Georgia Traffic Ticket Lawyer - Georgia Traffic Ticket Attorney

Traffic Laws in Georgia

In Georgia, all traffic offenses are misdemeanors.  Our system is not typical.  In most of the United States, traffic offenses are mostly civil infractions that do not carry the possibility of a jail sentence.

There are advantages and disadvantages to our system in the State of Georgia.  The advantages include the fact that you are entitled to a jury trial in almost all of our traffic offenses.  You are also entitled to full due process of law, as with any criminal case.

As a result, most prosecutors and judges are willing to accept many compromises in order to close cases.  Such negotiation can result in reduced fines, reduced jail sentences on more serious charges, and the opportunity to get cases reduced to lesser offenses.

The disadvantage of the fact that most traffic offenses in Georgia are misdemeanors includes the fact that even a simple speeding ticket carries up to a fine of $1000 and 12 months in jail.  This huge stick also leads to the resolution of cases; however, some resolutions are patently unfair.

It also means that upon conviction, a mere traffic offense can have an exaggerated impact on person's life because it is technically a misdemeanor offense.

At Our Office Our Georgia Traffic Ticket Attorneys Are Trained to Handle:

Atlanta Traffic Tickets

Georgia Traffic Tickets

Traffic Tickets by CDL Drivers

Traffic Tickets by Persons under the age of 21  

Traffic Tickets by persons under the age of 18

The Related Offenses to DUI in Georgia

Where We Serve:

Our attorneys travel statewide and are willing to help clients throughout Metro Atlanta, North Georgia, and Central Georgia.  We are also part of a statewide network of traffic and DUI Lawyers.  If we cannot help, we will refer your case to someone who can help.

Practical Advice When Given a Ticket in Georgia:

When a person is given a ticket, they should almost never just pay it.  When you contact an attorney from our office, we will discuss a strategy to get the best possible outcome.  The goal is always to try to get the case reduced to something that will not appear on our client's MVR (Motor Vehicle Record).

A reduction of the offense does not usually mean a reduced fine.  In fact, sometimes a higher fine is traded to save a person's record.  Why does this matter?  Why does a person's MVR matter?

The reason we want to protect a person's driver's record is to prevent the possibility of a second offense.  Anyone can get a ticket.  If a first offense is resolved favorably, then any subsequent citation would also only be a first offense.  It is not about paying a smaller fine.  In fact, the fine may be the same.  It's about saving a person's record and saving a person from paying higher insurance rates.  It is a forward thinking approach.

Youth Drivers and Traffic Tickets:

For youthful offenders under the age of 21 or the age of 18, a successful representation can potentially save a person's license.  In Georgia, any driver under the age of 21 who is convicted of an offense carrying 4 or more points will have his/her driver's license suspended for 6-months.  For drivers under the age of 18, accumulating 4 total points causes a 6-month license suspension.  Our attorneys can help save the license of young drivers who make a mistake.

Will a Nolo Plea Help?

A nolo plea (a no contest plea) can help in some circumstance.  However, you can only plead nolo contendere once every 5-year in Georgia.  Also, all no contest pleas are reported to the Department of Driver Services. As a result, a nolo plea will not prevent your insurance company from holding a traffic ticket against you or raising your insurance premiums.

How are Points Assessed in Georgia?

If you are convicted in court or pay a traffic citation in Georgia, the following points will be assessed on your license (note that if you accumulate 15 or more points on your MVR over a 24-month period of time, your license will be suspended):

• Too Fast for Conditions = 0 points
• Basic Rules Violation = 0 points
• Speeding 14 mph or less = 0 points
• Speeding 15-18 mph = 2 points
• Speeding 19-23 mph = 3 points
• Speeding 24-33 mph = 4 points
• Speeding 34 mph or more = 6 points
• Aggressive Driving = 6 points
• Reckless Driving = 4 points
• Unlawful Passing School Bus = 6 points
• Improper Passing on Hill or Curve = 4 points
• Open Container = 2 points
• Failure to Secure a Load Resulting in Accident = 2 points
• Violation of Child Safety Restraint = 1 point
• Violation of Child Safety Restraint 2nd Offense = 2 points
• Violation of Wireless Device Usage Requirements = 1 point
• Operating a Vehicle While Text Messaging = 1 point
• Improper Use of Designated Travel Lane – 4th or Subsequent Offense = 1 point
• All Other Moving Violations = 3 points

We Can Help With Your Traffic Ticket in Georgia:

When given a traffic ticket in Georgia, call our office immediately.  We can help.  Richard Lawson is a former traffic court prosecutor with over 25 years experience helping people fight traffic tickets in Georgia.  He is Georgia's most reviewed lawyer on Avvo.

Never pay a ticket without first consulting with our office.  The call is free, and we are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call now.