When you’re pulled over for speeding in Colorado Springs, your first instinct might be to pay the fine and move on, thinking that having a traffic lawyer for a speeding ticket is a waste of your time and money.
However, this approach could cost you more than you realize in the long run. Let’s talk about why hiring a traffic attorney, even for a minor speeding ticket, can be a wise decision.
Understanding the Consequences of a Speeding Ticket
Before we examine the benefits of hiring a traffic lawyer for a speeding ticket, you need to understand what’s at stake when you receive a speeding ticket in Colorado Springs:
- Fines: Speeding fines in Colorado can range from $30 to $1,000, depending on how fast you were going and where the violation occurred.
- Points on Your License: Colorado uses a point system. Speeding can add 1-6 points to your license, depending on how much you were driving over the speed limit.
- Insurance Premium Increases: Even one single speeding ticket can cause your insurance rates to spike, potentially costing you hundreds extra each year.
- License Suspension: Accumulating too many points in a short period can lead to license suspension.
- Employment Issues: For those who drive for a living, a speeding ticket can jeopardize your job or future employment opportunities.
A Traffic Attorney Can Help
Now that we understand the potential consequences, let’s explore how a traffic attorney can assist you.
Violation Dismissal or Reduction
Hiring an experienced traffic lawyer for a speeding ticket can enable you to get your violation reduced or dismissed entirely. They know the local traffic laws inside and out and can spot procedural errors or inconsistencies in the evidence against you.
Negotiating Plea Deals
If dismissal isn’t possible, your attorney can negotiate a plea deal. This might involve pleading guilty to a non-moving violation, which typically carries no points and won’t affect your insurance rates.
Representation in Court
If you want to fight any traffic violation, hiring an attorney represent you in court can greatly increase your odds. They know how to present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and make compelling arguments on your behalf.
Keeping Points Off Your License
By potentially getting your ticket dismissed or reduced, an attorney can help keep points off your license. This is crucial for maintaining a clean driving record and avoiding license suspension.
Saving Time
Fighting a ticket on your own can be time-consuming. You may need to take time off work to appear in court, possibly multiple times. On the other hand, an attorney can often handle most of the process without you needing to be present. That is a big advantage for busy Coloradans who already have too little time in their day.
Long-Term Cost Savings
While hiring a traffic lawyer for a speeding ticket does involve an upfront cost, it can lead to long-term savings by potentially avoiding increased insurance premiums and future legal issues. And you might be surprised how reasonable the fees for skilled representation can be.
Beyond Speeding: Other Traffic Infractions
While hiring a traffic lawyer for a speeding ticket is the most common reason to seek representation, traffic attorneys can assist with a wide range of traffic infractions in Colorado Springs. Here are some other areas where their expertise can be invaluable:
Red Light Violations
Running a red light in Colorado Springs can result in a fine of up to $80 and four points on your license. A traffic attorney can challenge the evidence, especially in cases involving red light cameras, which have specific requirements for operation and maintenance.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is a serious offense in Colorado and can be an additional traffic violation when you are speeding. The consequences include up to 90 days in jail, fines up to $300, and 8 points on your license. A traffic lawyer for a speeding ticket can work to reduce both charges, potentially to careless driving, which carries lesser penalties.
Driving Under Suspension
If you’re pulled over for a traffic violation and Colorado Springs police learn you have a suspended driver’s license, you may be facing jail time and hefty fines. A traffic attorney can help navigate the complex process of license reinstatement and potentially mitigate the penalties.
DUI/DWAI
While not strictly a traffic infraction, drunk driving charges often start with a traffic stop. These cases are complex, and the consequences are severe, making legal representation crucial. You should never plead guilty to DUI charges before consulting a Colorado Springs DUI defense attorney.
Hit and Run
Leaving the scene of a traffic accident, even a minor fender bender, can result in serious criminal charges in Colorado. A traffic attorney, especially one who is also an experienced Colorado Springs criminal defense attorney, can help manage the legal process and work toward the best possible outcome.
The Colorado Springs Legal Landscape
Understanding the local legal landscape is crucial when dealing with traffic infractions in Colorado Springs. Here’s why:
Local Court Procedures
Each court has its own set of procedures and expectations. Hiring a local traffic lawyer for a speeding ticket ensures you have an advocate familiar with the specific practices of Colorado Springs courts, giving you an advantage in navigating the system.
Relationships with Prosecutors and Judges
Experienced Colorado Springs traffic attorneys have established relationships with prosecutors and judges. While this doesn’t guarantee a favorable outcome, it can sometimes lead to more productive negotiations.
Knowledge of Local Traffic Patterns
Local attorneys understand the traffic patterns and trouble spots in Colorado Springs. This knowledge can be valuable when challenging the circumstances of a traffic stop or ticket.
When to Consider Hiring a Traffic Attorney
While not every traffic violation requires an attorney, there are certain situations where hiring a traffic lawyer for a speeding ticket is particularly advisable:
- Multiple Violations: If you’re facing multiple traffic violations at once, the potential consequences compound, making professional help more valuable.
- Commercial Drivers: For those with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), even minor violations can have serious professional consequences.
- Repeat Offenses: If you have previous traffic violations on your record, additional tickets can lead to more severe penalties.
- High-Speed Violations: Excessive speeding (20 mph or more over the limit) can lead to more serious charges and penalties.
- Accidents Involved: If your speeding or other traffic violation resulted in an accident, especially with injuries, legal representation becomes crucial.
- You Disagree with the Ticket: If you believe you were wrongly ticketed, an attorney can help you challenge the citation effectively.
The Process of Working with a Traffic Attorney
If you choose to hire a traffic lawyer for a speeding ticket in Colorado Springs, here’s what you can expect:
- Initial Consultation: Most traffic attorneys offer a free initial consultation. Use this time to discuss your case and understand your options.
- Case Evaluation: Your lawyer will review the details of your ticket, your driving record, and the potential consequences you’re facing.
- Strategy Development: Based on the specific circumstances of your case, your lawyer will develop a strategy, whether that’s negotiating a plea, preparing for trial, or seeking dismissal.
- Court Representation: In many cases, your attorney can appear in Colorado Springs and El Paso County courts on your behalf, saving you time and stress.
- Resolution: Your attorney will work towards the best possible resolution, whether that’s dismissal, reduction of charges, or minimizing penalties.
Consulting a Traffic Lawyer For a Speeding Ticket is Your Best Move
While it might seem easier to pay a speeding ticket or other traffic fine, the long-term consequences can be significant. A traffic attorney in Colorado Springs can save you money, protect your driving record, and provide peace of mind.
Consider the potential increase in insurance premiums, the risk to your license, and the impact on your driving record. When weighed against these factors, often, the cost of hiring an attorney proves to be a wise investment.
Whether you have received a speeding ticket or a more serious traffic offense, a skilled traffic attorney can guide you through the process and work toward the best possible result.
The traffic attorneys at Newby Lindley Slater have the experience you need to fight your ticket. Schedule your free consultation today to get started.
