Before we get into the why fight a speeding ticket, let’s take a look at some of the consequences of a paid fine or forfeiture of bail.
First of all, you are pleading guilty to an infraction when you simply pay the fine. As a student applying to a premiere college or university such as Stanford, USC, or UCLA, that conviction will be looked at as part of your application. Likewise, when you apply for a job with a prestigious firm, the human relations (HR) people will possibly consider a conviction on a speeding ticket as irresponsible. It will be part of your background check for at least three years.
Plus, the possibility of becoming a commercial driver is almost zero for the three years a minor infraction, such as speeding, will remain on your driving record. Most firms that hire commercial drivers would rather hire a novice driver than an experienced driver with even one conviction. If you have a conviction within the last three years, it will appear on your Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) record, which is a Federal requirement that employers must check.
Second, is the expense, not just the fine but also the increase in auto insurance, which you must have. California is a mandatory insurance state. Your fine, if convicted, will likely be only about one-fourth of the overall expense; the amount of the increased insurance will consume the other three-fourths.
The average Californian pays about $1,950 per year for insurance. If you are not eligible for traffic violator’s school (TVS) to mask a conviction, you will lose your 20 percent “good driver’s discount.” The increased risk will add another 20 percent or more to your premium.
Third, according to the negligent operator treatment system (NOTS) in California, as few as two convictions on speeding tickets could lead to a six-month suspension and twelve-month probation of your driving privileges. Just one speeding ticket conviction for 100+ mph will lead to a 30-day automatic suspension of privileges by a traffic court judge at a mandatory traffic court hearing.
As you can see, a paid fine or conviction for a speeding ticket can be costly and inconvenient.
Why Risk the Expense of Hiring a Traffic Attorney to Fight Your Speeding Ticket?
But why risk even more expense by hiring a traffic attorney when you might be found guilty? First, you should consider consulting a speeding ticket attorney to determine the chance of winning when you plead not guilty and contest the state’s accusation. Should you believe the attorney that guarantees a dismissal? Probably not. There are no guarantees, but some cases of entrapment are easy to defend.
Likewise, there are circumstances of equipment malfunction or out-of-date calibration or officer training on these devices used to measure and record speed. A large percent of speeding tickets get dismissed due to a technicality or failure of the law enforcement officer (LEO) to appear for trial.
You should always consult a traffic attorney about your particular situation concerning a speeding ticket.
Traffic Attorneys Who Handle Speeding Tickets in Fresno County
Contact the professionals at Bigger & Harman, (661) 349-9300, about your speeding ticket in Fresno County. Se habla Español (661) 349-9755.
We handle speeding tickets and other traffic issues, including the DMV NOTS Hearing.
Email: attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
References:
The 2020 CA Driver Handbook.pdf