Few motorists complete their lives without receiving at least one speeding ticket. Most times, speeding tickets are worth fighting. This is especially true if you are accused of speeding in a school zone, as these tickets tend to garner higher fines and lead to other serious consequences.
A criminal defense lawyer can fight the accusation that you sped in a school zone. They may prompt the dismissal of your case or reduce your legal penalties. This may save you money and spare you from other severe consequences.
You should not dismiss your traffic violation as “just a ticket.” If you do not fight to secure a dismissal or reduction of your traffic violation, you may face:
The cost of a ticket for speeding in a school zone depends on how far beyond the speed limit you are accused of driving (in miles per hour). You may face a citation with costly fines for speeding in a school zone. If construction workers were also present or you were accused of passing a school bus illegally, the cost of your fines can be significantly more.
States differ in how they treat traffic citations and driving privileges. Some states use point systems, but not every state does. For example, Texas no longer uses a points system to track drivers’ fitness to operate a motor vehicle, though it still keeps track of violations. If you accrue too many violations in a certain period, the state may:
These penalties may apply if you have four or more moving traffic violations within a 12-month period or seven or more moving traffic violations within a 24-month period. A ticket for speeding in a school zone can be the tipping point that triggers such penalties.
If you lose your driving privileges because of the effects of your ticket, you may:
A ticket for speeding in a school zone can have a domino effect beyond the ticket’s immediate effects.
Traffic violations generally cause higher insurance premiums. When the insurance company sees that you were found responsible for speeding in a school zone, its representatives will likely:
Depending on all relevant factors, you can see a significant hike in your auto insurance costs if you don’t successfully fight your speeding in a school zone ticket.
Hiring a lawyer may be the most effective way to fight a ticket for speeding in a school zone. Motorists choose to hire a criminal defense lawyer because:
Traffic tickets can have significant negative consequences. Do not wait to ask for a lawyer’s help securing the best possible outcome to a difficult situation.
Your attorney will review all available evidence and information related to your traffic citation. They will determine the right defense for you, which may include the argument that:
If you were unaware that you were entering a school zone, this may be an effective defense against the pending citation. Your attorney may argue that:
Your attorney will cite any other circumstances that caused you to fail to recognize a school zone.
If you feel you were unjustly accused of speeding, your attorney will make this case. Law enforcement officials sometimes have perverse incentives to write traffic citations, and you may have been mistakenly or intentionally accused of speeding without merit.
School zones can have heavy traffic. It is possible that the law enforcement officer identified the wrong vehicle that was speeding. Unless the prosecution can prove beyond a doubt that you were speeding in a school zone, your lawyer might have the citation dismissed.
If there are any other valid defenses to your school zone speeding citation, your lawyer will use those defenses in your favor.
Your lawyer will lead every step of your defense, which may include:
Your lawyer will advise you throughout the legal process and accompany you to all case-related appointments.
You may have a limited time to fight your school zone speeding ticket. You may also need to appear at looming court dates. Don’t wait to hire a lawyer to fight your traffic citation, as you have much to lose.
