What Does a Traffic Lawyer in Florida Do?
A traffic lawyer in Florida is an attorney who specializes in representing clients in traffic-related legal matters. This includes defending clients against charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving, speeding tickets, and other violations of traffic law. Traffic lawyers can also help with issues such as license suspensions, points on a driver’s record, or other penalties related to traffic offenses.
A traffic lawyer in Florida plays a crucial role in helping individuals navigate through the complex and ever-changing world of traffic laws. From defending clients on charges ranging from DUI to speeding tickets, they provide legal advice and representation for those who are facing serious consequences from violations of state law.
The primary job responsibility of a traffic lawyer is to defend clients who have been charged with criminal offenses related to driving. These crimes may include drunk driving, reckless driving, or other violations such as failing to stop at a red light or not using turn signals. Traffic lawyers can also help reduce fines, advise their clients on how best to move forward after the incident has occurred, and negotiate plea bargains with prosecutors on behalf of their clients.
Common Types of Traffic Violations in Florida
Florida recognizes two different types of motor vehicle violations: civil traffic offenses, such as minor speeding tickets, and criminal traffic violations.
Criminal Traffic Tickets
Criminal traffic tickets are issued in cases of more serious violations, such as driving under the influence (DUI), reckless endangerment, fleeing from police officers, and hit-and-run accidents. If convicted of a crime related to traffic law, a person may face jail time, fines, and suspension or revocation of their driver’s license. The punishment for these offenses is typically much harsher than that associated with civil traffic tickets.
Traffic violations are the most common type of criminal offense in Florida. With a population of more than 21 million people and millions of visitors each year, it’s no surprise that traffic violations are so widespread in the state. Whether you’re a Florida native or just visiting, it’s important to understand what constitutes a traffic violation and the consequences it can have on your life.
Civil traffic tickets
Civil traffic tickets are typically issued to drivers for non-criminal violations, such as exceeding the speed limit or failing to yield at an intersection. These offenses may result in fines and points against a driver’s license, but they generally will not lead to jail time or other more serious punishments like those associated with criminal charges.
Florida is known for being strict when it comes to issuing tickets for traffic infractions. Common types of traffic violations in Florida include driving without insurance, speeding, running a red light or stop sign, reckless driving, and failing to yield the right-of-way. These tickets can carry hefty fines as well as possible suspension or revocation of your driver’s license depending on their severity and number of prior convictions.
Reasons to Hire a Traffic Lawyer in Florida
Whether you’ve been pulled over for speeding, running a red light, or another traffic violation in Florida, the consequences of being convicted can be severe. From fines to points on your license to even jail time, it’s important to take these charges seriously and have an experienced traffic lawyer on your side. Hiring a traffic lawyer in Florida can provide several benefits that may help avoid or reduce any penalties you are facing.
A skilled attorney will be familiar with local laws and court proceedings which can make all the difference when trying to fight a conviction. They will know how to use legal procedures such as hearings and motions in order to get your charges dismissed or reduced. Your attorney may even be able to negotiate for lesser punishments such as community service instead of hefty fines or jail time for more serious violations.
Benefits of Working with a Tampa Traffic Lawyer in
In addition to providing legal representation for traffic violations, a Florida traffic lawyer can also provide advice and guidance when it comes to understanding the state’s laws and regulations regarding driving. They can help explain what the consequences are for certain offenses and how they may affect your life. A good traffic lawyer will be able to provide you with strategies for avoiding future incidents and minimizing any potential punishments.
What to Look for When Choosing a Florida Traffic Lawyer
If you have recently been charged with a traffic violation in Florida, you may be wondering what to look for when choosing a traffic lawyer. It is important to find an experienced attorney who will help you prepare your best defense against the charges. Here are some steps to consider when finding the right traffic lawyer in Florida:
First, make sure the attorney has experience handling cases similar to yours. Ask if they have handled any other cases involving a traffic incident in your state and what their success rate was. Knowing their history of representing clients with similar charges can give you an idea of how successful they may be in your case.
Second, contact more than one lawyer and compare fees before making a decision.
Tips for Avoiding Future Traffic Violations in Florida
Traffic violations are a serious matter in Florida. Without proper awareness of the rules and regulations, motorists can find themselves facing hefty fines or other measures that could have been avoided. With this guide to avoiding future traffic violations in Florida, drivers can stay informed and aware of the laws and their rights while on the road.
In order to stay safe while driving, it’s important to know and understand all relevant laws. This includes speed limits, alcohol-related regulations, safety seatbelt requirements, stop sign rules, and more. Being aware of these laws keeps you from unintentionally violating any of them – staying up-to-date with current changes or updates is also advised for full compliance.
Typical Tampa Traffic Offenses
Civil traffic offenses may include speeding, running a red light, failing to yield, and similar violations. Many states have different degrees of civil traffic offenses depending on their severity.
Speeding is one of the most common traffic offenses. Generally, it is defined as exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 10 mph or going above 85 mph on any highway or freeway. Not only can this result in hefty fines but it also increases your chances of being involved in an accident due to your decreased reaction time at higher speeds.
Failing to yield to pedestrians is another major offense that could lead to serious injury or even death if an accident were to occur. Other common civil traffic offenses include disregarding stop signs or signals, following too closely behind another vehicle, and failing to yield to emergency vehicles such as police cars or ambulances.
- Moving violations (speeding tickets)
- Reckless driving
- Failing to stop at a stop sign or red light
- Driving without a driver’s license or with a suspended driver’s license
- Careless driving
Traffic tickets can cause a myriad of problems – and just paying for them is not the best solution. Paying your traffic ticket rather than defending yourself is an admission that you are guilty of the offense for which you received the citation. For example, if you received a speeding ticket for driving 73 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone and you paid it, you would be admitting that you were driving 18 miles over the speed limit. In addition to paying for the ticket, you will receive points on your driver’s license. Your car insurance company keeps tabs on your driving record, so your insurance premiums are also likely to go up after receiving a traffic violation.
A Law Tampa traffic ticket attorney will fight your ticket to help you avoid all of those problems traffic tickets can cause, like high fees, traffic school, and soaring insurance rates. Your driver’s license could even be revoked if you get too many points on your license.
Criminal Traffic Violations in Tampa
Most people think of a traffic violation as a simple speeding ticket, but a criminal traffic violation is much more severe. A criminal traffic violation is a misdemeanor in Florida. Our experienced Tampa Traffic Lawyers can provide you with an aggressive defense on all criminal traffic violations, such as:
- Driver’s license suspension administrative hearings
- Vehicular homicide
- DUI /DWI Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- DUI manslaughter
- DUI causing serious bodily harm
- Underage DUI
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Hit and run
A criminal traffic violation can result in the loss of your driver’s license for a long time, even permanently in some instances. You could face time in jail, especially if another person was injured or killed or if this is not your first offense.