Philadelphia Doc Avoids Charges for Speeding in a School Zone
At some point in our lives, we all have experienced what running late feels like. Those last-minute rushes and pushing the speed limits just a little to make up for those lost minutes indeed feel thrilling, right?
However, if you get booked amidst the thrill, that’s one of the worst feelings ever! And that’s exactly what happened in one of our recent cases, which we are going to discuss in this blog. Our client, a young doctor based in Philadelphia, pushed the accelerator pedal too hard in a school zone and got booked for overspeeding!
Now, for a respected professional like him, a clean driving record is a mandatory requirement. So, when he called up our firm, our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers went into action immediately.
Penalties for Speeding in a School Zone
In Pennsylvania, school zones are categorized as special areas and have reduced speed limits set at 15 MPH. This specific limit is in force during the hours when children are walking to or from school. Violation of this rule, therefore, is not treated like a standard traffic ticket. Rather, the penalties are significantly harsher.
First of all, any conviction for speeding in a school zone carries a fine, which can be up to $500 depending on the severity. Besides that, speeding in a school zone results in three points being added to your driving record.
And for every driver, a repeat offense for speeding in a school zone within two years can be devastating! Such violations trigger an automatic 60-day driver’s license suspension, which is a massive professional hurdle for someone like a doctor who relies on driving for work. Thankfully, our knowledgeable Pittsburgh criminal lawyers assessed the case correctly and helped our client accordingly.
How Did We Help?
Our defense strategy for our client was to get a full citation withdrawal. The client was charged under the statute for exceeding the special speed limit in a school zone. So, our first step was to scrutinize the details of the citation and check the procedures used by the police officer.
A key part of our defense was to highlight the potential for error in the enforcement process. Our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers thoroughly questioned the officer’s methodology and the accuracy of the speed detection equipment.
On top of that, we also explored whether the school zone signage was compliant with the Vehicle Code and clearly visible at the time of the stop. So, we successfully requested the District Attorney and the court for a simple traffic conviction on our client, based on his ability to practice medicine.
Surprisingly, our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers created a significant reasonable doubt in the case. Our skillful negotiation, backed by the threat of a costly and potentially unwinnable trial, led to an incredible resolution. The prosecutor agreed to withdraw the citation entirely! This outcome helped our client avoid the three points on his license, along with the hefty fine and the risks of license suspension.
Cases like these are the reason why we always advise to not risking your license or your career over a citation. Rather, seek the help of an experienced Pittsburgh criminal lawyer when facing any traffic violation. So, don’t just accept your fate, and call us at 844.PITT.DUI to schedule a free consultation.