It can happen to the best of us. We are thinking about something that the day will bring and all of a sudden realize that we are driving faster than the speed limit. When you couple that with the sight of flashing lights behind you signaling for you to pull over, a speeding ticket is often the result.
Sometimes, it is not worth it to fight a speeding ticket. For many people, it is better to just pay the ticket and try to be more careful the next time. However, there are some situations in which it may be important to fight a speeding ticket in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
When to Fight a Speeding Ticket: The CDL Driver
While a speeding ticket can be a nuisance for the average driver, it can threaten the livelihood of a commercial driver. Commercial drivers hold a special kind of license, a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
It takes time and effort to get a commercial driver’s license, and it is easily lost. Getting a traffic ticket or other moving violation can take you off the road for months, at a minimum.
If you are facing a speeding ticket as a commercial driver, it is especially important to consult an attorney before you plead to any charges. Paying your ticket amounts to a guilty plea on the charges.
For a CDL driver, a plea agreement for a deferred sentence that results in no actual conviction could still cost you your license or even your job. If any court costs are paid for a moving violation, you might lose your CDL or your job.
Even at the early stages of a case, an attorney can contest the factual basis of the charge, resulting in a not guilty finding by a court. An attorney might also try to get charges amended to a non-moving violation, but that needs to happen before the driver enters a plea.
Other Situations in Which to Fight a Speeding Ticket
There are other situations in which you may need the help of an Okmulgee attorney to fight a speeding ticket.
If your clocked speed was more than 10 miles an hour above the speed limit, or if you were cited for speeding in a school zone, or if you have a number of points already against your driver’s license, you should think seriously about having an attorney fight the speeding ticket. In all of these situations, fines are increased and you could even lose your license.
If you accumulate 10 or more points in a five-year period in Oklahoma, your driver’s license will be suspended. If you drive for a living, this could have severe consequences for you.
How an Attorney Can Help
When you decide to fight a speeding ticket, sometimes you get lucky and the arresting officer fails to appear. When that happens, your case may be dismissed automatically.
But if your arresting officer does appear, an attorney can make a big difference. Sometimes, a plea deal can be worked out. Sometimes, the equipment is faulty. Your attorney knows how best to frame and argue your case before the judge to get the best possible result.
Having an attorney present and representing you allows you peace of mind.
Low-cost Consultation with an Okmulgee Lawyer
Call 918-756-9600 or 1-888-Wirth-Law (1-888-947-8452) now for a initial strategy session with an Okmulgee, Oklahoma lawyer at Wirth Law Office – Okmulgee.
You can also submit the question form at the top right of this page, and one of our attorneys will call or email you right away.