Myrtle Beach Traffic Lawyer

Some traffic citations, like parking tickets, have little to no effect on your driver’s record or insurance premiums. Other citations, however, can have lasting consequences. Fighting the validity of a ticket could be the best option for you to avoid gaining a point on your driving record.

Going to court to argue against a traffic offense may seem like more trouble than it is worth. Learning all of your available options is essential when the points could lead to license suspension or suspension for people driving for a living. Speak to a skilled Myrtle Beach traffic lawyer for more information. Our criminal defense attorneys could protect your driving privileges.

Traffic Tickets

Some of the more typical traffic tickets people receive include:

• Speeding
• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Reckless and aggressive driving
• Failing to comply with traffic signs, such as stopping for red lights or stop signs
• Driving distracted
• Failure to yield when necessary and give the right-of-way to other drivers, pedestrians, or bicycles

After reviewing your case, a Myrtle Beach traffic attorney could answer specific questions about the penalties and potential defenses that would be best for you.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving puts the driver and everyone around them at high risk of harm and is a serious traffic violation. Per South Carolina Code of Laws § 56-5-2920, any person operating a vehicle with reckless disregard for people’s safety or property damage is guilty of reckless driving.

Actions falling within the statute include speeding 25 miles over the speed limit, racing, and unsafe passing or other maneuvers. The ticket is considered a criminal charge and could mean loss of driver’s license, costly fines, and time in jail. A lawyer could review the applicable statutes during the appointment.

Possible Penalties for a Traffic Offense

Some of the possible penalties for traffic tickets include:

• Monetary fines and court fees
• Points on the driver’s record
• Increase in automobile insurance premiums or loss of coverage
• Driving school requirement
• Driver’s license suspension
• Jail time

The cost of fines, including legal fees and increased insurance rates, can add up to a significant amount of money. The points for the citation remain on the driving history for five years. A lawyer in Myrtle Beach could determine the penalties a person may be facing for a traffic offense.

Defense Strategies

One possible defense strategy is to challenge the ticketing police officer’s perception of actions the individual is accused of committing. A Myrtle Beach attorney could collect eyewitness statements or present a diagram for the traffic court to lay out the specifics of the motorist’s actions.

Evidence such as photographs could show a stop sign was hidden behind branches and explain why the driver did not see it. All cases are different, and a defense must be tailored to the situation. However, preparing evidence to view and consider before the court is always more effective than presenting an oral argument alone.

Call a Seasoned Traffic Attorney in Myrtle Beach to Learn More

If your circumstances change significantly because of a traffic ticket, reviewing your options for defense strategies is crucial. When you opt to pay the citation before the court date, you agree that you are guilty of the violation.

An experienced Myrtle Beach traffic lawyer at Price Benowitz LLP could review your violation’s specifics and circumstances to help prepare a strategy to fight for a dismissal. Call today to schedule a free case evaluation.