4701 Oleander Drive, Suite A
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
4701 Oleander Drive, Suite A
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
When you receive a traffic ticket, you may not realize that you don’t always have to pay its fine. In some cases, it’s beneficial to instead contest the ticket. This can help you avoid penalties such as points on your driver’s license, fines, and even license suspension. By paying the fine, you admit guilt to the offense, and the penalties could affect you more than you expect. If you are issued a traffic ticket in Loris, SC, you should speak with a traffic ticket attorney before paying the fine to determine if it’s the right choice to contest the ticket.
Effectively contesting your traffic ticket takes delicate legal care. Axelrod & Associates has had years of experience defending those in Loris and the surrounding communities from traffic offense penalties. We review your situation and determine the ideal path to mitigate or remove the offenses and penalties against you. We remain honest with you about your circumstances and help you make informed choices about your future.
There are multiple offenses that result in traffic tickets. Some of the most common include:
The most effective way to contest a traffic ticket is by working with a traffic ticket attorney. Not every ticket needs to be contested, and an attorney can help you make informed decisions about how to handle a traffic offense. If you contest the ticket, you are more likely to be successful with an attorney defending your rights in traffic court.
Speeding is one of the most commonly issued traffic tickets. Although the fines that come from a traffic ticket can be annoying, traffic tickets also include points on your license. These penalties can have much longer-lasting consequences.
In South Carolina, the primary factor that influences speeding ticket penalties is the speed which you were going. Based on this, your penalties for speeding could be:
There are other offenses that add points to your license. The point totals reduce over time, but if you reach 12 points, your license is automatically suspended.
License suspensions are more likely if you are a repeat offender. However, there are some offenses that lead to the automatic suspension of your driver’s license. These include:
A suspended license can be reinstated. Usually, the court suspends a license for a set period of time. There are some offenses that lead to the revocation of your license, which is irreversible. A revoked license is canceled, and you must submit an application for a new license. Offenses that result in a revoked license include:
This includes a conviction in another state. If you are facing license suspension or revocation, an attorney can determine your legal options and defenses.
A: The average fee for a traffic ticket attorney in South Carolina is $304 an hour. If you have a simple case, an attorney may instead charge a flat fee. Every attorney will have different hourly and flat rates. The cost of an attorney depends on their firm’s policies, their amount of experience in law and in cases like yours, and how complicated your case is anticipated to be. When consulting with an attorney, always discuss their fees and pricing. An attorney should expect these questions and be completely open with you about the cost of your particular case.
A: It can be beneficial to go to court for a speeding ticket, although you should have an experienced attorney review your unique case. If you pay the fine online, you do not have to attend your court date, as you are not fighting the offense. By paying the fine, you are admitting guilt to the speeding ticket and must receive the penalties that come with the offense. You can no longer contest the ticket as unfair or inaccurate once you pay it.
A: A minor traffic ticket that is not charged as a crime doesn’t impact your criminal record. There are some traffic offenses that may be charged as misdemeanors. Non-criminal traffic ticket penalties add points on your driver’s license and driving record. If you earn 12 points on your license, your license is suspended. After 1 year, points added to your licenses are halved, and they are removed after 2 years. If you want these points removed before then, there are state-approved defensive driver courses that you can take to erase them.
A: If it is your first traffic offense, a judge may allow you to lessen or eliminate the penalties against you by taking a driver’s education course. This option is only available to a driver once. Your traffic ticket attorney can review your case and determine what an effective defense is to lessen your penalties. These defenses could include:
The attorneys with Axelrod & Associates can review any traffic tickets before you pay them and help you understand what options are available for you. We want to protect your rights. Contact our team today.