South Carolina Traffic Lawyer

People who get traffic tickets are often inclined to plead guilty and pay the fine. They believe that is the fastest, simplest, and least expensive way to handle the situation.

In reality, working with a South Carolina traffic lawyer could save you money by reducing the possibility of points on your license and higher insurance rates. It is worthwhile to reach out to discuss your situation with a local criminal defense attorney before considering a guilty plea.

Traffic Violations We Handle

Some moving violations are more serious than others. Nevertheless, all citations impact a driver’s record, which could have consequences for their current or future employment. Moving violations also impact insurance rates.

Any traffic ticket is worth fighting to minimize its potential impact. A South Carolina attorney could handle any of the following traffic infractions:

• Speeding
• Failure to yield
• Reckless driving
• Passing a school bus
• Open container violations
• Failing to stop at a light or stop sign
• Distracted driving or texting while driving
• Driving on a suspended or revoked license

Our team also handles matters relating to driving under the influence (DUI), hit-and-run, and vehicle accident charges.

Regardless of the circumstances that led to the citation, there are ways to fight it. In some situations, the best strategy is to negotiate to reduce the ticket to an offense with fewer points.

Moving Violations Lead to Points on Your License

Moving violations are traffic infractions that violate laws enacted to protect public safety. Convictions or guilty pleas to moving violations carry points. Many offenses lead to two points on the driver’s license, including exceeding the speed limit by less than 10 miles per hour, improper lane change, and driving with improper lights or failing to dim high beams. Operating an unsafe vehicle is also worth two points.

Four-point offenses include disobeying a traffic control device, driving between 10 and 25 miles per hour over the limit, following too closely, and other violations. Some violations carry six points, including reckless driving and passing a stopped school bus.

License Suspension for Accumulating Excessive Points

When points are assessed, they stay on a driver’s record for 12 months. After 12 months, they are halved, and after 24 months, they disappear. When a driver accumulates 12 points, their license is suspended for three months. The more points they accumulate, the longer the license suspension.

A South Carolina traffic attorney could work to resolve a violation for fewer points than a driver would receive if they pled guilty, and sometimes, they achieve a result that carries no points.

Process for Fighting a Traffic Ticket

When an officer issues a ticket, the driver has the option of pleading guilty or not guilty. A guilty plea triggers a fine, and a not-guilty plea leads to a hearing in traffic court.

In most cases, a South Carolina attorney can represent a driver at the traffic hearing, but the driver does not need to appear. The police officer who issued the ticket prosecutes the case. If the police officer does not appear for the hearing, the judge will dismiss the ticket.

If the officer appears, the judge will hear evidence and decide to either uphold the ticket and impose a penalty, find the driver not guilty and dismiss it, or reduce it to a lesser offense. When the judge imposes a fine, reducing the amount or asking for a payment plan is often possible.

Contact a South Carolina Traffic Attorney for Assistance

Pleading guilty to a traffic ticket might seem like the easiest option, but a guilty plea could have unexpected repercussions. The wiser strategy is to consult a South Carolina traffic lawyer to learn about other options.

A knowledgeable attorney can often get a ticket dismissed or reduced to an offense with fewer points. Reach out to Price Benowitz today to learn how we can help you.