Last year during a holiday gathering, a neighbor shared that she was making a 4 hour drive in the morning for traffic court.
A month earlier she was given a speeding ticket in a rural county almost 300 miles away. Everyone was speechless until she explained that one more conviction on her driving record would cause her driver’s license to be suspended.
Her job as a district manager for a major medical supply company made her driver’s license essential to her livelihood. She paid the fine by mail for the two previous tickets because she thought it wasn’t worth her time to go to court.
Since three moving violation convictions within a 12 month period mandate a suspension, she was forced to contest this one.
Someone suggested that an attorney might be of some assistance.
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Weeks later, I learned that she was able to retain a local attorney from that area. She received court supervision in lieu of suspension, provided she could go 90 days without another moving violation.
However, it still cost a 9-hour round trip drive and $1,400.00 ($400 in lawyer fees and a $1,000.00 in court fines).
Here is where she went wrong. If you’re given the choice between court appearances, traffic school or pay fine by mail, paying by mail should never be an option because it’s goes against your record as a conviction. I always advise friends and family to request a court date.
In court you can ask for supervision. You may still pay a fine, but if granted it won’t go against your driving record.
Also, there is always a chance that the officer does not make your court call and they can’t testify against you if they aren’t there. If that is the case and you plead not guilty, the judge has to dismiss your ticket.
Traffic school is also a better alternative if that is an option. Four to eight hours out of your week for class, along with school fees still keeps it off your record.
Keep these thoughts in mind the next time you receive a ticket. It just may save you a 9-hour drive and any fines associated with it.
