Speeding is one of the most common traffic tickets, however, you can face a summary offense or more serious criminal charges for other traffic violations, such as driving beyond the parameters of a restricted license, running a stop sign or red light, following other vehicles too closely, and making an illegal U-turn. All of these traffic violations and others have various consequences, including fines and driver’s license points. If you obtain too many points on your record, you may have to take written driving tests or deal with a suspended license.
To avoid being found guilty of a traffic ticket and tarnishing your driving record, work with a traffic ticket attorney at Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC right away. Fighting a ticket may feel like a lot of work until you consider the serious consequences a ticket and driver’s license points could have on your future. Call us today at (412) 281-2146 to schedule a consultation.
When You Can Be Ticketed for Speeding
The prohibition against driving faster than the speed limit is outlined in 75 Pa. Code §3362, which also defines the lawful maximum speed limits for areas without a posted limit. When there are no speed limit signs, you may drive up to 25 mph in a residential neighborhood, up to 35 mph in an urban area, and up to 55 mph in other locations. In a school zone, you can only drive up to 15 mph, according to 75 Pa. Code §3365.
If you are caught driving faster than the posted or legal maximum speed limit, then you can be ticketed for committing a summary offense. If you drove faster than a maximum of 65 mph, then you will be fined $42.50 and may have to pay other court costs and fees. If you violated any other maximum speed, the statutory fine is $35. However, if you drove more than 5 mph over the speed limit, then for every additional mph over the speed limit you will be fined an additional $2. Driving more than 11 mph over the limit in a school zone leads to a maximum fine of $500.
Additionally, under 75 Pa. Code §3361, you can be ticketed for violating the law that requires you to always drive at a safe speed. You are not entitled to drive at a speed than what is reasonable and prudent based on the conditions, including weather, traffic, road conditions, visibility, road design, and more.
If you plead or are found guilty of speeding, you will have consequences other than fines and fees. You may have your license suspended for a period of time and will have points added to your driver’s license. Additionally, your auto insurance premiums will rise, costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars over the next few years.
A traffic lawyer from Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC will help you fight a speeding ticket. Whether you were ticketed for driving faster than a posted limit, driving too fast for the conditions, or in a school or work zone, we will strive for you to walk away without a violation.
Commercial Driver’s License Violations
As a CDL holder, you have additional rules of the road to follow, and in certain circumstances, higher standards to adhere to than drivers with regular licenses. For instance, as a commercial driver, the legal limit for your blood alcohol concentration while operating a commercial vehicle is .04 percent. If you are pulled over and your BAC is .04 percent or higher, you will be charged with a DUI.
Also, even if you are ticketed or charged with a criminal traffic offense while in your own personal vehicle, there can be professional repercussions. A DUI in any vehicle could lead to you losing both your personal license and your CDL, putting you out of work for a period of time.
Since your CDL is integral to your livelihood, you should have an experienced traffic lawyer help you protect your license. If you are ticketed or charged with any criminal traffic violation while holding a CDL, call Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC now for help in fighting it.
Why You Should Fight Your Traffic Ticket
When you are pulled over a ticketed for a relatively minor violation such as speeding or running a stop sign, you may initially think to pay the fine and move on. It is not a big deal, right? Wrong. Paying a traffic ticket is the same as pleading guilty and takes away your ability to defend yourself or minimize the consequences of a violation.
If you choose to go the seemingly easier route and pay a traffic ticket, be aware of the costs of pleading guilty. You will have to pay a fine and other related fees. Depending on the violation, this can really put a dent in your finances, yet the consequences do not end there. A traffic ticket can lead to your auto insurance premiums going up.
The only way you can get out of a ticket or try to limit the penalty you face is by fighting the ticket with the help of a traffic ticket attorney. There is no guarantee that fighting will make the ticket quickly go away or result in a judgment in your favor. However, having an experienced criminal law attorney handle the situation greatly increases the chance of a favorable outcome.
Understanding Pennsylvania’s License Points System
For every traffic violation you plead or are found guilty of, you receive points on your driver’s license. Different traffic violations lead to different numbers of points. Some tickets are as few as two points, and others are up to five points.
These points accrue, and if you reach six points, then you are required to take a written test. If you cannot pass the test within 30 days, your driver’s license is suspended until you can pass. When you pass within 30 days, two points are removed from your record. If you hit six points again, you must attend a hearing. The administrative judge can require you to take a test again or suffer a 15-day driver’s license suspension.
If you reach 11 points, then your license is automatically suspended for five days. A second time of acquiring 11 points results in a 10-day suspension, a third time leads to a 15-day suspension, and any subsequent accumulation of 11 points is a one-year suspension.
Fortunately, driver’s license points do not stay on your record forever. For each 12 consecutive months you go without accruing any new points, three points are removed. You can also avoid driver’s license points by working with traffic ticket attorneys and fighting any tickets you receive.
Pennsylvania Traffic Tickets for Out-of-State Drivers
If you are an out of town driver ticketed in Pennsylvania, do not ignore your situation. As a U.S. driver, a ticket obtained anywhere can have consequences for your driving record and license. Ignoring it means your fine could accrue interest. Eventually, the police may put a warrant out for your arrest. If you return to the state for work or vacation, you could find yourself in jail until you can speak with an attorney and get everything settled.
You have the option of simply paying the ticket. However, paying a ticket in Pennsylvania can result in consequences in your state. Pennsylvania is part of a 46-state agreement through which states communicate with one another about moving violations and traffic-related convictions.
To fight the ticket, you should work with a traffic ticket attorney in the jurisdiction where you received the ticket. Though you are out of the state, your lawyer can represent you so you avoid getting into trouble for missing any mandatory hearings. Your lawyer also increases the chance of beating the ticket and walking away from the experience with your same driving record or at least minimizing the consequences of the violation.
What Our Clients Say
Read what John had to say about us on Avvo:
“I lost my license 20 years ago and never thought I would ever get it back they told me I had to come back to Pittsburgh and do 9 months in jail if I wanted to even think about getting my license so I got a hold call Samir and he took care of my case better than I ever thought anyone could and now after 20 years of having no license I finally got it back and it only took them 5 months I had six out-of-state warrants and I walked away from this clean so I want to give a huge thank you to Michael and Samir and the secretary they were so nice to me and help me with every possible problem I had so if you’re looking for an attorney I wouldn’t look any further”
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let a Pittsburgh Traffic Ticket Lawyer Help You
Fighting a traffic ticket is an inconvenience. However, there are more than enough reasons to want to avoid traffic violations. The cleaner you keep your driving record, the better. The traffic ticket attorneys of Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC want to help you maintain a clean driving record. Contact us today at (412) 281-2146 to discuss how we can help with your ticket.
