If you’re like most of us here in Colorado Springs, you spend a lot of time behind the wheel. You probably drive almost every single day to work, school, the grocery store, the mountains. When you spend that much time on the road, even if you’re the safest driver you know, the odds are pretty good that you will get a traffic ticket at some point. When that officer gives you your license back along with your new traffic citation, you have choices to make on how you deal with that ticket.
To make the right decision, you need to understand how a traffic ticket can affect you. In the grand scheme of things, a traffic violation may not seem like all that big a deal. The reality, however, is that a ticket can cost you a great deal – hefty fines, a big jump in your car insurance premiums, and in some cases, loss of your driving privileges and even jail time.
There are literally hundreds of reasons you could be issued a Colorado Springs traffic ticket. As a criminal defense attorney who has spent years helping clients with traffic violations, some of the offenses I handle most often include:
- Speeding
- Running a red light
- Reckless or careless driving
- Driving with a suspended license
- Driving without insurance
Paying Now Can Also Mean Paying Later
Many if not most Colorado Springs traffic tickets can be handled without a court appearance by paying the ticket online, by mail, or in person. It can certainly be tempting to just pay the ticket and move on. But paying the fines also means that you are admitting guilt, just as if you were standing in a courtroom before a judge. As with any guilty plea in any criminal case, there are consequences you should understand and consider before you choose that course of action.
Traffic offenses go on your driving record and accumulate “points.” An adult driver (over 21 years of age) cannot receive 12 points or more in a year period, and 18 points in two years. If a person receives 12 points or more than that person’s license will be suspended for up to 1 year. Additionally, as points accumulate, your license can be suspended and you may even face imprisonment. Accumulating points can also result in higher insurance premiums or the inability to find coverage altogether.
Ignoring a Traffic Ticket Won’t Make It Go Away Either
After the annoyance and frustration of receiving a ticket, you may just want to block it out of your mind. Maybe you shoved it in the glove compartment or the junk drawer at home; out of the way, ignored, and easily forgotten. This will not make things better, and that ticket won’t just disappear.
Failing to respond to a traffic citation or failing to pay for a ticket may lead additional fines, the suspension of your driving privileges, even a warrant for your arrest. Whether you decide to pay or fight a ticket, and whether you decide to hire a traffic ticket lawyer or not, do not ignore your ticket.
Let Me Help
These are just some of the reasons to hire a Colorado Springs traffic attorney. The easy way out simply may not be so easy after all. A traffic ticket can be well worth fighting. As an experienced traffic lawyer, I can evaluate your case, advise you of your options, and implement a strategy that will keep you on the road and keep money in your wallet.
