The Worth of a Traffic Appeal: From 5 Points On License to a Zero Point Offense
When it comes to a traffic ticket, most drivers assume that the easiest way to make the issue disappear is to pay the fine and move on.
But, this is one of the most common mistakes that brings about serious and long-term consequences of a traffic violation! What most drivers don’t realize is that paying the fine is an admission of guilt. Apart from that, such a move instantly triggers a serious point assessment on your driving record!
Now, if you don’t want to pay those extra amounts to the car insurance company, you would require a dedicated legal strategy. That is exactly where an experienced Pittsburgh criminal lawyer comes into the scene. Let’s explore this blog and find out how our expert lawyers at the Logue Law Group handled this case.
What Happened With Our Client?
Our client, Mark Hedgeson, was stopped for excessive speeding on a local highway in Pennsylvania. According to the cops, he was driving 26 mph over the posted limit! And like many other people who receive a ticket, Mark thought that the easiest solution was to just pay the fine right away. He thought this would quickly resolve the entire situation. However, little did he know what was coming on his way!
The shocking letter arrived in his mailbox a few weeks later from the incident. It was an official notice from the DMV, which stated that he would soon be presented with 5 points on his driving license!
Now, these points are a massive problem in Pennsylvania, as it shoots up car insurance premiums significantly. And here is where Mark finally realized that his mistake had escalated into a costly long-term burden! He urgently contacted us and asked for a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer to take up the case.
The Appeal that Changed the Outcome
Our client Mark did one thing wrong- he paid the fine! And in legal terms, this means the accused has pleaded guilty! Therefore, we had to come up with a different legal strategy.
So, the first thing our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers did was to file an Appeal Nunc Pro Tunc to reopen the case. This appeal stated that Mark did not fully understand the consequences of his prior guilty plea.
Moreover, the appeal also allowed us to legally fight the original traffic violation in court. We then investigated the original traffic stop and the specific evidence. During this process, our skilled Pittsburgh criminal lawyers challenged the validity of the speed measuring device and the officer’s methodology.
Our strong defense strategy made the prosecution realize that a full evidentiary hearing would only guarantee our client’s win! So, instead of gambling on that, the prosecution quickly agreed to present our client with a highly favorable amendment. We negotiated the original five-point violation down to a zero-point, non-moving offense. This incredible reduction saved Mark from massive insurance premium spikes. Not just that, but it also prevented any future threat of license suspension due to excessive points accumulation.
This case is a clear instance of why you should never just pay a traffic fine without seeking proper legal counsel. Therefore, if you, or a friend of yours, have pleaded guilty to a traffic ticket but don’t want to bear those increased premiums, do call us at 844.PITT.DUI and book a free consultation with our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers today!