In Florida, a driver’s license could be suspended due to several reasons. Once the driver’s license is suspended, all driving privileges cease until such time as they are reinstated, or a hardship permit is obtained. Depending on the type of traffic violation committed, the driver’s license may be suspended for a specific period of time. The various reasons why a driver’s license is suspended in Florida are:
Points on your driving license: Under the point system in Florida, if the driver is convicted of any moving traffic violation, points gets added to his/her driving license. For a license to get suspended, it requires 12 or more points on the driving record in a year. The license will be suspended for 30 days if the driver accumulates 12 points, 3 months if it is 18 points in a year and a half, one year for 24 points in 3 years. That is one reason it’s important to have an experienced traffic ticket lawyer go to court got you. If the case is dismissed, or found not guilty, you will get no points. Even if you are found guilty, usually the court will, upon request “withhold adjudication”, which means you still will not get the points, even if you committed the offense!
Found guilty for DUI: DUI is a serious crime and it not only gets reflected on your driver’s license but also, if convicted, will result in the suspension of your license. Considering the severity of the violation the length of the suspension will increase or decrease. If you have committed the violation previously, the license will be suspended for longer, or even permanently.
Refusing a breath test/Blowing over the limit: If you are stopped for DUI, refusing to take a breath test, or taking a test which results in an unlawful breath alcohol limit will result in a suspension of your license.
Driving without a license or with a suspended license: Driving without a license is a serious offense, as is driving with a suspended license. In both cases, carry severe penalties. Driving with a suspended license may result in an additional suspension, and the possibility of jail time. Depending on the violation type and circumstances, the driver with a suspended license can end up in jail for up to five years.
Driving without Insurance: This is another case, where you can have your driver’s license suspended. It is necessary to have your vehicle properly insured and carry valid auto insurance while you are driving, otherwise you might get your license suspended for a period of time.
These are the common reasons why your driver’s license gets suspended in Florida. However, there are several other reasons such as Driving-related violations, physical or psychological disqualification, providing false information. There are other non-driving reasons like not responding to a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles notice or failure in appearing in court; failure to pay traffic tickets, fines or surcharges and so on. If you have a suspended license in Florida get in touch with our Florida traffic attorney who have experience in defending all types of traffic tickets.
If you are caught for reckless driving in Florida, you might have to face a criminal charge that could result jail time. A thorough understanding of the different types of reckless driving charges is necessary, to evaluate where you stand in hierarchy of traffic laws. At times, the traffic officer might treat you unfairly and give you a wrong traffic ticket and because of your lack of knowledge about traffic rules you might hesitate to defend yourself. To help you fight against the Traffic Tickets in Florida, you can hire an experienced Traffic Ticket Attorney.
Types of Reckless Driving Charges
Driving with “willful or with disregard for the safety of persons or property” is considered as reckless driving under the law. In Florida, reckless driving is a worse violation than careless driving and improper driving, and therefore the fines and punishments are serious, including the possibility of jail time.
Reckless Driving in Florida can be charged as:
If someone is found guilty on their first offense he will face at least 90 days of jail time, along with a minimum fine of $25 and a maximum of $500. Severe penalty of six months jail time and a minimum fine of $50 and a maximum of $5,000 is subjected to those who are charged for reckless driving with a Prior Conviction. If a person is injured, the penalty will be higher.
Reckless Driving Causing Property Damage is considered as a first degree misdemeanor and it could result up to 12 months jail time, or a fine up to $1,000. Under Florida’s laws, Reckless Driving Causing Serious Bodily Injury is considered as aThird Degree Felony. The person who is charged with this will have to face any combination of the following penalties, maximum sentence of five (5) years in jail, five years of probation, or fine up to $5,000.
If you are charged with Reckless driving in Florida, you should seek counsel from an experienced traffic ticket lawyer immediately.
Yes, it is possible to get a DUI Charge Reduced to Reckless Driving.
If you are arrested for DUI, one of the smart moves is to ask for a reduction to reckless driving. You should understand that accepting the DUI charge and bearing all the penalties is not the only solution. Those who understand the legal side of it will probably act wisely by hiring an experienced Traffic Ticket Attorney, who will protect their rights. At The Ticket Clinic, we focus mainly on DUI and work to your advantage.
In the event of being charged with a DUI, make it a point to waste no time and arrange a consultation with a DUI attorney to give them all the relevant information and to understand how the attorney can help you with the case. After evaluating the case, the attorney will tell you where you stand and how to proceed. If you find yourself in any of the circumstances given below, there is a chance of getting your DUI reduced.
If you have handled the situation sensibly
When you are asked to pull over, most people panic and behave strangely. However, if you keep your calm and show respect towards the police officer, things can work out favorably for you. In the video evidences that come along with the DUI cases, your attitude will be revealed and the prosecutor will judge you accordingly. By seeing these videos , a jury can tell if you are among the bad guys or good guys.
If you spoke coherently
Sometimes what you say is used against you. In a Florida DUI case, slurred speech is one of the evidences you need to overcome. If you spoke coherently, you may get your charges reduced.
Refused the breath test
Refusing a breath test doesn’t always put someone charged for DUI in a better position. However, refusing to blow into the breath machine, the state will have one less piece of evidence to pursue a conviction. This depends completely on the facts of the case, and your attorney can use it appropriately.
If you were stopped for some other traffic violation
Your criminal charge may be reduced or dismissed, if you are stopped for some other traffic violation like weaving or failure to maintain a single lane. In case you are stopped for causing an accident. But, in many accident cases, it may be difficult for the state to prove you were behind the wheel. This is an essential element of the crime.
All these situations may reduce, or dismiss your DUI charges. The attorney will check your criminal history and if you have a clean record, the chances to get your DUI charge reduced to Reckless Driving in Florida increases. Know your rights. Remember the state has to prove your guilt beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt. You don’t have to disprove anything. Before you act, be sure to talk to an experienced DUI attorney.
Traffic Lawyer Report: Palm Beach County By The Numbers Over the last decade, Palm Beach County has seen explosive population growth. It is now the 2nd most populated Florida county with 1.524 mil residents according to the 2020 census. That's over a 15% increase in total population. All those new people leads to more traffic [...]
Over the last decade, Pinellas County has seen explosive population growth. It is now the 7th most populated Florida county with 978,872 residents according to the 2020 census.
Over the last decade, Broward County also known as the Fort Lauderdale area has seen explosive population growth. Broward is now the 2nd most populated Florida county with 1,966,120 residents according to the 2020 census. That’s over a 12% increase in total population. All those new people leads to more traffic congestion and ultimately more law […]
Miami DUI Law enforcement process involves multiple stages but, the penalties for the offense is as severe as in manyother states. Acquainting yourself with the enforcement processes is essential so that you will know what to do and when to hire a Miami DUI lawyer. The incident will be investigated and analyzed by the attorney that may give you an edge in the case. The various stages of Miami DUI process are follows:
Initial stop by the police officer
A police officer is trained to identify the signs when an impaired person is driving a vehicle. If he finds the vehicle is not maintaining a lane or if it is moving uncontrollably, he might take that as the signs of drunk driving. Not always, a police officer stops a vehicle suspecting the driver is drunk. There are instances when the officer notices other small traffic violations from the driver’s side like speeding, running a red light, improper lane usage and only when the car is stopped, the officer finds out that the driver is drunk. This is one way a DUI process begins. Another way a DUI arrest happens when a vehicle breaks down or after an accident.
Field Sobriety exercise
DUI is a serious violation and if an officer suspects you may be DUI, he can carry out an investigation. In Florida, the Field Sobriety Exercise includes HGN, the walk and turn, the one leg stand, as well as finger to nose, which tests the coordination, balance and dexterity of the driver. However, the driver has the right to refuse physical sobriety tests as the officer could hold the test as evidence in court. Some tests cannot be performed well by overweight individuals, injured and elderly people, in such cases you should tell the officer that your health or body weight doesn’t permit you to do the exercises.
BAC Test
If the officer doesn’t think you are sober after the initial tests, he might ask you to undergo Breath/Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) testing. This is usually done at the police station, but only after a lawful arrest. The driver is required to take a breath test, but one may refuse. Refusal may result in a license suspension, and in some cases may be charged as an additional crime. With an experienced traffic ticket attorney at your side, you can challenge your case and possibly reduce the penalties associated with the violation, or get it dismissed entirely. They can also help you if you have a suspended license in Florida.
As the red light camera debate continues in Florida. a recent report from 10 Investigates revealed that in Manatee County officials are strategically installing red light cameras at specific intersections based upon the ability to generate revenue.
According to the report, of the 10 most dangerous intersections, only one is actually monitored by a red light camera. Instead, last summer Manatee County began issue citations for rolling right hand turns and the county’s profits, which were previously low, began to skyrocket.
To see the full report, click here.
According to 10 Investigates, attempts to fight the tickets have been mostly unsuccessful. Since the hearing officer is generally employed by the city or county that issued the ticket, this is not surprising.
The Ticket Clinic continues to lead the red light camera fight. If you have questions about a red light camera ticket, call us at 1.800.CITATION.
Check out the great pics from Saturday’s First Annual Pep Boys Car Show at the Pep Boys in Miami Lakes!
We had a great time at the car show and meeting friends and fans of The Ticket Clinic.
The Ticket Clinic is proud to announce its support of Street Racing Made Safe,
a non-profit organization dedicated to educating drivers and eliminating street racing on public roads. The Ticket Clinic is committed to improving the safety of our roads and our sponsorship of SRMS is a natural progression towards that goal.
“Too many young people die needlessly from racing their cars on the street,” said The Ticket Clinic Founder, Mark Gold, “Not only is it a crime, but street racing also endangers the lives of participants and innocent bystanders. That is why The Ticket Clinic is proud to sponsor Street Racing Made Safe, where drivers can test their mettle in a safe, controlled environment. Even though we defend all types of tickets, The Ticket Clinic would prefer to see fewer tickets issued for racing and less race-related injuries.”
In addition to providing education and information, SRMS offers drivers the opportunity to street race in a controlled, safe environment. Join us this Saturday, March 29, at the Run Your Car Not Your Mouth event at Palm Beach International Raceway. The Ticket Clinic race car will be on the track and our staff will be on-site to answer any questions.
The Ticket Clinic is one of the oldest law firms in Florida concentrating solely on traffic-related offenses and DUI. If you have a question about a traffic citation, call us at 1.800.CITATION.
Are your registration tags up to date? Driving with expired tags for even just one day can net you a ticket, but if your tags are expired for more than six months, you could face fines, points, loss of driving privileges or even jail time!
In Florida it is easy to renew your tags online. The tags expire on the registration holder’s birthday. If you are the forgetful type, put a reminder in your phone a few weeks before your birthday to renew your registration. It is quick and easy.
But if you find yourself with a ticket for driving with expired tags, The Ticket Clinic may be able to help. Remember that simply paying the fine is an admission of guilt, so before you do that consider speaking with an experienced traffic ticket attorney.
The Ticket Clinic has handled over 1 million traffic-related tickets, including tickets for expired tags, in Florida, California and nationwide. Call us at 1.800.CITATION for a consultation.
Maybe you turned right at a red light, stopped over the line at the intersection, or passed through just as the light turned red. If so, you may come to receive a hefty fine in the mail if you have been found in violation of a red light camera. Understanding how these devices work and how to dispute them may help you prevent a steep fine, higher insurance premiums, and other consequences on your driving record.
Not all states and counties have red-light cameras in use. According to a report by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in 2017, 63 Florida jurisdictions implement the use of these devices.
Red light cameras are a relatively new photo enforcement technology that is becoming increasingly prevalent in Florida intersections. These devices are used to automate the process of recording drivers committing a red light violation, serving as a major ally in prosecution. As a driver passes over a sensor in the intersection while the traffic signal is red, a camera is activated, taking pictures of the driver and their front license plate. After the violation is recorded, an enforcement program issues a citation, which is then mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle. The red light camera can also capture up to 12 seconds of video as further evidence of the crime committed.
Due to the timeliness of these photos, many drivers are caught “red-handed” in an illegal act, like passing through an intersection while the signal is red. Though these may seem like indisputable pieces of evidence, there are still ways for drivers cited by these cameras to fight the tickets.
While many states vary in who is held responsible when a red light camera captures a violation, in the state of Florida, the registered owner of the vehicle receives the bill. This means that if someone is borrowing your car and triggers a red light camera, you will likely be the one to receive the citation.
In some situations, like in the case of a recently-sold car under new ownership or a stolen vehicle, the citation issued can be dismissed with the submission of an affidavit. It is recommended that drivers seeking dismissal should consult a local attorney specializing in traffic tickets for proper guidance.
Red Light Cameras in the state of Florida capture a number of violations, many of which are accompanied by a citation in the mail issued to the owner of the car. Failing to make a complete stop when turning right at a red light, passing through an intersection while the light is red, or stopping in the middle of an intersection during a red light can all result in a Notice of Violation (essentially, a ticket in the mail). Legally, each of these violations will result in a citation for s, 316.075(1)(c)1., Fla.Stat., which mandates drivers to come to a complete stop before a red light. These violations are captured in both photo and video form by the red light camera.
It is important to note that not all photos that were taken result in a violation. For instance, breaking beyond the line at a red light may trigger a camera without a violation having occurred. Every image captured by a red light camera is eventually reviewed by a police officer, who will decide whether the driver was in violation of traffic laws.
Over the years, there have been many debates over the legality of police departments utilizing Red Light cameras provided by third-party vendors. Florida’s House approved a statewide ban on these devices in 2017, however, soon after the Florida Supreme Court ruled that red light cameras are legal and may be used in the interest of public safety.
Since the ruling, some cities in Florida have chosen to end their use of Red Light Cameras, while others continue to use them. For instance, in Palm Beach County, only Boynton Beach is currently using these cameras.
For the most accurate information regarding the locations of red light cameras, drivers should check their city’s website. Most cities post the location of cameras, the fines associated with citations issued from the cameras, and the process of receiving and paying or disputing a citation.
While some cities in Florida have refused to reactivate their cameras since the ruling in 2017, they are within their rights to reactivate them at any time. Your best course of action at any traffic signal is to obey state laws and wait until the light turns green.
Costs can vary depending on the county, but the typical cost for a red light camera ticket in Florida is $158. This fee can rise to $262 if you fail to pay the ticket after the first mailed notification.
If you receive a traffic ticket from a red light camera and do not choose to contest the citation, you must pay the fine listed on the ticket within 30 days of receiving it. If you do so, no points are added to your record. However, if you miss this deadline, not only will your fine increase, but you will also incur court costs and three points on your license.
Continuing to ignore the citation can result in the suspension of your license, even higher fines, and the fee of reinstating your driver’s license.
If you plan to contest the violation, your first step should be finding a local attorney that specializes in traffic tickets. An attorney can guide you through the legal red tape, ensure that all deadlines are met and all evidence is gathered and presented in the way that best represents your case.
A great way to increase your chances of reducing the fine or getting the charge dismissed entirely is to call the lawyers at The Ticket Clinic or .hire us online Since 1987, The Ticket Clinic has resolved over 3,000,000 traffic-related cases across the nation. Call 1-800-CITATION (1-800-248-2846) now for your free consultation!
Don’t drink and drive. That’s a given. But what happens when you have had too much drink and make the mistake of getting behind the wheel? When you see those flashing lights in your rearview mirror, you could be facing a life-changing moment.
DUIs are very serious because they carry possible criminal consequences in addition to impacting your driving privileges. The penalties for getting a DUI in Florida can include jail time, even for a first offense. So it is critical to take a DUI seriously.
In addition, you will lose your license if you get a DUI – at least temporarily. In Florida, when you get a DUI, the DMV immediately suspends your driving privileges. The process to regain your driving privileges may be complicated. For example, if you fail to request a review hearing within 10 days of the receipt of your DUI, you lose the right to contest the suspension of your drivers license. For a first DUI, the automatic suspension is 6 months – a long time to be without a car.
If you have received a DUI, it is important that you know your rights and obligations. Consider talking to an experienced DUI attorney at The Ticket Clinic. Our DUI lawyers concentrate solely on the art of defending DUI’s in Florida, California and nationwide. Call us at 1.800.CITATION.
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