Getting a ticket in Dallas or anywhere in Texas for that matter is annoying and expensive. You think that you could easily handle your ticket, such as speeding, by paying a fine or appearing in court, but if you do not understand the law, you might not get the best possible disposition. For a more serious traffic violation, such as failing to control speed, you should immediately seek the advice of a well-experienced attorney. Have questions about a recent Dallas traffic ticket? Call our experienced Dallas traffic ticket lawyers at Anderson & Anderson, LLP, and we can answer them.
What Are Your Options With A Texas Traffic Ticket?
When you receive a Texas speeding ticket or any type of traffic ticket, remember that it is just an allegation that you committed an alleged offense. Signing the traffic ticket is not an admission of guilt. The ticket is simply a summons notifying you to appear in a particular Court and on or before a specific time (the appearance date). You always have the right to hire a Dallas traffic ticket attorney to defend you – whether it’s to contest the alleged offense or simply to work out the best deal without the necessity of you taking off work to appear in Court.
You always have the right to defend yourself in court (pro se), but it is best to hire an experience attorney to represent your interests. If the traffic citation is not addressed properly, you could receive conviction on your driving record. More severe traffic tickets, such excessive speeding, could have additional and expensive requirements in addition to paying the fine.
First, you need to know your appearance date, the date by which you must enter a plea before a warrant is issued. Consult our traffic ticket attorneys before you decide which plea to enter – guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Without proper legal knowledge, you could enter the wrong plea. Our traffic ticket attorneys at Anderson & Anderson, LLP will advise you and help you maintain a clean driving record.
Other Options Besides Paying The Traffic Ticket
Depending on the alleged offense there are additional options to keep the alleged offense from resulting in a conviction on your driving record. One option is to take a driver safety course (defensive driving). To be eligible for the driver safety course, you must meet these requirements:
- You must not have completed a course in the last 12 months
- For a speeding ticket, you cannot have been traveling more than 24 MPH over the posted speed limit
- You must have a valid Class C driver’s license, not a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
- You must provide proof of valid and current insurance.
The second option, in some cases, is deferred adjudication. If you are eligible, you enter a plea of guilty or no contest, pay a deferred disposition fee, and must receive no new citations during the deferral period (probationary period up to 180 days). If you successfully comply with the terms and conditions of the deferred disposition order, the court will dismiss the offense without finding you guilty. Please note that being placed on deferred disposition is at the sole discretion of the Judge.
Due to the intricacies of the law, it is in your best interest to retain the experienced and knowledgeable traffic ticket attorneys at Anderson & Anderson, LLP.
Hiring A Traffic Ticket Attorney
Whether you should hire a traffic ticket attorney in Dallas depends on many factors. You may want to retain a lawyer if you have several violations that could lead to a suspended license or much higher insurance costs. Also, if you go to court yourself and lose, the cost of the ticket and court fees could easily end up costing you more money – fine payment, increased insurance premiums, time off work, suspended license, etc.
Further, if you are a commercial driver and hold a Commercial Driver License (CDL), you are held to a higher standard and subject to stricter rules even if you are driving in your personal vehicle. regular drivers. Potential benefits of hiring a Dallas traffic ticket lawyer are:
Your Attorney Can Go To Court For You
If you handle the ticket yourself (pro se), you may have to take time off work to appear in court, pay for parking, etc. Oftentimes, you do not need to peraonally appear in Court if you hire a lawyer.
You Receive Informed Legal Advice
Most people with traffic violations lack the legal and court knowledge to obtain the best possible disposition. Our experienced and knowledgeable traffic ticket attorneys at Anderson & Anderson, LLP handle Dallas traffic tickets daily and understand the legal tactics that could result in a favorable outcome.
Experience With Traffic Court Trials
Our Dallas traffic ticket attorneys at Anderson & Anderson, LLP who have years of experience are much more likely to win than non-attorneys because we have spent hundreds or thousands of hours in court and we know what is needed to get the best possible disposition.
Non-attorneys can get sidetracked on irrelevant facts that can damage their case. For instance, saying, “I did not see the speed limit sign” might be accurate, but this is not a valid legal defense. If that is your argument in court, you might be convicted.
Attorneys Understand The Rules Of Evidence
If your case goes to trial, you are disadvantaged without an attorney. One of the biggest reasons to retain a lawyer is their knowledge of Texas law – for example, the rules of evidence. Many defendants come to court with photos, graphs, and other evidence that would benefit their case. But they are shocked to discover that they cannot present the evidence to the jury because none of the items were introduced correctly per the rules of evidence.
They Know How To Get A Case Dismissed
Many defendants incorrectly believe a traffic ticket case is dismissed only if the police officer is not present at the hearing, but in many courts, this is not correct. From finding factual and legal errors in the complaint to talking to the prosecutor about possible mitigating factors, your lawyer will strive for a dismissal.
Contact Our Dallas Traffic Ticket Lawyer Today
Contact our experienced Dallas traffic ticket lawyers at Anderson & Anderson, LLP at (214) 370-8260 for help with your case.