From 2010 to 2011, just one county in California, San Diego County, issued over 500,000 traffic citations. If you’re a driver on California’s roadways, it’s important to know what traffic violations can cost you and how to fight against them.
Types of Infractions
The exact reasoning of the ticket will play an important role in determining the fines and penalties levied against you.
Moving Violations
Minor traffic law violations like improper lane changes, speeding, or failing to signal are filed together under moving violations. Compared to the severity of the below infractions, moving violations will typically receive the lowest amount of fees and points against your record. Red-light camera tickets fall into this category.
Serious Violations
California considers offenses such as driving with a revoked license, reckless driving, driving under the influence (DUI) fleeing the scene of an accident, and other dangerous activities to be serious violations.
Costs of Traffic Tickets
Financial Costs
The hit to your pocketbook starts with a base fine, determined by the type of infraction, which is then modified by fees and surcharges levied down the line of jurisdiction from state to county to the local municipality. A typical moving violation will start at a $35 fine which quickly escalates to $150 to $500. DUI tickets can easily climb up to a $1,000 fine on the first offense. While some financial penalties do make sense, many of these fines have stemmed from lawmakers hunting for revenue by adding flat fees to traffic violations.
Driver’s License Points
In addition to the points of currency, you’ll also have to pay from your pool of driver’s license points, so to speak. Each traffic ticket will add a number of infraction points to your license. Acquire too many in a short period of time, and you will find your license being revoked. Minor violations will give you a single point while more serious tickets will give you two. Gather more than four in a year, and your license will be revoked. This can cause a revolving door of traffic tickets since driving with a revoked license is a two-point ticket.
The Cost of Freedom
Committing a serious traffic violation like a DUI can cost you the most precious commodity you have: time. For a driver who is 21 years or older, the first DUI offense can put them in jail for up to 6 months. A driver with three DUI offensives may be looking at a life sentence with a chance of freedom after 25 years.
Can You Fight Against a Traffic Ticket?
Because of the way fines and points can quickly accumulate, you may suddenly find yourself left with the prospect of spending considerable portions of your paycheck on traffic ticket fines. If you are struggling under the weight of stacking court fees and driving restrictions that are making it difficult to participate in life, then contact a legal specialist who focuses on fighting against the excess penalties that can cripple your livelihood. Whether you feel like the citations are incorrect or just want to receive the best possible outcome for your situation, a skilled attorney on your side will help the outcome be the best that it can.