Getting pulled over for a traffic violation can be stressful. Getting a ticket can be annoying, and for some people, financially damaging. As a result, many drivers in the Lansing area shrug off their tickets, paying their fines as quickly as possible and moving on with their lives. But you might not want to be so quick to pay your ticket and thereby admit fault. In fact, there can be several consequences that could attach by doing so, any one of which can leave you facing more problems than you bargained for.
What impact can getting a ticket have on your life?
Getting a ticket might seem like a relatively minor thing, but it can be a bigger deal than you think. Here are some of the ramifications that you could face after receiving a ticket and that could have a tremendous impact on your daily living:
- Fines: Your ticket is going to come with a fine. Depending on your financial positioning, these fines can prove problematic, stripping you of the funds you rely upon to pay your rent or mortgage, pay your car payment or cover your child’s basic needs.
- Points on your license: A traffic offense, if left unchallenged, is probably going to lead to points against your license. The more severe the offense, more points that’ll be placed on your license. And if you accumulate too many points, then your license may be suspended. This, of course, can impede your ability to get to work and family functions, thereby disrupting your ability to earn an income and maintain your familial relationships.
- Increased insurance premiums: Your insurance company will be made aware of any traffic offense that you’re found guilty of committing. And once they’re notified, they’ll be quick to increase your insurance rates. This takes more money out of your pocket every month, which could leave you in a financial predicament.
- An arrest warrant: If you ignore your traffic tickets, then a warrant may be issued for your arrest to stress upon you the importance of either challenging the ticket, paying it or dealing with it in some other fashion. Getting arrested can tarnish your reputation and be embarrassing, too. It could even impact your employment.
- Habitual offender status: Receiving multiple tickets could lead to you being labelled a habitual offender. This means that the penalties imposed upon you once you’re found guilty can be more severe.
- Travel limitations: If a warrant ends up being issued for your arrest, then you might have trouble traveling as freely as you’d like. This is because security checkpoints at the border and airports may flag you when they run a warrant check and your name comes up.
What’s the best way to handle your traffic tickets?
If these penalties are more severe than you thought possible, you’re not alone. A lot of people underestimate the harm that can be caused by traffic tickets. So, if you’re facing allegations of having committed a traffic violation, don’t be so quick to pay your fine, as doing so will serve as an admission of fault.
Instead, consider your defense options. These may include presenting evidence that contradicts the police officer’s claimed observations or arguing that there was a reasonable and justifiable mistake of fact. You might also be able to mitigate the impact of a traffic offense by completing driving school, which could lead to the ticket being dismissed.
Do you need help dealing with your traffic ticket?
If so, then now is the time to discuss the matter with your attorney to formulate the best criminal defense strategy possible under the circumstances. By being aggressive and thorough, you’ll hopefully find a way to escape the serious penalties discussed above.