So, you’ve unfortunately been cited with a speeding ticket. Maybe you don’t think it was justly given, or maybe you simply can’t afford to pay it. Nobody likes dealing with speeding tickets, however, there are resources that can help you reduce or dismiss the penalty. Let’s take a look at the logistics of hiring a speeding ticket lawyer: should you do it, is it financially worth it, and what other options do you have.

What Does a Speeding Ticket Lawyer Do?

Lawyers and attorneys practice in different fields. Speeding tickets are typically a specialization of “traffic” lawyers and attorneys. It is a traffic ticket lawyer’s job to understand all aspects of the law regarding speeding tickets, sign violation tickets, and more. In California, a speeding ticket lawyer must be extremely familiar with the California Vehicle Code. For example, here is a section of the CA VC that applies to speeding regulations:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=22350

Speeding Ticket Lawyers have the primary goal of reducing penalties associated with the infraction, participating in alternative negotiations, and ultimately dismissing the ticket entirely. Most speeding ticket lawyers ill know all of the “tricks” to getting out of a speeding citation. However, it is important to note that there are many situations where a ticket simply can’t be beat—even by an experienced traffic ticket attorney. In that case, is hiring a lawyer even worth it? Let’s find out.

Are the Lawyer Fees Worth it?

There is not a constant “yes” or “no” answer to this question. It really depends on the scenario, ticket cost, lawyer fee cost, and other various externalities. It’s all about risk; is the chance to avoid the immediate financial penalties and insurance hikes, worth the attorney’s fee? In many cases, it is not worth it. It is a known fact that lawyer’s fees are not cheap. Then, take into account the amount of time you will have to sacrifice to meet with your lawyer, create a case, go to court, etc. It adds up. There is also an inevitable opportunity cost when it comes to missing work to appear in court and handle other legal procedures.

Compare the attorney fee amount with the traffic ticket fine amount. If the attorney fee is larger, than your first thought will be to throw hiring a speeding ticket lawyer out of consideration. Don’t abandon the idea just yet however; speeding tickets can have lasting, damaging effects on insurance rates, and license suspensions. If cited for speeding, your insurance could increase over time to an amount much greater than the lawyer fee amount. Depending on the severity of a speeding ticket, one or two points will be added to your CA DMV record if cited in California. These DMV points can lead to your driver’s license being suspended. The tricky thing here, is that there is no guarantee—or even strong likelihood—that your speeding ticket lawyer will dismiss your ticket. There will always be a considerable chance that your case will fail, leading to you paying for the ticket, insurance hikes, and attorney fees—maybe it’s time to look for an alternative approach.

A Better Alternative to Speeding Ticket Lawyers

There is a way you can avoid going to court altogether. According to CA VC 40902, you are allowed to contest a ticket through a Trial by Written Declaration. How do you do this? A California ticket dismissal service can help you write a Trial by Written Declaration. Most reputable services handle all required paperwork as well. All you have to do is answer questions about the speeding ticket. After entering the relevant information, ticket dismissal services prepare your defense. You are required to mail in the defense, as California courts do not allow 3^rd party services to mail it in. All in all, this method is much simpler than going through the process of hiring a speeding ticket lawyer. Another key advantage is that it will almost always be much cheaper too! TicketBust, for example, charges only $99 for cell phone and seat belt tickets, and $199 for other traffic tickets, such as speeding citations.

TicketBust: The Best way to Fight a California Speeding Ticket

California speeding tickets are at the high end of the spectrum, regarding nationwide costs. If you find yourself with a speeding citation, (or any other traffic ticket) be sure to look out for any breaches of traffic patrol policy. These instances can make a huge difference in the process of dismissing your ticket. A ticket fighting service can help you avoid citation penalties, negating the DMV points in the process. Find out how TicketBust can assist you, and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

How Much is a Ticket with No Insurance in California?

Driving with no insurance is a dangerous game in any state, including California. Not only are you putting yourself at huge financial risks through potential accidents and injuries, but a mere speeding ticket can change from a $200 citation, to a $2000 ordeal. We shall examine California auto insurance requirements, penalties for driving without auto insurance, and how you can get out of paying one of these astonishingly-priced tickets.

Insurance Requirements

According to California Vehicle Code Section 16029, it is illegal to operate a vehicle without evidence of financial responsibility. This typically refers to insurance, however other forms of financial responsibility are accepted as well. Besides auto insurance, this list includes a DMV issued self-insurance certificate, proof of a cash deposit of $35,000 with the DMV, or a surety bond of $35,000 from a licensed California business. One of these physical documents must be in your vehicle at all times, in order to comply with the vehicle code. Insurance cards or papers are the most common types—they must include the driver’s name, personal information, and insurance information (company name, address, policy number, and dates covered). However, some vehicles do not require insurance. You may operate trailers, off-highway vehicles, government entity-registered vehicles, special equipment vehicles, and non-operation status vehicles.

Penalties for Driving with no Insurance

Whenever you are pulled over by a police officer regarding a traffic violation, you will be asked to present your auto insurance. If you fail to present insurance documentation, you will be cited with a minimum base fine of $100; It can commonly reach up to $200, however. Keep in mind this is for your first offense of failing to provide proof of insurance. That’s not the end of the story. After the base fine, penalty assessment fees are typically enforced. For every $10 of the base fine, $26 is added to the total infraction cost. This leaves you with a $360-$720 citation for lack of insurance proof alone. This, plus the original citation (speeding, running a stop sign, etc.) combined with the possible impounding of your vehicle, equates to one expensive ticket cocktail.

It gets worse. For your second offense, the base fine is between $200 and $500. With the 26:10 penalty assessment fee ratio, your total citation cost comes out to anywhere between $720 and $1800. Fun fact: on average, auto insurance in California costs $841.

Other Consequences of a “No Insurance” Ticket

If you are cited in an accident without insurance, there are possible civil penalties. You may have to pay for all of the costs of injuries, property damage, and other charges. The DMV does not take these offenses lightly as well. They can suspend your California driver’s license for four years. Your vehicle registration can also be suspended or cancelled by the DMV. After receiving a ticket for driving without insurance, you will most likely intend to purchase auto insurance in order to avoid similar incidents in the future. The bad news is that your policy costs will be much higher because insurance companies will consider you as a higher-risk driver.

How to Beat your No Insurance Infraction

Citations for lack of proof of insurance are one of the most expensive ticket types. However, it is possible to dismiss your ticket altogether. TicketBust helps you relinquish your ticket with no court involvement, no paperwork, and minimal waiting. If you find yourself with a citation, be sure you looking out for breaches of traffic patrol policy. These instances can make a huge difference in dismissing your ticket. If you have any questions regarding insurance-related infractions, do not hesitate to contact us.

Ignoring Buses Will Get You a Ticket: Monteca Police Department

Ten more drivers were slapped with $150 tickets by Manteca Police on Thursday for ignoring red flashing lights on Manteca Unified school buses.

It was the second day of school bus red light enforcement. The traffic officers on motorcycles and in patrol cars once again targeted different locations throughout the day – beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending about 3:30 p.m. as the last of the school children were let off near their homes.

In the early morning hours officers handed out eight citations to motorists who drove right past the buses that had activated flashing red lights. They began once again on Lathrop Road where 15 were cited in the first hour Wednesday.  Later in the day they would add a few more citations to that number.

At 1:20 p.m. Thursday in the 1000 block of West Yosemite Avenue, a bus stopped and let off a group of students with all of them walking down the sidewalk and through the parking lot by Hafer’s Home Furnishings.  As another girl exited the bus and began to walk across the street past the rear of the bus, a white SUV  passed in front of her and then turned into a driveway. The driver missed seeing or maybe recognizing what the red lights meant.

The reaction of two Manteca Police patrol units was swift, however, as the driver turned to the left behind the bus and into the shopping center parking lot.  One of the officers stayed right behind the vehicle until he parked it in front of a series of small shops in the center where it was explained to him what he had done wrong through the use of an interpreter – and he signed the citation.

There was heavy traffic in the afternoon on Lathrop Road westbound approaching Airport Way with several oncoming buses caught in the snarl of cars and trucks.  Two black and white patrol units parked on the north side of the road adjacent to an almond orchard and two motorcycle officers sat on their motor units across the street.

Traffic continued to use the long middle left turn lane to approach Airport Way hoping to make a left-hand turn at the intersection.  One motor officer had a car stopped on the bridge to the west and the remaining officer apparently got tired of seeing traffic illegally use that long center left turn lane, finally giving chase and handing out a citation – noting the total number of tickets was probably down because motorists had learned how to contact and warn each other through social media links on their cell phones.

The bus drivers were well aware of the police activity and would give a friendly wave to officers as they drove past.

California state law requires drivers in both directions to stop whenever a school bus has activated its flashing red lights and stop signal arm.  Drivers must remain stopped until the flashing red lights are turned off.  Flashing yellow lights mean that motorists should slow their vehicles and prepare to stop.  If the school bus is on the other side of a divided roadway with two or more lanes in each direction, drivers do not need to stop.

Read full article here: https://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/local-news/mpd-issues-10-more-tickets-ignoring-buses/

For a detailed account of how to understand the CA seat belt law, we have you covered. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) are working together to focus on child safety through the California Restraint Safety Education and Training (CARSEAT II) campaign.

In addition to educational efforts, the CHP will be conducting enforcement operations concentrating on seat belt violations throughout the year with a special emphasis during the national “Click it or Ticket” campaign and National Child Passenger Safety Week.

“Making sure every child in your vehicle is buckled up in an appropriate car seat for their age and size is the easiest way to prevent serious injury or even death in the event of a crash,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “Drivers should set an example by always buckling up and requiring everyone in the vehicle to wear their seat belt, no matter how short the trip.”

California law requires a child be properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat in the rear seat of a vehicle until they are at least eight years of age.

More information regarding child passenger safety, child safety seats and seat belt regulations is available at any local CHP area office.

The Bakersfield CHP office is located at 9855 Compagnoni St, Bakersfield, CA 93313.

Read about CA Vehicle Code 27315 vc or the full article here: https://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/chp-partnering-with-agencies-to-launch-campaign-to-reduce-number-of-children-killed-in-collisions

When you are pulled over by a police officer, the first thing they usually ask for is your license and registration. But what if you do not have a license or it’s expired? Learn about what it means to drive without a license, the consequences you could face if caught, and who doesn’t need to possess a valid California driver’s license.

What Defines “Driving Without a License” and Associated Penalties

What happens if you get caught driving without a license? Let’s look at the different types of license-related infractions.  The least serious offense is if you have a valid license, but you don’t have it in your car when pulled over. This infraction type is classified under Section 12591 of the California Vehicle Code. You can easily dismiss this infraction by proving to the court that you had a valid driver’s license at the time of being pulled over. A fine may be designated to you, but there are ways of fighting the ticket.

What if you never even applied for a license or you get caught driving with an expired license? California Vehicle Code 12500 rules, “A person may not drive a motor vehicle upon a highway, unless the person then holds a valid driver’s license issued under this code, except those persons who are expressly exempted under this code.”

You are in violation of this code if:

1. You drive on a road without ever securing a California driver’s license
2. You do not renew your California driver’s license when it expires
3. You establish official residency in California, but do not secure a California-issued driver’s license

A ticket with this code violation usually has a maximum fine of $250. However, a combination of special circumstances and high court fees can bump the fine to a maximum of $1,000 in some cases. This code violation can also bring about a misdemeanor charge, vehicle impounding, and summary probation. Teenagers have frequently fallen victim to this infraction type. For more information on California teen driving and licensing laws, check out this guide:

https://teendriving.aaa.com/CA/supervised-driving/licensing-and-state-laws/

If your license is cancelled, revoked, or suspended by authorities, matters turn more serious. Under California Vehicle Code Sections 14601-14611, a mere first conviction could lead to jail-time. In fact, the code falls for a minimum of five days in county jail, with a maximum of six months. For a first offense. It is recommended that you seek professional legal help if you find yourself in this kind of situation. Not to mention, this offense carries a minimum fine of $300, and a maximum of $1,000. Repeat infractions will result in massively increased penalties as well.

Note, for all these infractions, many Californian prosecutors have been known to reduce criminal charges to mere infractions if the defendant is able to acquire a license before their court hearing.

Who Doesn’t Require a California Driver’s License?

California Vehicle Code Section 12501 states that there are a few exemptions for people who do not require a California driver’s license.

1. An officer or employee of the United States, while operating a motor vehicle owned or controlled by the United States on the business of the United States, except when the motor vehicle being operated is a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in Section 15210.
2. Any person while driving or operating implements of husbandry incidentally operated or moved over a highway, except as provided in Section 36300 or 36305.
3. Any person driving or operating an off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification, as defined in Section 38012, while driving or operating such motor vehicle as provided in Section 38025. Nothing in this subdivision authorizes operation of a motor vehicle by a person without a valid driver’s license upon any off-street parking facility, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 12500.

For these specific groups, there is no penalty for driving without a license in California.

I’ve Been Cited for Driving Without a License. Now What?

First things first, don’t panic. A ticket fighting service can help you get out of this kind of infraction. Hopefully it doesn’t happen in the first place—especially driving with a cancelled, revoked, or suspended license—but if you do get cited for a Driver’s License Traffic Ticket, visit us on the web at www.staging-vadusuxe.kinsta.cloud or call (800) 850-8038, to find out how to get it dismissed.