticket could cause.
