Monday, May 16, 2011

St. Petersburg Traffic Tickets Cost More Than Just The Fine

St. Petersburg Criminal Attorney and Former State Prosecutor Melinda Morris of the Morris Law Firm discusses the how traffic tickets can impose a hardship beyond just the fine.

Issue:

More and more traffic tickets are being issued in St. Petersburg - just look at the evidence:  In 2009 29,449 tickets were issued, thus far in 2011 33,170 citations have been written.  Further, with city and state revenues down, lawmakers have increased the fines associated with traffic tickets.  To make matters worse, it is not simply the fine that hurts drivers - the costs associated with potential insurance rate increases can far outweigh the citation itself.



Why This Matters To You:

Traffic tickets are both costly and time consuming.  Dealing with paying the ticket and potentially showing up to traffic court can be daunting.  

Traffic citations can range from $62 for a bicycle infraction to $456 for driving 20-29 MPH over the limit in a school or construction zone.  If you are cited with multiple infractions including speeding, failure to wear a seat belt, and a bad registration, the fine can be upwards of $600.

Add to this the fact that local governments are adding additional charges to each citation including $30 for court costs, a $10 fee for all traffic infractions, and smaller fees to cover driver education programs and public safety fees.

Beyond this, the largest single expense related to a traffic citation that most drivers seek to avoid is insurance rate increases.  If you pay a traffic citation it can result in a conviction of the traffic offense on your driving record.  This may lead to points on your license and a likely increase in your car insurance rates.  On average, a single speeding ticket can amount to a 30% increase in your auto insurance premiums.


What To Do Next:

Paying your Florida ticket can result in a conviction of the traffic offense on your driving record.  This leads to points on your license and a likely increase in your car insurance rates.  If you've received a traffic ticket don't simply pay the ticket without first consulting with the Morris Law Firm.

If you have been cited for any traffic infraction, contact a St. Petersburg Traffic Attorney to discuss possible defenses and specific strategies that may exist in your case.  Call the Morris Law Firm at 727-388-4736 to discuss your case directly with an attorney, or fill out our Online Form to be contacted for a Free Initial Consultation.  The Morris Law Firm can help and has specific knowledge and experience in defending traffic offenders throughout Pinellas County and the entire Tampa Bay, FL Area (St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Hillsborough, Pasco, Bradenton, Manatee, and Sarasota).