A lot of people when they get a traffic ticket put it on the
back burner and do not treat it very seriously. They do this of course until
the court date rolls around and then panic often sets in. At this point, an
individual often debates whether or not to simply “mail it in” and plead guilty
or instead obtain an attorney and hope to plead to a lesser charge.
While it may be easier and more convenient to sign the back
of the ticket, mail it in to the “powers that be” and be done with it, this is
almost always not the best choice. By blindly pleading guilty to a traffic
ticket, an individual risks points being placed on their license and an
increase in insurance premiums often go hand and hand. This can further be of
consequence to those who are prone to getting stopped for speeding. The more
points a person has on their license, the less likely of a chance they may have
in successfully negotiating a plea to a reduced charge.
This is all common sense of course, which is why it should
be a no brainer to hire an attorney when getting a traffic ticket. The cost in
legal fees will be far less than the increase in insurance rates if a ticket is
ignored or a blind plea of guilty is entered.
A lot of times, people plead guilty not knowing of the
consequences to only later find out that they now have numerous points on their
license. They then tend to seek legal counsel to try to remedy the situation.
At this point, an attorney can file what is known as a Coram Nobis, which is a
request to the court to review its own judgment. This is an up hill battle to
say the least and it can be expensive in terms of legal fees.
In short, when a person gets a traffic ticket, whether it be
for speeding or running a red light or stop sign, it is wise to seek legal
counsel right away in order to avoid unnecessary points on ones license and
increased insurance premiums. To avoid financial burden and overall stress, be
sure to think again before you crumple up that traffic ticket.
Martin A. Carbone, Esq.
Carbone & Carbone LLP
www.carbonelawyer.com
www.lakegeorgelawyer.com
