The Atlanta Journal-Constitution compiled a database spanning from 2008 to 2012 to show how much revenue cities collect from speeding and traffic citations. The results show hundreds-of-thousands to millions of dollars in revenue depending on the city. Click Here to search for your city.
Many attorneys in Georgia and around metro-Atlanta charge anywhere from $150.00 to $500.00 to represent individuals with a traffic ticket. Do you really need to pay an attorney on top of potentially paying a fine and also showing up to court? Hiring an attorney can help you accomplish two things generally, avoiding receiving points on your license, reducing your fine, or allowing you to skip appearing in court. Often, you can accomplish the first two goals on your own with a little research and patience.
The Georgia Department of Driver Services assigns the points values for different offenses in Georiga. You can find their point schedule by clicking Here. Please note that the last 3 point category “all other moving violations” essentially means any ticket or charge you might receive while your vehicle is in motion. Improper parking tickets and failure to maintain insurance are good examples of “non-moving” violations.
If the charge on your ticket is not on the DDS list, or is a non-moving violation, there are no consequences to your driving record for points. Hiring an attorney to represent you for a non-point violation may be a waste of your time and money if you still must plead guilty to the original charge.
If you are charged with a moving violation or a charge listed on the DDS’s point chart, you may reduce your charge to O.C.G.A. §40-6-180 “Basic Rules” by taking a state-certified “Defensive Driving Course.” At your court date, ask to speak with a solicitor or prosecutor. Ask the prosecutor whether taking a Defensive Driving Course would allow them to amend your ticket to “Basic Rules” which carries no points and does not affect your driving record. Basic Rules is the lowest traffic offense the State of Georgia may assess against a person and is equal to a seatbelt infraction or less. How do you know if you are taking a state-certified Defensive Driving Course? The State of Georgia mandates the course to cost $95.00 and to be a six (6) hour in-person class. You may not take this course online. Any online courses that claim to be state-certified are a scam. More information on how to find a certified Defensive Driving Course can be found by clicking Here.
If you have not already taken a Defensive Driving Course in the past six (6) years, you may do so and request a point reduction on your driving history, removing up to seven (7) points from your record, once every five (5) years. The same certificate may also net you a 10% reduction in your insurance premium if you submit your certificate and meet certain other insurance requirements such as no collisions within a specified time frame.
Once you have researched the point consequences and talked to the prosecutor you will most likely know the long-term consequences and fine amount you will most likely have to pay. If you wish to consult an attorney, you will now have the information to know whether paying for an attorney is worth the expense. Unless the attorney can reduce your fine below what the attorney charges or get your fine and ticket dismissed entirely, you often can achieve the same result without an attorney.
As always, remember to drive safely without distractions. Georgia provides an updated free e-manual to educate drivers regarding the rules of the road and safe driving habits. Click Here to view the most updated version.
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