Guest post is provided by Daniel Kay, Attorney at Law. Daniel Kay Law offers services as a lawyer for traffic tickets. Visit the website for more information.
Did you know that if you plead guilty to a traffic charge in court in Illinois, you not only have to pay the maximum fine, but also that the charge will remain on your DMV record for a total of three years? This can affect your opportunities for employment, especially if you are looking into any jobs requiring you to drive a personal or commercial vehicle on behalf of the prospective company. Routine moving violation fines can range anywhere from $75 to a whopping $400. If you were speeding, the fine is usually based on how high you passed the speed limit, and can be doubled in construction areas. You could pay the fine and take the damage, but you could also hire an experienced lawyer for traffic tickets to fight on your behalf.
It is entirely possible to negotiate the terms of many traffic violations, including speeding offenses and improper lane usage, but you will need a lawyer who knows the law in and out to help you understand your rights. It is recommended that before you fight your ticket, take pictures of the area or intersection where you received your citation. These lawyers can handle anything from illegal transportation of alcohol to running a stop sign. Sometimes with only access to your online driving records and court information, they can go to court and fight on your behalf. This can be especially useful if you receive a ticket out of state, and where driving back out to the location’s district court is simply out of the question. Minor violations can be fought alone, but anything more severe requires help. A DUI Lawyer in Illinois can help you negotiate your case.
There are a few tips you can use to better prepare yourself and your lawyer for the battle ahead. If there were any witnesses there, ask them if they would be willing to testify for you. Remember that you have rights to the ticketing officer’s notes on your traffic stop. Sometimes these officers can leave out details in their notes and you can use this to your advantage. Sometimes officers will give you a ticket based on subjective observations, such as an “unsafe turn” and these observations can be disputed in court. If you ask the officer in court if they had an obstructed view of the scene, or if any other cars looked similar to yours, this could also help your case. If you call an Illinois criminal defense lawyer they can aide you and help you negotiate a more reasonable outcome.