West Virginia has two types of speeding laws: absolute speeding limits and basic speeding limits. As the name implies, going even one mile over in an absolute zone (business or residential district, school zone when children are present, and most open country highways) will result in a ticket and a large fine. Basic speeding limits require drivers to drive at a safe speed all the time.

One of the first things drivers in any state need to understand is that there is an agreement amongst most of the states in the U.S. that says if a driver from one of the member states gets a ticket in a different state, that different state tells the driver’s home state about it. Meaning, you can’t hide the fact that you got an out-of-state traffic ticket from your home state. West Virginia and New York are both members of this agreement, which is called the Driver’s License Compact.

One of the things out of state drivers often wonder is if they can just ignore the ticket they received while driving in West Virginia, since it’s not from their home state. The answer to that is no. To ignore the ticket could result in West Virginia suspending your license, which means New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles will also suspend it, as they have a reciprocity agreement with West Virginia. This would leave you without legal means of getting around independently. And, your license will remain suspended until you deal with the West Virginia ticket.

In general, tickets received for minor traffic violations in West Virginia by New York residents do not get added to the driver’s record in New York. However, tickets received for things like Driving Under the Influence of drugs and/or alcohol, or for things like assault, homicide, or criminal negligence while driving will become part of the driver’s criminal record. Similarly, New York does not assign points to a driver’s license for a ticket received in West Virginia for a minor traffic violation. But tickets received for the previously-mentioned offenses (things like Driving Under the Influence of drugs and/or alcohol, or for things like assault, homicide, or criminal negligence while driving) will result in the driver receiving points on his or her license.

All that being said, if you get a ticket while driving in West Virginia, your insurance company will be notified that you have received it, which will likely cause your rates to rise. And, you still have to pay whatever fines and costs that are levied against you by West Virginia.

Some traffic offenses result in a suspension of your license. If your New York license is suspended, West Virginia considers you to be prohibited from driving in their state, as well. If you are a New York driver and are caught driving under suspension in West Virginia, you will be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor by West Virginia police.

For drivers who receive traffic tickets in West Virginia, it can be difficult to find an attorney who knows the West Virginia court system. If you find yourself in that position, Logue Law Group is here to help. Call Sean Logue any time of the day or night at 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901. Initial consultations are free.

Don’t delay in calling a West Virginia attorney if you are from New York, or any other state, and are ticketed in West Virginia. Delays in seeking legal assistance may result in you paying higher fines than necessary. Call today!

Driving with a revoked or suspended license is a crime in Pittsburgh, as it is all throughout Pennsylvania. If you are caught driving with a suspended license, you will require the services of a well-trained and experienced Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney.

There are two different driving while suspended charges in Pennsylvania: the usual driving with a suspended license, code “1543(a),” offense, and the more severe, code “1543(b),” offense that is a DUI related driving with a suspended license. The codes referred to, “1543(a)” and “1543(b),” are found in the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code and are specific to driving under suspension. A Pittsburgh DUI lawyer can help you understand their details.

The “(a)” offense in Pennsylvania is a summary offense, which means it is minor. Sometimes, summary offenses are referred to as “non-traffic citations.” A 1543(a) summary offense comes with a $200 mandatory fine and a license suspension of one year.

The courts cannot convict you of driving while suspended unless they can prove the following three things: (1) you were operating your motor vehicle on a highway, surface street, or other “trafficway” within the state of Pennsylvania; (2) you have an unrestored suspended or revoked license, and (3) you received an actual notice that your license was suspended or revoked. This last requirement often makes it difficult for the government to prove a driving while suspended case. Proof that they mailed the notice to you is not enough to show that you knew, and since you don’t have to get on the stand and give testimony, the prosecutor will have difficulty providing evidence to say you did.

If you are charged with driving while suspended, and never knew your license was suspended, call Pittsburgh Criminal Defense Attorney Sean Logue at 1-412.387.6901. He and his associates might be able to get your charges dismissed based on this issue.

Driving Under a DUI Suspension – Penalties

A driving while suspended (DUI related) charge comes with harsh penalties.

In Pennsylvania, the penalties for a person’s first DUI offense are a $500 fine and a mandatory jail sentence of 60 to 90 days. If you have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .02% while driving on a DUI suspension, you may be fined $1000 and receive a mandatory 90-day jail sentence. There is also an additional license suspension of 1 to 2 years.

Traffic Violations

A conviction for a speeding ticket or other type of traffic violation is no easy matter. It can result in points being assessed on your driver’s license, and you being required to pay fines and court costs. Your insurance premiums might go up, and your license might be suspended. This last is dependent upon your driving record and the number of citations you have received in the past. So, it is extremely important to get in touch with a traffic ticket lawyer in Pittsburgh before it’s too late. The sooner you hire a lawyer to represent you, the easier it will be to dispute your charges and reduce or eliminate your penalties.

Contact Us

You need an attorney to examine your case and see if he can reduce or eliminate the penalties listed. Pittsburgh Criminal Defense Attorney Sean Logue and his associates at Logue Law Group are efficient traffic ticket lawyers and have represented people in traffic court in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

The attorneys at Logue Law Group are highly trained in all aspects of traffic and DUI law, including the use of breath analysis machines, blood and urine testing, DUI checkpoints, and the ins and outs of arrests.

Contact the office of Pittsburgh Criminal Defense Attorney Sean Logue at 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901, or contact him online here, to discuss how you can fight driving while suspended charges or traffic tickets, and hopefully avoid mandatory incarceration and fines.

If you have been charged with a traffic offense, you need to know that these can have serious implications on your driving privileges in the future. Hundreds of people are issued tickets each day in Pennsylvania, and these tickets are rated under the PennDOT Points System. Most people fail to contest these charges and simply pay the fine. Some people fail to realize the future implications of having points added to their license. You should make sure to consult a Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney if you are ever in this situation.How many points are given per violation?

Points are assigned for each violation. Some of the point values and the offenses for which they are earned are below:

Failure to yield – 3 points

Improper passing on a hill – 4 points

Not stopping at a red light – 3 points

Circumventing a train gate: 4 points and a license suspension of 30 days

Failure to yield half of the roadway to oncoming traffic – 3 points

Ignoring a flashing red light – 3 points

Careless driving – 3 pointsWhy Should I Fight These Charges?

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) points system is used to monitor drivers and improve road safety. Most violations carry points (often varying, depending on the seriousness of the violation), and when points are deducted, you will have to deal with heavy penalties as well as the potential suspension of your license. If you don’t contest these charges, a court in the Pittsburgh area may deny you driving privileges. Here is how the point system works:

• Underage drivers accumulating 6 points see their license suspended for 90 days (120 days in case of a repeat offense) and have to pass a written test to get their license reinstated.
• For adults, accumulating 6 points makes it mandatory for you to sit for a special written exam on safe driving practices, sanctions, and safety issues within 30 days. The license remains suspended until you pass the test.
• Second-time accumulation of 6 points requires you to attend a PennDOT department hearing. Failing to appear leads to the suspension of your license for 60 days.
• Third accumulation of 6 points leads to mandatory PennDOT department hearing where your record will be judged, and your license may be suspended for 30 days.
• Accumulation of 11 points in the PennDOT points system results in an immediate suspension of your license without any hearing. The suspension of your license would be based on your past suspension record: o 5 days per point for the first suspension
  • 10 days per point for the second suspension
  • 15 days per point for third suspensions
  • 1-year suspension for fourth and subsequent suspensions

This is why it is important for you to hire the services of an experienced and reputable traffic ticket attorney in the Pittsburgh area who is well versed in Pennsylvania traffic law, like those at Logue Law Group.How Can We Help You?

Attorney Sean Logue and his associates will closely examine all the charges that have been brought against you and take note of your past driving record. They have defended hundreds of clients in cases involving various types of traffic offenses under the PennDOT points system, and protected those clients’ rights and interests. There are multiple ways to remove these points from your driving record, and the attorneys at Logue Law Group would go to any extent and do whatever it takes to protect your driving privileges. Their proven track record is a testimony to their skill and expertise in traffic law.

To get in touch and schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Traffic Lawyer at the Pittsburgh firm of Logue Law Group, contact us online, or call 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901. We are available 24/7 to serve the entire Pittsburgh area, including the counties surrounding the city, along with West Virginia and Ohio.

Here, the points or status of your driving record has a direct impact on your car insurance premium costs. Your insurance company is notified of your records and the premium costs automatically rise up. In Pennsylvania, PennDOT (The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) adds points to the records of the ticketed drivers. And every violation has a specific number of points assigned to it. That is why, as a Pittsburgh traffic ticket lawyer, I would always advise you to fight your ticket. It is absolutely worth it.

It is advisable that you contact a criminal lawyer in Pittsburgh immediately after getting a traffic ticket. Only an experienced attorney can help you in these kinds of situations. It is important that your rights are protected; otherwise, you will end up paying hefty amounts in insurance rates and fines. If you contact Logue Law Group, we will make sure that your case is being handled by a dedicated and esteemed criminal lawyer.

Six Points or More on Your Driving Record

If your driving record accumulates less than six points, then there is not much to worry about. But if the number of points is six or above, PennDOT will inform your insurance company. That is why you should fight your ticket.

It can not only reduce the points on your driving record, but could also completely dismiss it. But, for that, you have to get in touch with an experienced Pittsburgh lawyer who has fought these kinds of cases in the past. With proper evidence, he can lessen the level of your offense. You should always retain a good traffic lawyer as the investment is totally worth it. You will actually be able to save a lot on your future insurance rates.

Insurance companies look not only at the number of points you have, but also the specific violations you were ticketed for when determining what rates to charge you. Your age also plays a factor. It is not unusual for the cost of a person’s insurance to rise to painful heights after getting a ticket.

Finding Coverage

If you try to get less expensive coverage, most of the insurance companies will check your driving records. And if the points accumulated is six or above, then you have to get a policy with high prices. And if there are too many points on your records, then it is very likely that your insurance company will cancel your policy. As a driver in this region, having car insurance is a must. So, you have to again go to another insurer.

Seeking the help of a reputed traffic ticket lawyer in the Pittsburgh area is the best solution. He will take all kinds of measures to discredit evidence and make sure that you get out of this situation without your insurance rates excessively raised.

Why You Need Professional Help

You would be able to negotiate on the fine amount but not on the points on your records if you do not get professional help.

How a Lawyer can Help

When you are accused of a traffic violation, you definitely need a traffic ticket lawyer to help you out. He will stand by you throughout the entire procedure and make sure that your rights are protected.

For a free initial consultation with an experienced Pittsburgh lawyer from Logue Law Group, contact us online or call 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901.

Logue Law Group is the premier group of attorneys in the Pittsburgh area, serving the city, the counties surrounding it, and Ohio and West Virginia.