Do you have a Farmers Branch traffic ticket? What do you do now? Never had a Traffic Ticket issued in Farmers Branch? The laws have changed greatly over the last decade when it comes to driving records and how convictions for traffic offenses in Farmers Branch can harm your driving privileges in Texas. Our Farmers Branch Attorneys understand that this can be a different experience for some, so our attorneys work with integrity and understanding to try to reach a beneficial result in every case.
What Should I Do If I Have a Traffic Ticket in Farmers Branch?
Helpful Hint #1 – Never Just Pay The Ticket
Paying off a traffic ticket without protecting your record is the fastest way to destroy your record. In Texas, payment of a fine for a traffic ticket is considered the same as being found guilty before a jury for the offense that is paid. It also waives any right to appeal the mistake. When does the conviction drop off your record? Never.
Helpful Hint #2 – Convictions Cost Money
Traffic ticket convictions are the only way The Department of Public Safety knows that you were pulled over and issued a citation. If DPS finds out they can double penalize you by assessing surcharges against you. These surcharges are financial penalties that must be paid or the driver’s license will be declared invalid. If your license is suspended due to traffic tickets, it could subject to arrest for driving on a suspended license. Don’t take the risk.
Helpful Hint #3 – Attorneys Can Help
The Beltz Law Firm has Farmers Branch Attorneys that handle Traffic Tickets and Warrants for traffic related matters. If the Attorney can not dismiss the case they strive to have the case deferred (keeping the violation off your permanent record) and work to reduce the fine amount. Warrants will be lifted fast and efficiently to avoid arrest. The Attorneys do there best to keep the Traffic Tickets off your record and keep you out of jail so that you can keep living your everyday life.
Traffic tickets have become a major issue when it comes to driver license suspension issues across the State of Texas. This article is intended to help outline some of the most common issues our Farmers Branch Traffic Ticket Lawyers run across. If you have a traffic ticket, warrant, driver license suspension, or need an occupational driver license and would like to discuss it with our experienced staff after reading this article, feel free to contact our office at 214-321-4105.
Can My License Be Suspended in Farmers Branch Due to Traffic Tickets?
Traffic tickets are one of the most common reasons why a person’s license can be suspended in Texas. Texas is on the points system for traffic violations. The official statement from DPS regarding points is as follows:
-
- Points are assessed for traffic convictions. Once the conviction has been added to the driver record, points are assigned and remain on the driver record for three years from the date of conviction.
-
- Two points are assessed for a Texas or out-of-state traffic conviction.
- Three points are assessed for a Texas or out-of-state traffic conviction that resulted in a crash.
NOTE: Points are not assessed for individuals who take defensive driving. Individuals who have six or more points on their driver record are assessed a surcharge every year they maintain six or more points. Surcharge amounts are:
-
- $100 for the first six points on a driver record.
- $25 for each additional point after six.
You can review the list of traffic violations that accrue points here. Let our Farmers Branch ticket attorneys assist you with traffic violations to avoid a driver license suspension, surcharges and increased insurance rates.
Another reason to handle traffic violations properly out of Farmers Branch, Texas is due to the severe penalties attached to convictions. The official statement from Texas DPS on driver license suspensions for traffic ticket convictions is as follows:
-
- A driver license may be suspended when an individual is convicted of
-
- Four or more moving traffic violations within a 12-month period, or
-
- Seven or more moving traffic violations within a 24-month period.
- Individuals who have been convicted of at least two offenses for a violation that conflicts with a restriction or endorsement printed on their driver license are also subject to a suspension or disqualification.
Every traffic ticket that becomes a conviction puts your driving privileges at risk. For that reason, you have to protect your record. Once a driver license hits the suspension threshold, a notice of suspension will be sent to the driver. You have to respond to the suspension notice or your driver license will automatically be suspended in order to respond, remember the following:
If the request for a driver license suspension hearing is submitted within the required 20 days, DPS will send a letter to the individual to the address on record. The letter will provide the date, time and location of the hearing. Please allow up to 120 days for a hearing to be scheduled. Requests made after the required 20 days will be denied, and the individual will be notified by mail.Hearings are conducted in a municipal or justice court in the county where the individual lives. During the hearing, the individual is responsible for providing facts to the presiding officer who will determine if the grounds for the suspension are valid.
Occupational Driver License Requests in Farmers Branch, Texas
If your license is already suspended, then you may need an occupational driver license. To check on your license status click here. In order to obtain an occupational driver license you have to file a formal petition and have the request granted by a judge. The official statement from DPS on occupational license requests is as follows:
An occupational license, also called an essential need license, is a special type of restricted license issued to individuals whose driver license has been suspended, revoked or denied for certain offenses other than medical or delinquent child support. NOTE: Individuals may still qualify for an occupational license even if their driver license has been suspended for surcharges.An occupational license authorizes the operation of a non-commercial motor vehicle in connection with an individual’s:
-
- Work,
-
- School-related activities, or
- Performance of essential household duties.
The main thing to remember is that driver license suspensions, traffic ticket convictions and occupational license requests can almost always be avoided by hiring experienced traffic ticket attorneys in Farmers Branch, Texas. Take the time to call a ticket lawyer in Farmers Branch today if you have outstanding tickets that need to be resolved properly.
What Should I Expect from a Traffic Ticket Attorney?
Farmers Branch Municipal Court ticket attorneys can provide you with many different legal services. The most basic service provided is traffic ticket defense. However, this service just scrapes the surface of the many different areas of legal advice a traffic ticket attorney can provide. A list of some of the different types services provided to people who have traffic tickets in Farmers Branch are listed below:
WARRANTS LIFTED IN FARMERS BRANCH – Warrants are a big part of what traffic ticket attorneys do every day. In order to provide our clients with a legal defense in Farmers Branch Municipal Court, the warrants for any outstanding traffic tickets must be lifted first. This is why our legal professionals offer fast and affordable bail services to all of our clients. You do not have to go to jail over a traffic ticket. Our experienced attorneys can get your warrants lifted while you go on about your daily life. Most clients are able to retain our services over the phone as well to save time in the warrant lifting process.
LEGAL EDUCATION – Our traffic ticket defense attorneys do not try to hide the ball from our clients. We want our clients to be educated about the defense process. An educated client makes good decisions for their case. An educated client appreciates the difficulties and pitfalls that may occur while provided a solid legal defense. An educated client makes better decisions in the future so that an attorney’s job becomes easier. Many attorney’s do not want to share their legal knowledge with their clients because they feel it will hurt their business. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Our best clients are those who can call our traffic ticket defense lawyers in Farmers Branch and expect to get good solid legal advice. These clients refer us to their friends and family because they know that they can expect to get a truthful and honest answer. In the end, this is all anyone wants for any service purchased.
TRAFFIC TICKET TRIAL DEFENSE – If you suspect that your case is going to need a trial in order to have a positive outcome, don’t try to do this on your own. We understand that trials can cost more money than a typical traffic defense. However, don’t be penny wise and pound foolish. Would you buy a cheap parachute? Of course not! Some things may cost more in life, but it is because the value of that service or object is worth the investment. Don’t play financial games with your driver’s license. A suspended license can cause serious harm to a person’s professional and personal life. If you need a trial, call our office now to discuss pricing and the tactical defense that is going to be needed to give you the best opportunity for success.