If you were recently pulled over and given a traffic ticket, you may be wondering what to do next. Do you pay the fine? Do you attend the court hearing? You may have heard that you can avoid the hearing altogether. While this is true, here is what you need to know about avoiding your hearing and whether you should try to avoid it.
Can You Avoid the Hearing?
If you received a ticket for the first time, you may not know how to pay your fines. When the officer pulls you over, he or she may tell you that you can pay the fine directly to the clerk’s office. The officer may add, that this could help you avoid going to court for the ticket. Is this true?
Cops generally do understand how traffic court works. They will know which tickets you can pay to avoid a court hearing. If you do not feel like appearing in court, then you may be able to pay to avoid the hearing. However, this only works if you have a minor offense. You can pay for most minor offenses and avoid the court hearing. If you have a more serious offense, then you may still have to go to the hearing. In these cases, you may even want to have a lawyer to advocate for you.
What Is a Minor Offense?
You do not always have to appear in court for a traffic ticket. In fact, a lot of people choose to pay the fees without appearing in court. This only works if you have minor offenses. However, if you have a major violation, then you may still have to appear in court. With major violations, it is also more important for you to show up. If you defend yourself, you have more of a chance of lowering the fee or avoiding more points added to your license.
Minor offenses are less than a misdemeanor. These offenses may include speeding, driving without insurance, driving with a suspended license, cracked windshields, and other minor traffic violations. These are normally the types of violations where you will receive a ticket but are not at risk of being arrested.
If you are dealing with a traffic ticket and you aren’t sure if you should attend your court hearing or pay the fees, then you should speak with a criminal defense lawyer from a law firm like Pioletti, Pioletti & Nichols to set up an appointment today to have your consultation.
