While traffic tickets might not be the most severe legal trouble that you could face, they are not trivial. The potential blemish they put on your driving record could have costly insurance repercussions.
By speaking with a Baldwin County traffic lawyer, you could do more than just defend against a traffic ticket. A skilled defense attorney may be able to help you prevent points from accumulating on your driving record, which could drive up the costs of your insurance premiums.
Common Traffic Infractions in AlabamaTraffic violations in Alabama may come in a wide variety of forms. Each type of infraction typically results in a ticket, a fine, and driving points. Many of the most serious moving violations may also come with a court date that could be inconvenient. With the help of a traffic lawyer, the repercussions of a violation in Baldwin County could be minimized.
SpeedingOne of the most common traffic violations in Baldwin County is speeding. Traveling over the posted speed limit violates the traffic code since it may put other drivers at risk. Law enforcement officers may hand out speeding tickets even if the driver was being safe.
The repercussions for a speeding ticket could depend on how fast a driver was going over the speed limit. Going up to 25 miles per hour over the speed limit typically adds two points to a driving record, while going 26 or more miles per hour over the limit may add five. An attorney could help a person dispute speeding tickets by questioning the methods and tools the officers used when determining the defendant was speeding. Since officers typically need to be certified and must follow certain procedures when determining a person’s speed, any error on part of the officer could disqualify the evidence.
Failing to YieldAnother common – but potentially more serious – traffic infraction is a failure to yield. Drivers entering a major thoroughfare typically need to yield to the traffic that is present. Since failing to do so may lead to accidents, Baldwin County’s traffic code takes failure to yield very seriously. A ticket for failure to yield may add five points to a driver’s record.
Following Too Closely or TailgatingFollowing another vehicle too closely, commonly referred to tailgating, may increase the risk of a rear-end collision. Tailgating another vehicle could lead to a ticket and the addition of three points to a driver’s record. A Baldwin County traffic lawyer could help a person accused of tailgating or keep their traffic record clean.
The Hidden Costs of a Traffic ViolationThe costs of a traffic violation may not be contained in the amount it might take to pay off the ticket. The points that a traffic infraction placed on a driver’s record could be reported to car insurance companies. News of a traffic violation in Baldwin County may lead insurance companies to believe that a driver is more of a risk than they had expected.
People who accumulate too many points on their driver’s record may find their car insurance premiums increase substantially as they could be seen as more of a risk on the road. Over time, the higher price for car insurance could quickly cost a driver thousands of dollars.
How a Baldwin County Traffic Attorney Could HelpTraffic tickets could be overturned in court with a vigorous defense, preventing them from going on your driver’s record and adding costly points. Many drivers in Baldwin County may think that it is not worth the hassle and simply pay the fine to move on. These drivers may find themselves paying higher car insurance premiums for years to come.
With a Baldwin County traffic lawyer, you could challenge a traffic ticket by demanding the authorities show proof that you committed the infraction. This could help protect your future from the hidden costs of a traffic ticket.