Tulsa Traffic Ticket Lawyer: When to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Oklahoma
The sight of flashing red and blue lights in your rearview mirror can trigger a rush of anxiety. Your heart races, and your hands become clammy. But why the fear? You’re not engaged in any criminal activity, and there’s no reason to believe that a simple traffic stop will result in severe consequences such as imprisonment.
You possess a valid driver’s license, and you’re completely sober. The chances of being handcuffed and taken away are slim to none. If you remain polite and cooperative, you might escape with just a warning. At worst, you may have to appear in court, pay a fine, and receive some points on your driving record.
However, it’s not just about the points on your license. A traffic ticket can also lead to an increase in insurance rates. If driving is an integral part of your job, a ticket could affect your income. Moreover, points can accumulate, and if you accumulate 10 or more within a 5-year period, your driver’s license may be suspended by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.
In some cases, it may be easier to pay the ticket, learn from the experience, and move on. For instance, a seatbelt violation or a similar offense with no points may not be worth contesting. But there are times when fighting the ticket becomes necessary – either as a matter of principle or to avoid undesirable consequences. Paying a ticket without seeking legal recourse is seldom the best option. Tulsa traffic ticket attorneys often recommend contesting the ticket if it will impact your driving record. Once you decide to challenge a citation, the question arises: Should you represent yourself (pro se) or hire an Oklahoma traffic ticket lawyer?
To determine if a traffic ticket lawyer can assist you in beating a traffic ticket in Oklahoma, reach out to a Tulsa traffic lawyer for a low-cost consultation at 918-932-2777.
Can a Tulsa Traffic Ticket Lawyer Help?
When you choose to fight a ticket on your own, you’re essentially gambling. At the very least, you’ll need to appear in court, and in some cases, multiple times. If the officer who issued the ticket fails to show up, you might win the case by default. In situations where you don’t win by default, plea bargaining might be an option. However, prosecutors or law enforcement rarely negotiate plea bargains with defendants. For that, you need a traffic ticket attorney.
Hiring a Tulsa traffic ticket lawyer changes the game. It becomes a game of skill.
What grounds do you have for fighting the ticket? Understanding police procedures, such as how radar guns work, can sometimes serve as the basis for a traffic ticket defense. Alternatively, knowledge of the law itself can be used to challenge a traffic citation. For example, a prosecutor in one Oklahoma city recently dismissed distracted driving tickets because the city’s distracted driving ordinance exceeded the authority granted by Oklahoma’s distracted driving law.
The temptation to represent yourself in traffic court can be strong. If all you stand to lose is a few hours in court and the cost of the ticket, it might be worth rolling the dice.
However, if the stakes are high, like with a CDL ticket, or you believe in fighting for justice in your case, your best chance of success may lie in appearing in court with the same level of skill and expertise as the prosecution. This is when you need a traffic ticket lawyer to advocate on your behalf. A traffic ticket attorney can thoroughly review your citation, explore available options, and negotiate with prosecutors. They may be able to secure a reduction in charges to a no-points offense, or even have the charge dismissed in court.
Oklahoma Driver’s License Point System
Understanding the basics of the Oklahoma driver’s license point system can help you decide whether it’s better to pay a ticket or hire an Oklahoma lawyer to fight a traffic citation.
The first time you accumulate 10 or more points, your license will be suspended for a month. To reinstate your Oklahoma driver’s license, you must pay a fee in addition to the fines and court costs associated with the ticket. A second suspension lasts three months, while a third suspension lasts six months. Subsequent suspensions result in a one-year suspension each time you accumulate 10 or more points.
While points accumulate, they also fade away. For every 12 months of driving without a conviction for a points-worthy violation, 2 points are subtracted from your record. After three consecutive years without any convictions, your total points revert to zero.
Attending a six-hour driver improvement or defensive driving course can also help you erase two points. Additionally, you can remove two points by completing a driver education course once every two years.
Initial Strategy Session: Tulsa Traffic Ticket Attorney
Your Tulsa traffic ticket lawyer offers low-cost consultations for drivers who are considering whether to fight a traffic ticket. We can help you assess the costs and benefits of contesting a traffic citation. To schedule a low-cost consultation with a Tulsa traffic ticket lawyer, call 918-932-2777 or submit your question using the form at the top of this page.
Common Traffic Citations Attorneys Can Fight:
- Speeding tickets
- Running a red light or stop sign (failure to yield) tickets
- Driving while license suspended or revoked tickets
- Driving without a valid driver’s license tickets
- Inattentive driving or distracted driving tickets
- Reckless driving tickets
- Careless driving tickets
- Leaving the scene of an accident tickets
- No proof of insurance tickets
- Improper lighting tickets
- Illegal U-Turn tickets
By seeking the assistance of a skilled Tulsa attorney, you give yourself the best chance of successfully contesting a traffic ticket in Oklahoma. Don’t leave the outcome to chance; let a legal professional fight for your rights and protect your driving record.