Facing a traffic violation? Even minor infractions can lead to significant consequences, including fines, points on your license, increased insurance premiums, and potential license suspension. At La Fratta Law, our criminal defense attorney specializes in defending clients against a wide range of traffic violations. Our goal is to protect your driving record and keep you on the road.
Getting a ticket for a traffic offense is a nuisance. Once the irritation wears off, it can be tempting to just pay the fine and forget it. However, consulting with our Charlottesville traffic lawyer is often a better alternative. Contact us at La Fratta Law to schedule a free consultation and get started.
La Fratta Law defends clients against various traffic offenses, including:
Each violation carries specific penalties. Our firm understands the nuances of these offenses and can represent you in court or at administrative hearings.
Non-criminal traffic infractions, such as speeding, running a red light, or unsafe lane changes, carry fines ranging from $100 to $500. Paying a ticket may seem like the most cost-effective choice, especially if you acknowledge that you committed the infraction. Unfortunately, this is not always true. Paying a ticket is an admission of guilt and will stay on your record for several years, or even longer for more serious offenses. Subsequent violations may also be treated more harshly because of a prior conviction.
Additionally, your insurance company will be notified after you pay a ticket, and your premiums may go up. Depending on the nature of the violation and your prior driving history, you may find it hard to get affordable car insurance in the future.
A Charlottesville traffic attorney from our firm could work to have the ticket dismissed, reduced to a non-moving violation, or reduce the negative impact of a guilty plea. Although it may seem simpler to pay the ticket, working with seasoned legal counsel could help you avoid issues in the future.
The penalty for a moving violation is not just the fine, as the state also assigns demerits or “points” to your driver’s license for each guilty plea or conviction. Points can add up quickly, and Virginia Code §46.2-493 mandates that they stay on your record for two years.
For example, driving without headlights earns three demerits, as does driving less than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. Running a red light or failing to stop for a school bus are four-point offenses, and criminal traffic violations, such as alcohol-involved offenses and reckless driving, carry six demerits.
Accumulating too many demerits can result in mandatory driver improvement training or license suspension. Our Charlottesville attorney could review your driving record, learn your priorities in handling the traffic infraction, and craft a strategy to protect your rights.
When you complete 12 months of driving without a traffic violation conviction or license suspension, you are awarded one safe driving point and can accumulate a maximum of five. Completing a driver improvement course also generates safe driving points.
Safe driving points on your license can cancel demerits. For example, if you have three safe driving points and are convicted of a four-point moving violation, just one demerit will be added to your license. During an initial consultation, an attorney from our firm can further explain this system and how it may apply to your traffic violation.
Your priorities and the circumstances surrounding the issuance of your ticket will determine how our team proceeds with your case. In some cases, we could challenge the supporting evidence or the observations of the officer who issued the ticket. Other times, we could negotiate a dismissal or plea agreement for a traffic infraction with a smaller fine or fewer demerits. Sometimes an agreement to take a driver improvement course can resolve the matter.
If you face a criminal traffic offense, such as driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, or driving on a suspended license, your future depends on a robust defense. Our Charlottesville attorney could work with you and prosecutors to reach the most favorable resolution to your traffic offense case possible under the circumstances.
Hiring a Charlottesville traffic lawyer to fight a ticket may seem like overkill, but it can be a wise decision. Contesting a ticket can help you avoid points, save money, and preserve your driving privileges. Contact our team at La Fratta Law today to schedule a consultation and learn more.
It’s advisable to consult with a traffic lawyer before paying the ticket. An attorney can assess your case and advise on the best course of action.
Yes, a skilled traffic attorney in Charlottesville can negotiate with prosecutors, challenge evidence, and work to reduce or dismiss charges.
Demerit points remain on your record for two years, but the conviction itself can stay longer, depending on the offense.
Accumulating 12 points within 12 months or 18 points within 24 months can lead to mandatory driving courses or license suspension.
Yes, commercial drivers are held to higher standards and may face more severe penalties for traffic violations.
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