DC Traffic Lawyer
A DC Traffic Lawyer with experience will navigate complex infractions of traffic laws, including a DUI that results in court cases with potentially dire consequences.
A Washington, DC Traffic Lawyer Explains Common Violations
Many traffic violations lead to tickets that act as nothing more than an inconvenience for the driver. However, there are additional driving offenses that may lead to criminal charges. Traffic attorneys can help with everything from a minor traffic ticket to criminal traffic offenses.
DC traffic tickets are civil infractions, not criminal. That means beating them is not impossible with the help of a skilled traffic ticket attorney. Although getting a ticket for a traffic infraction may not seem like a big deal, maintaining driving records clean is crucial.
An experienced Washington DC traffic lawyer will explain that vehicular violations may be civil infractions that could result in fines and points on your driver’s license. They may also be considered crimes depending on what a motorist is accused of doing.
Whether you’re looking to contest a ticket to prevent traffic points from affecting your driver’s license or you’re facing potentially life-changing traffic-related criminal charges, it’s important that you reach out to a trusted DC traffic lawyer to explore your legal options. If you have multiple traffic tickets or a DUI, a skilled DC DUI Lawyer will be vital in preserving your rights and helping you avoid a conviction.
DC Traffic Violations Explained
Here is a closer look at some DC traffic violations and traffic infractions. There is more information posted in our DC Traffic Violations Frequently Asked Questions section.
- Speeding (noncriminal) – In the District of Columbia, the standard posted speed limit is 25mph. If you have been stopped for speeding, and the officer alleges that you were traveling at a speed greater than 25mph but less than 55mph, the officer can give you a standard speeding ticket. Speeding tickets can result in points on your DC license and higher insurance premiums.
- Criminal Speeding Violation – If you are stopped for driving more than 30 miles over the posted limit, you can be charged with criminal speeding. In DC, criminal speeding is punishable by a fine of $300 and up to 90 days in jail. The jail time can be suspended. If you intend to fight a criminal speeding charge, your traffic violations defense lawyer can challenge the manner in which the police conducted the vehicle stop, the laboratory and field calibration of the laser or radar gun, and other aspects of the incident.
- Reckless Driving – The DC Code defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle “carelessly and heedlessly in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, or without due caution and circumspection and at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property.” This may include excessive speeding, not yielding or stopping for police or other emergency vehicles with sirens and lights operating, following too closely (tailgating), or other conduct which is considered dangerous. For a first moving violation offense, reckless driving in Washington, DC is punishable by up to three months in jail and a fine which can vary depending on your criminal record.
- Operating After Suspended License (OAS) – In DC, OAS is a serious criminal traffic violation that can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and a maximum of a year in prison.
- Operating After Revoked License (OAR) – In the District of Columbia, OAR is treaded similar to Operating After a Suspended License (OAS). These are treated as serious offenses because an unlicensed driver is considered dangerous.
A knowledgeable attorney in Washington DC can provide advice for any situation, even if your infraction is nothing more than running a red light. Contact a reputable law firm today for help.
Charges and Penalties of a DC Traffic Ticket for Reckless Driving
Under DC Code Section 50-2201.04, a DC traffic ticket for reckless driving is a misdemeanor offense. Potential offenses that may result in reckless driving charges in Washington, DC include:
- Driving more than 20 mph over the speed limit
- Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle
- Eluding a police officer
- Causing a vehicular accident
- Following too closely
If you face a reckless driving charge, you could face higher insurance premiums, driver’s license revocation or suspension, up to $1000 in fines, and even up to a year in jail, with the most serious penalties coming into play with subsequent convictions.
A conviction for reckless driving and other traffic-related charges can have other life-changing consequences due to the possibility of a permanent criminal record. That is why it’s vital to never leave the scene after a collision and explore your defense options with a top-rated DC traffic lawyer as soon as possible.
Options for Responding to a Ticket
When you get a speeding ticket or a moving violation ticket, you have three options to respond under DC law. You can admit and pay the ticket, admit the violation and offer an explanation, or contest the ticket.
If 30 days pass without response, “a penalty equal to the fine will apply,“ according to the DC DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). If 60 days pass without the driver’s response, it will be assumed the driver is liable for the ticket issued. In that case, there is an option to file a Motion to Vacate. In any case, you have to respond to a ticket within 120 days. After that time, you will have to pay for the ticket.
If you decide to admit with an explanation, you have to prove you were unaware that you were in violation or for example, that you had good reasons to make a traffic infraction. This option may result in a considerable reduction of fines, penalties, or both. You can provide any evidence that can support your case, including pictures identifying street signs, a police report, as well as a detailed explanation of the situation that occurred.
When contesting tickets for minor traffic offenses, an administrative hearing with DC DMV should be requested within 60 days of the date when the ticket was issued. However, if you don’t request a hearing within 30 days, bear in mind that an additional penalty will be imposed in the same amount as the ticket fine.
Fighting a DC Traffic Ticket or Criminal Summons
Simply paying tickets for traffic citations will lead to assessing points to your record by the DMV. Also, a moving violation carries at least two points that will automatically be assessed to the person’s driver’s record if not contested. That can eventually lead to the accumulation of demerit points on your license.
Bear in mind that an experienced traffic attorney can contest the ticket or negotiate with the DMV hearing examiner on your behalf to reduce the fine or waive the points that should be assigned to your record. Points are assessed on drivers’ records for both moving and non-moving violations. Drivers who incur too many points can face the possibility of losing their license and driving privileges.
Getting a ticket or criminal summons when you are pulled over does not mean that you will be convicted. There are many possible things your lawyer can do to assist with this process so that you can get on with the rest of your life. If you have been charged with these or any other traffic offenses, you should contact a DC criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to begin protecting your rights and to discuss whether you may be eligible for a restricted license.
Your attorney will evaluate your case from the initial traffic stop or DUI checkpoints in Washington, throughout the entire judicial process to ensure that your rights are upheld and that you do not face any excessive consequences as a result of the charge. With careful analysis of police procedures and evidence in their client’s case, a skilled DC criminal lawyer may be able to have the charges reduced or dismissed completely.
DC Traffic Attorney to Restore Your Driver’s License
A DC traffic attorney with practice areas in Maryland and Virginia can help defendants fight any driving-related tickets or charges. When someone has been charged with a traffic offense or given a ticket, it is a good idea to contact a DC traffic attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can advise on a best course of action to protect your rights and explore whether you may be eligible for a restricted license.
A good DC traffic lawyer will review what happened starting from the initial traffic stop and work with you throughout the judicial process to ensure the best possible outcome with minimal penalties, if any. Sometimes, based on analysis of police procedures or other evidence, a skilled DC traffic lawyer may be able to have your charges reduced or dismissed completely.
Hire DC Traffic Lawyers When You Have a Suspended License
Being charged for operating after a suspended license (OAS) can be a nasty surprise, as sometimes you may not even know that your driver’s license was suspended in the first place. However, ignorance of the suspension is not an excuse in this case. Unfortunately, this means that sometimes a routine traffic stop turns into a situation where you are handcuffed and taken into custody.
Others who make the voluntary decision to drive with a suspended or revoked license may be unaware of the consequences of their actions. Or, they may be aware of the consequences but still feel that their need to get somewhere is worth the risk.
However, OAS results in criminal charges as well as legal action from the DMV, so it is not a risk to take lightly. People who have concerns about operating a vehicle under a suspended driver’s license in DC should be aware that every traffic violation can be viewed as probable cause resulting in a full vehicle search.
Retain a Washington DC Traffic Lawyer to Clear Your Driving Record
Call today and set up a free consultation with a seasoned DC attorney. Our dedicated attorneys will fight for you, make sure you understand all of the proceedings, and help achieve the most favorable outcome possible.
It doesn’t matter how minor your traffic violation seems, you could still face several penalties, including points on your driving record, suspended driver’s license, increased insurance premiums, and even jail time. On the other hand, if a traffic violation is serious, your insurer can deny you your coverage.
A traffic infraction will not appear on the individual’s criminal record but their driver’s record. However, if the traffic offense in question is a misdemeanor or a felony, it is resolved in the DC Superior Court, and a conviction will appear on an individual’s criminal record. Criminal records in DC are a public matter, which means they can affect your ability to keep or get a job. The help of an experienced DC traffic lawyer may be indispensable. We are ready to tackle every traffic violation and help you reduce your fines and keep your driving record clean.
If you have been charged with any of these Washington, DC drunk driving offenses or any other crime within the area, contact criminal defense attorney Christopher J. Mutimer by calling 202-630-0949 or by filling out an online contact form requesting a brief chat. Credit Cards Accepted. Failure to obtain the best criminal defense lawyer with a client-centric approach would be possibly detrimental to your individual case, as well as your future.
NEED AN ATTORNEY?
We Fight For Your Rights