Getting a citation for speeding can be an intensely stressful experience, especially if you are new to Franklin County, North Carolina, and have no prior knowledge regarding how the county deals with its traffic violations. You could be tempted to just pay the cited amount and move on with your day. However, it’s essential to explain what giving this ticket your payment consents to—because the repercussions of your decision might severely affect your future.
Speeding tickets do not take much of your time and can be treated as inconveniences, but they pose irreversible damage if not managed appropriately. The lack of fighting over a ticket automatically under your name puts you in the position of admitting guilt. Apart from being forced to pay the outrageous ticket amount, you might face other issues such as amassing your driving license points, enhancement of your already exorbitant insurance premiums, and putting an enormous dent on the sanctity of your driving permit—especially if you are unfortunate enough to be a repeat offense driver. This aspect of getting a ticket, known as a what-if clause, is the crux of the guilty plea bracket that once placed on record, is almost impossible to release.
The bad news first: you have legal troubles, but the good part is that there is legal help available to you. If this is your first offense or you have a few tickets to your name, hiring a Franklin County speeding ticket lawyer can turn the situation around as best as possible—sometimes to the point where all the charges might get dropped entirely. This blog post will detail the complexities surrounding the less talked about issues of receiving a speeding ticket in Franklin County, the reasons you might want to reconsider paying off the ticket right away, and the protective role an attorney can play for your ability to drive moving forward.
A Speeding Ticket Isn’t Just a Fine
Very few know that paying a speeding ticket is tantamount to admitting your guilt. Paying the fine will result in:
- Added points on your license
- Higher insurance rates
- Possible suspension of license (if there are previous infractions)
- A lifetime blemish on the driver’srecords
In North Carolina, if you accrue 12 points on your license within the three-year period you risk suspension of the license. A single speeding ticket can add as much as 4 points, depending on the driver’s speed during the violation.
You Have the Right to Fight It
As most drivers do not know, you do not have to simply accept a ticket. You have the right to:
- Plead your case in front of a judge.
- Talk to the District Attorney.
- For a fee, let a lawyer represent you.
- End up with no points or having the case dropped.
With good traffic attorneys in Franklin County, all that needs to be done is to go over the details of the case and negotiate with the court. Most of the time the ticket will be brought down or totally dropped without the client needing to go to court.
Why Hire a Franklin County Speeding Ticket Lawyer?
Being represented by a local lawyer that has experience with the judges and prosecutors in Franklin County puts you in a better position and benefits you greatly. These are the ways a lawyer can help you:
- Identify important oversights in the prosecution’s arguments.
- Request for PJC or lesser charges to be mounted against you.
- Defend your driving privileges and protect you from additional fees.
- Deal with all the responsibilities associated with your case, sparing you time and stress.
Even what seems like a minor ticket could end up being costly. Having a professional represent you, especially with legal documents, can aid in saving you hundreds if not thousands in the long run.
What to Do After Getting a Speeding Ticket in Franklin County
- Paying the ticket online should be the last thing you do.
- Check the ticket details including the speed, location, and officer’s comments.
- Contact with a Franklin County traffic attorney – a lot of them provide complimentary initial consultations.
- Allow your attorney to guide you – they will walk you through the best course of action to take.
Don’t Let One Mistake Follow You for Years
Taking care of a speeding ticket in Franklin County might feel like it can be just brushed off, but it has the potential for growth if not dealt with correctly. It brings with itself a slew of complications ranging from insurance costs and losing your driving privileges – it’s easy to see that the costs are much higher than the citation itself.
Every aspect of the legal world can be daunting, especially traffic court, and therefore it becomes imperative that local lawyers like SCHEURING LAW, PLLC, with knowledge of laws pertinent to citizens of the area are present to try their best for a favorable verdict. With options that include but are not limited to reducing the charges or entirely dismissing the ticket, a Franklin County lawyer can change the set narrative with their experience and provide seemingly endless solutions that best suit the client.
Your driving record and wallet should never be testing subjects. They shouldn’t be wagered and gambled over which is why the best course of action is to seize control now for a more secure future.
