Columbia, MD Traffic Attorney
If you want to know your options for fighting a serious traffic ticket or moving violation in Maryland, call a Columbia, MD traffic lawyer with our firm. There is no substitute for experience when it comes to defending clients from Maryland traffic charges, so call our law offices today to set up your initial consultation.
Most drivers will receive some type of traffic ticket at some point in their time behind the wheel. Since traffic tickets are so common, people often do not take them very seriously and instead simply pay the fine and forget it ever happened. Unfortunately, there are many sets of circumstances under which traffic tickets can be serious matters and lead to numerous legal consequences that can have a significantly negative impact on your life. In order to limit or avoid any serious penalties of traffic tickets, you should always consult with an experienced Columbia attorney.
Examples of potential consequences of traffic tickets in Columbia, Maryland, include costly fines, loss of driving privileges for a certain period of time, higher insurance rates, and even time in jail. A Columbia, MD traffic lawyer can advise you of your options, negotiate your ticket to a lesser offense, and can help you fight your ticket altogether to try to have it dismissed.
Columbia Traffic Violations
Columbia is routinely ranked as one of the best places a person may live in the United States. With its countless options for recreation and entertainment and its numerous highways granting easy access to Washington, Baltimore, and Annapolis, residents of Columbia are regularly on the move. Additionally, many Columbia residents get behind the wheel for a daily commute to work in one of the larger nearby cities. Anytime a city’s residents regularly drive motor vehicles, law enforcement will be present, trying to identify violations of traffic laws and issue traffic citations.
Traffic tickets are commonly issued for the following offenses in Columbia:
- Violating the posted speed limit
- Attempting to Elude an Officer
- Driving without the required license
- Driving without proof of insurance
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Improper passing of other vehicles
- Reckless driving
- Aggressive driving
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failing to obey other traffic signals
- Failing to use turn signals
- Failure to yield
- Driving the wrong way
These are, of course, only a few examples of traffic tickets that residents of Columbia may receive. The state of Maryland has hundreds of traffic laws that, if violated, may result in a traffic citation. While some of these offenses are relatively minor, others can be very serious matters. No matter what kind of ticket you receive, an experienced Columbia, MD traffic lawyer can assist you with your case.
Handling Traffic Matters in Columbia, MD
How an attorney will proceed in your case will depend on the type of traffic citation you received. For example, Maryland has two main categories of traffic tickets: “payable” and “must appear.” As it sounds, “payable” offenses mean that you have the option to simply pay the fine and avoid a court appearance. On the other hand, “must appear” violations require you to appear in traffic court before a judge.
You may be tempted to simply pay the traffic fines because you believe it will allow you to avoid any additional hassle. However, you may not realize that paying traffic tickets may lead to additional complications down the road. For example, when you pay a ticket, you admit guilt for the traffic offense, which goes on your driving record. The MVA will then assess a certain number of points on your driver’s license, depending on the offense. If you accumulate too many points, you may face higher insurance rates and even suspension of your driver’s license. The good news is that an experienced Columbia, MD traffic lawyer can negotiate to have your ticket amended to a non-moving violation so you can avoid having any points on your license.
If you receive a “must appear” violation, you will want to have a Columbia, MD traffic lawyer representing you in court. Such offenses include driving under the influence or with a suspended license. These violations can often result in large fines and/or suspension of your license, and the judge is authorized to sentence you to time in jail. An attorney can help lessen the consequences you face or can even get your case dismissed under certain circumstances.
Contact a Columbia Traffic Attorney Today
Our Columbia, MD traffic attorneys are experienced with traffic matters and highly skilled at getting the best possible outcome in these matters. No matter what type of ticket you face, contact us today to discuss your traffic case.