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While many people consider a traffic ticket little more than a nuisance, they can be more serious than you realize. In addition to the financial costs associated with fines and increased insurance rates, some of these offenses are more serious than others. A conviction can even lead to jail time and fines, depending on the circumstances.
You have the right to secure an experienced defense attorney when facing traffic charges. The right legal counsel may be able to help you avoid a conviction or resolve your case without having a mark on your record. Reach out to Denver traffic lawyer Mike Petrash today to learn more.
The vast majority of traffic offenses—such as running a stop sign or failing to yield—are violations. This type of offense is not technically a crime, as there is no possibility of jail time upon conviction.
Serious offenses—like driving while intoxicated—can lead to years in prison. Even speeding tickets can lead to time behind bars when a person drives fast enough. A traffic attorney in Denver could help a person understand the legal jeopardy they face based on the offense they have been cited for.
In addition to varying jail terms, there are other ways that these offenses differ. In Colorado, drivers are assessed “points” on their license any time they are convicted of a traffic violation. When a driver gets a certain amount of points within a limited amount of time, the Colorado Department of Revenue will suspend their license. Suspensions are handed down for accumulating 12 points in a 12-month stretch. Alternatively, the Department of Revenue can suspend a license for 18 points in a 24-month period.
The number of points varies based on the offense. While minor offenses may only carry one or two points, more serious charges like reckless driving carry eight. At the highest level, a single speeding ticket could be worth 12 points on its own.
The law allows for different ways to respond to a traffic ticket. The ticket itself conveniently provides instructions for submitting a payment to settle violations and bring the case to an end without a trial.
That might sound convenient, but there are major drawbacks to that approach. Submitting a payment to cover the fine is an admission of guilt, and it immediately results in a conviction. This conviction shows up on that driver’s record just as if they had been found guilty at trial.
A conviction has a few consequences, including adding points to a license and increasing future insurance costs. A better approach is relying on a Denver traffic attorney to contest the case. It may be possible to have the charges dropped or negotiate a plea that keeps a conviction off the driver’s record entirely.
If you have been ticketed in Denver and are unsure of your next steps, an attorney may be able to help. You have the right to the support of legal counsel. The strategy that they bring to the table could help you avoid a conviction. Reach out for a consultation with Denver traffic lawyer Mike Petrash today.