Do I Need an Attorney to Fight My Traffic Ticket?

You recently received a traffic ticket. Once you put a check in the mail, you are pleading guilty to that offense. While this may seem like a harmless event, even minor violations can have unanticipated consequences if they add up over a short period of time. In Massachusetts, a “surchargeable event” is added to your record for any moving violation, such as speeding or an accident where you are judged to be at fault. Aside from an increase in your automobile insurance, accumulating multiple surchargeable events may lead to the suspension of your license. For example:

• 3 speeding violations within 12 months results in an automatic 30 day suspension of your license.
• 7 surchargeable events within 3 years results in an automatic 60 day suspension of your license.
• If you are a junior operator (under the age of 18), 2 speeding violations results in a 180 day suspension of your license.
• If the court considers you to be a habitual traffic offender, you could face a 4 year suspension of your license.

What To Do After You Receive A Traffic Ticket

After you receive a traffic ticket, you have two options. First, you may plead guilty to the violation (also known as pleading “no contest”). In this case, you will pay the amount of the fine that is written on the ticket, incur points on your driving record, and possibly suffer an increase on your automobile insurance. In the alternative, you can choose to fight the ticket by pleading not guilty. This means that you will appear before a judge in traffic court, in the city or town where the violation occurred, and state your case, either representing yourself or choosing to hire an attorney to represent you. If the judge determines that you are not guilty of the violation, you will not have to pay the fine, nor will you incur points on your driving record or an increase on your automobile insurance. You may, however, have to pay court fees and attorney fees if you choose to hire one. If the judge decides that you are guilty of the violation, you will suffer the same penalties as pleading no contest, plus the additional court fees and/or attorney fees.

Pay Attention To The Deadlines

You must notify the court within 20 days after receiving the traffic ticket by checking Box 1 (guilty plea) or Box 2 (not guilty plea) and sending the ticket to the indicated address. If you fail to respond before this time, the RMV will assess a late fee to the violation, and ignoring the late fee could lead to the suspension of your license. If you choose to contest the ticket by entering a not guilty plea, the RMV will send you a letter confirming your request and provide further instructions to pay a $25 filing fee. The letter will also list a deadline for paying the filing fee.

Hire An Experienced Traffic Attorney

The Boston traffic lawyers at Bellotti Law Group, P.C. have decades of experience in helping to minimize the harm that traffic tickets can cause. With the representation of an attorney at your hearing in traffic court, you have a significantly greater chance of avoiding a suspended driver’s license, fines, jail, or an increase on your insurance. Contact our Boston, Cambridge, or Quincy traffic ticket attorneys today at 617-225-2100 for a FREE evaluation of your case.

At Bellotti Law Group, P.C., we pride ourselves in being the go-to Massachusetts traffic lawyer firm. Our expert traffic law lawyers are skilled in devising strong speeding ticket defenses in Massachusetts. Hiring a traffic ticket lawyer from our firm is a strategic move, ensuring you have a knowledgeable advocate on your side. Our traffic ticket lawyers are adept at handling a broad range of traffic violations, offering clients the most effective representation possible. Understanding that the cost can be a significant concern, we maintain a competitive traffic ticket lawyer cost structure that offers great value. When it comes to dealing with a traffic violation, trust Bellotti Law Group, P.C. for the expert legal counsel you need.

Recent Results:

Dudley District Court: In our clients speeding and license suspension case, the officer testified that he clocked my client by using the speedometer in his cruiser. We argued that the officer never proved that he kept an equal distance behind my client’s vehicle during the encounter, which resulted in the officer’s speedometer reading becoming irrelevant. The clerk magistrate agreed and found no probable cause to be found. The case was dismissed. The client was also able to appear over zoom from another state where he resided.