After receiving a traffic ticket, many drivers simply pay the fine and accept the consequences, especially if they don’t seem that severe in the short term. However, moving violations can have hidden costs, including dramatic increases in auto insurance premiums and harsher penalties for future citations. In many situations, these additional expenses often make it worthwhile to hire a traffic offense attorney to represent your interests.

3 Important Facts About Contesting a Traffic Ticket

1. Hiring an Attorney Is Often Worth the Expense

While the cost of the fine may initially seem less than a traffic offense attorney’s legal fees, simply accepting a conviction may be more expensive in the long run. This is especially true if your moving violation involved an accident, for which you may be ordered to surrender your license or pay restitution.

2. Paying a Ticket Qualifies as a Conviction

Even if you are not required to appear in court, a paid traffic ticket is considered a criminal conviction. While moving violations are among the least serious criminal offenses, future infractions may incur more serious penalties, especially if you allegedly caused an accident in which someone is injured.

3. A Variety of Defenses Are Available

Many defendants in traffic cases assume they have no choice but to pay the ticket, but the legal system makes a variety of defenses available. Depending on the circumstances of your ticket, your traffic offense attorney may argue that you made an honest mistake or violated rules to avoid an accident.

With offices in Lake St. Louis and Warrenton, Coyne, Cundiff & Hillemann, P.C. is considered one of the top law firms in Missouri. Their legal professionals have over 75 years of combined experience, fighting for the rights of people accused of a broad spectrum of criminal charges, from traffic tickets to serious felonies. Visit their website for more information about their criminal defense services, follow their Twitter page for news and updates, or call (636) 561-5599 to speak with a traffic offense attorney today.