National statistics indicate that at some point during your driving life, you will likely receive a ticket. Nearly one in six drivers receive a ticket during any given year. Eventually, you will likely be pulled over and given an invitation to meet with city officials to discuss your driving. It’s not actually that simple, the invitation is actually a summons to appear in court, and it is not optional. The city official you’ll meet with is a judge who will fine you if you are found guilty.
Speeding fines in Las Vegas are not inexpensive. Most drivers, nearly 95 percent who receive tickets, will pay them out, rather than take the time to go to court if given that option. With that in mind, perhaps a review of the process of getting and handling a traffic ticket are in order.
The Traffic Stop
We have discussed the traffic stop in detail previously on this blog. Perhaps the most important takeaways regarding the stop itself are to be relaxed, be cooperative, and be careful how you answer the officer’s questions. Once you pull over, place your hands on the wheel; if it’s dark, turn on your dome lights. Wait for the officer’s instructions before retrieving your insurance and registration information.
Smiles and respect go a long way to minimizing the impact of the traffic stop. Do not incriminate yourself by directly answering leading questions such as, “Do you know why I stopped you?” Do not admit guilt of anything, but be respectful. Hopefully the stop will be short and will not involve anything other than the reason the officer pulled you over. It makes sense to keep the interior of your vehicle free of empty bottles and anything else that may raise suspicion of illegal activities.
Options to Handle the Ticket
If you receive a speeding ticket, there are several options available to you to properly adjudicate the driving infraction.
Fight the Ticket in Court
If you decide to fight the ticket, you will be required to show up in traffic court at the date and time indicated on the ticket to enter a plea. The address location of the court is also indicated on the ticket. The ticket will also indicate if you have the option to pay it out without going to court, but this must be done prior to the court date.
If you elect to fight the ticket in court, evidence will be considered, and witnesses may be called. You may represent yourself, or you have the option to be represented by an attorney. In most cases, even after your best efforts, you will be found guilty and required to pay the fine and court costs. Furthermore, your DMV record will be updated with the points associated with your violations, and your insurance company will be informed of the conviction and your insurance rates will likely be increased.
Fighting the ticket in court is usually not a good option, since your chances of prevailing in traffic court are low. Traffic court dockets are usually large, and you will most likely spend a good portion of your day waiting for your case to be called.
Pay Out the Ticket
If you elect to pay out the ticket prior to the court date, you are in effect, pleading guilty to the charges as written on your ticket, and you will be required to pay the fine associated with your violations. While this option minimizes your entanglements with the legal system, it also has the negative effects of having your DMV driving record updated with the conviction and points associated with your violations, and your insurance rates will likely increase.
Get Representation from Ticket Busters
If your ticket was written in Clark Countym, Nevada, you have a third option. You can have an attorney represent you to negotiate a settlement, which will be acceptable to the court. This is what Ticket Busters does.
Getting this representation after receiving a ticket, but prior to the court date is the best option, as Ticket Busters will schedule your adjudication date and represent you during at the hearing. You don’t need to be present for the hearing, and Ticket Busters attorneys will negotiate with the court on your behalf. In most cases, moving violations will be reduced to non-moving violations, your fines will be reduced, and points will not be assessed to your DMV driving record. In some cases, the court may require traffic school as part of the negotiated settlement, and Ticket Busters can help with that too. Talk to your representative to assist you.
If your court date has already passed, call us anyway. The traffic court judge will most likely have issued a bench warrant, which can result in your arrest. Ticket Busters can still represent you in this case, but we will also do a warrant search and can assist with having the any open warrants quashed.
Ticket Busters is Your Best Choice
In order to fully adjudicate your ticket, minimize the impact on your time, and to reduce fines and fees and increases to your insurance rates, Ticket Busters is the way to go. If you’ve received a speeding ticket in Clark County, Nevada, call us today at (702) 666-6666.
