Clemson Traffic Lawyer

After being pulled over for a traffic violation, it can be tempting to just pay the fine listed on your ticket and move on with your life without worrying too much about your driving record. However, the consequences of traffic offenses can extend far beyond momentary fines, especially if you end up with multiple convictions on your record.

If you want to avoid steeper fines, car insurance premium hikes, and a potential license suspension, you may want to talk to a Clemson traffic lawyer about contesting your traffic ticket in court. Once retained, a seasoned defense attorney could explain your options, help you determine what makes sense for your situation, and work on your behalf to seek a positive outcome to your case.

Traffic Violations and License Points

Every time a driver gets pulled over and ticketed for a traffic offense in South Carolina, they have a choice of whether to accept culpability for the alleged offense by paying the fine printed on their ticket, or whether to contest the allegation against them in court. When someone chooses to pay a traffic fine, they receive a number of “points” on their license depending on the severity of the offense in question.

Point values for individual traffic offense range from two points to six points, with the highest totals being reserved for serious offenses like reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in injuries. If someone accumulates 12 or more points on their record thanks to a combination of traffic offenses, they will be subject to an automatic license suspension.

Because of this, fighting back against traffic tickets can actually be crucial to protecting a driver’s future best interests, since even a simple speeding ticket—punishable by only two license points and a $15 to $20 fine on its own—could lead to a license suspension for a driver who already has 10 points on their license. A qualified Clemson traffic attorney could discuss on a case-by-case basis what the best approach for a particular individual would be.

Effectively Contesting a Traffic Ticket

Regardless of any plan to contest a traffic ticket later in court, it is crucial to always remain cordial and polite with the officer issuing the ticket during a traffic stop. This is especially important in South Carolina because the officers who issue traffic tickets also serve as prosecutors if anyone to whom they issue a ticket wants to challenge their citation in court.

Once someone indicates they wish to contest their traffic ticket and retains legal counsel to help them do so, a skilled traffic lawyer in Clemson could take the lead on negotiating for mitigated penalties, arguing against a guilty finding based on available evidence, and possibly even call witnesses to affirm that an offense did not occur as the ticketing officer claims. An experienced legal professional could assist with fighting tickets for speeding, drunk driving, unlawful passing, following too closely, driving with a suspended license, unsafe vehicle condition, and more.

Talk to a Clemson Traffic Attorney Today

While taking a traffic ticket to court is not the quickest way to resolve a violation, it can be an important option to consider if you have multiple traffic convictions in your past. Even if this is your first traffic ticket, it still may be worthwhile to speak with legal counsel about your options for preserving your record.

A dedicated and knowledgeable Clemson traffic lawyer who could help you pursue a fair outcome to your traffic case is just a phone call away. Call today to set up a consultation.