One of the most common questions I get during free consultations is whether my prospective client needs to hire an attorney to get the best possible result on their case. Whether someone charged with a crime should hire a lawyer is a difficult question to answer because as a criminal defense attorney I would like clients to retain my services so I can earn a living. But I also want clients who want to hire an attorney. And more important than that, I want clients who want to hire me as their criminal defense lawyer. So I offer this information in hopes that it will help someone make a decision in regards to their own traffic citation.

All traffic tickets are misdemeanor criminal offenses under Georgia law. They carry the potential of up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. It is also possible your specific citation may require a defensive driving course, community service or other requirements. Some traffic violations carry with them mandatory drivers license suspensions. Most moving violations carry points that can be assessed against your Georgia drivers license. Georgia law states that if you acquire 15 points against your license in a 2 year period, your license will be suspended. Almost every traffic citation will be reported on your driving history if you are found guilty, plead guilty, or plead no contest to the charge. Insurance companies track your citations for insurance premium purposes through your driving history. For more serious traffic offenses, like very high speeding cases, hit and run, fleeing and eluding, driving without a license or on a suspended license, failure to maintain insurance, aggressive driving, racing, DUI, and vehicular homicide, jail time and/or a license suspension can, and in some cases will, be on the table.

For Georgia Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Holders only: CDL holders are held to higher standards as drivers on Georgia roads, in both their personal and commercial vehicles. Some traffic offenses are considered serious or major offenses under Georgia law and the Federal Motor Carrier Act. Serious and major traffic violations can impact your CDL privileges as well as your Georgia drivers license.

How Can a Lawyer Help Me with My Georgia Traffic Ticket?

It is possible to handle your traffic offense without a lawyer. If you have a really good driving history and it is a minor offense, you may be able to discuss your case with the prosecutor and achieve your desired outcome. There are some ways a trained and experienced lawyer can help you.

1.       A lawyer can often appear on your behalf for preliminary negotiations and other matters prior to resolution of your traffic case.

2.       Citations for retained attorneys are often heard at the beginning of court calendars due to lawyer schedules and the Georgia Court Conflict Rules.

3.       A lawyer can analyze the specific traffic offenses for which you were cited and apply the facts and evidence to the offense to determine potential defenses under the law.

4.       A lawyer understands the potential outcomes for your specific traffic ticket, can negotiate with the prosecutor, and tell you if they think the outcome is in your best interest.

5.       A lawyer may have established relationships with the prosecutor, Judge, and courtroom that could positively impact your traffic case.

6.       A lawyer can tell you what the potential consequences are of resolving your case. Potential consequences could include jail time, fines, driver improvement classes, community service, drivers license suspension, points against your drivers license, and reporting the citation on your driving history.

7.       A lawyer may be able to resolve your traffic citation through a plea in absentia, which would avoid the need for you to come to court at any time during the resolution of your case.

8.       If you are interested in fighting your case through trial, it is important to have a skilled lawyer defending your ticket.

I hope this blog helps you make a decision on whether hiring an attorney can help you with your traffic ticket. I believe it is almost always in someone’s best interest to consult an attorney before resolving any traffic ticket. A good attorney will help you make the best decision for yourself. If you have further questions, please call or text me at 678-753-6431 or e-mail me at ryan@ryanwalshlegal.com. I would be happy to give you a free consultation where we go into detail about your specific situation. Please reach out any time.