Receiving a citation for a moving violation does not mean that you are guilty of the offense. Just paying the fine is the same as pleading guilty in court, however, and may make driving more costly to you for some time. The Texas point system adds two points to your license for driving in excess of ten percent above the posted speed limit, and three points for moving violations resulting in an accident.
Points on your driving record may cause your auto insurance rates to go up considerably for several years. More than six points on your driving record in a three-year period, and you will owe annual surcharge fines to the state. Failure to pay these fines can result in suspension of your license.
You may request permission of the court to take a driving safety course before your court date to have your ticket dismissed, but only once per year. You may not take the course for certain violations, including speeding in excess of twenty-five miles per hour over the posted speed limit or driving without auto insurance. You may request deferred adjudication in some cases, where in return for a deferred sentence you will pay the fine and court costs and be placed on probation, during which time the court may require you to complete a driving safety course. If you receive no more tickets during the probation period, your ticket will be dismissed. Deferred adjudication is completely at the discretion of the court and is not always available.
Hiring a traffic attorney to defend you in court is likely to be your best option to fight your traffic ticket, keep points off your driving record, and keep your auto insurance rates from skyrocketing. An experienced traffic lawyer is familiar with the applicable law and court procedures, giving you the best chance for winning your case. With skillful representation, many traffic cases result in dismissal or in pleading down to a nonmoving violation with a reduced fine, leaving your driving record intact.
Sullo & Sullo, LLP has an experienced team of traffic attorneys who can help you fight your traffic ticket and protect your driving record.
Houston Traffic Tickets for High Speed Violations - High speed violations are a type of moving violation for which you can be cited if you drive in excess of the posted speed limit. If you receive a traffic ticket or citation for speeding, you have the option to pay the stated fine, or to appear in court on the date and time you are required to appear. A traffic citation should be taken seriously. Letting a traffic ticket go unpaid or failing to appear in court can result in suspension of your driver’s license, additional fines, and even a warrant for your arrest.
Receiving a citation for a high speed violation does not mean that you are guilty of the offense. Just paying the fine is the same as pleading guilty in court, however, and may make driving more costly to you for some time. The Texas point system adds two points to your license for driving in excess of ten percent above the posted speed limit, and three points for moving violations resulting in an accident.
Points on your driving record may cause your auto insurance rates to go up considerably for several years. More than six points on your driving record in a three-year period, and you will owe annual surcharge fines to the state. Failure to pay these fines can result in suspension of your license.
You may request permission of the court to take a driving safety course before your court date to have your speeding ticket dismissed, but only once per year. You may not take the course for certain violations, including speeding in excess of twenty-five miles per hour over the posted speed limit or driving without auto insurance. You may request deferred adjudication in some cases, where in return for a deferred sentence you will pay the fine and court costs and be placed on probation, during which time the court may require you to complete a driving safety course. If you receive no more tickets during the probation period, your ticket will be dismissed. Deferred adjudication is completely at the discretion of the court and is not always available.
Hiring a traffic attorney to defend you in court is likely to be your best option to fight your speeding ticket, keep points off your driving record, and keep your auto insurance rates from skyrocketing. A traffic attorney can represent you in court on your behalf, so that you also save valuable time by not having to appear yourself. An experienced traffic lawyer is familiar with the applicable law and court procedures, giving you the best chance for winning your case. With skillful representation, many traffic cases result in dismissal or in pleading down to a nonmoving violation with a reduced fine, leaving your driving record intact.
Sullo & Sullo, LLP has an experienced team of traffic attorneys who can help you fight your traffic ticket and protect your driving record.
Houston Red Light Traffic Tickets - Red light running is a serious problem in Houston, with thousands of crashes every year causing injuries, deaths, and millions of dollars in damage. A red light running violation occurs when a driver’s vehicle enters an intersection after the light has turned red. There is no violation if the light was yellow when the vehicle enters the intersection, even if the light turned red before the vehicle left the intersection.
It is a violation to make a right turn or a left turn from a one-way street onto another one-way street while the light is red without first coming to a complete stop.
Houston Traffic Tickets for Running Red Lights - Running a red light is a moving violation when a ticket for this offense is cited by an officer. The moving violation is different from a red light camera ticket, which is regarded as a civil offense. A citation from an officer takes precedence over a red light camera ticket when received for the same violation.
As for other moving violations, if you are cited for running a red light you have the option to pay the stated fine or to appear in court on the required date and time. Failure to do either can result in additional fines, suspension of your driver’s license, and even a warrant for your arrest. Points may be added to your driver’s license that can result in additional fines and higher auto insurance rates. Please read the above Traffic Moving Violations section for more information and how you can get help from a traffic attorney to protect your driving record and your insurance rates.
Houston Red Light Camera Tickets - Red light camera tickets have recently been the subject of much controversy. While proponents of the cameras extol them as an effective driving safety program, opponents have criticized them as a revenue-generating scheme. As of 12:01 pm Wednesday, August 24, 2011, the city of Houston stopped issuing red light camera tickets after the Houston City Council voted to permanently shut the red light cameras down, at least for now.
Houstonians voted to turn the red light cameras off in the November 2010 election. After a federal judge ruled the election invalid, the camera controversy was reignited when American Traffic Solutions (ATS), the company operating the cameras, sued the city for breach of contract. Faced with the lawsuit, red light camera citations resumed in July 2011 when the city turned the cameras back on.
While the Houston City Council finally decided to turn the red light cameras off, the battle is far from over as the city continues negotiations with ATS, which is claiming up to $20 million in damages. ATS plans to be back in court to ask the federal judge to rule on the consequences for the city’s breach of contract, while the question remains as to how much money the city owes in damages.
The city is not letting past violations off the hook, and will continue to seek collection of outstanding fines of $75 per violation. Red light camera violations are regarded as a civil violation and not a moving violation, however, so that no points are added to your driver’s license and no report is made to your auto insurance company. Liability can be contested, but this has rarely been successful. Failure to pay the fine or contest liability within 45 days after receipt of the Notice of Violation incurs a $25 late payment fee. Failure to pay after the second notice may result in collections proceedings and a judgment against you, and a request to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to place a hold on renewal of your vehicle registration.
The Notice of Violation is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle and not the driver of the vehicle at the time of the violation. If your vehicle was stolen, sold or being test driven by another person at the time of the violation, you can submit a sworn statement to the Court by mail or in person before the Notice of Violation due date that you were not driving the vehicle when the violation occurred.
Although red light camera tickets are no longer being issued, red light running is still a moving violation subject to citation by police officers. Please read the above Traffic Moving Violations section for more information and how you can get help from a traffic attorney if you receive a red light ticket.
Sullo & Sullo, LLP has an experienced team of traffic attorneys who can help you fight your red light ticket and protect your driving record.