The majority of the traffic laws, including criminal traffic, are set forth in Chapter 316 of the Florida Statutes. The statutes are for such moving violations as:
- Speeding
- Careless Driving
- Violation of Traffic Control Device
- Running a Red Light
- Violation of Right of Way
- Improper Change of Lane
- Florida's Move Over Law
- Spectator to Street Racing
- Improper Passing
- Toll Violations
If you were given a traffic ticket you have a limited amount of time to take care of it in one of three ways. Once issued a traffic ticket, unless it is marked "must appear" (in which case you are required to go to court), within thirty (30) days, a person has to pick one of three options open to them:
- Pay the ticket;
- Ask for a traffic court hearing (trial); or,
- Attend the driver's school.
PAYING THE TICKET
Payment of the ticket is the legal equivalent of pleading guilty to the charge and will result in points being assessed against your driver's license if it is a moving violation.
DRIVER IMPROVEMENT SCHOOL
Instead of fighting the ticket or simply paying the fine, Florida allows a third option in certain cases. If you qualify, you can elect to attend a basic driver's safety education school. Fines and other costs would still be charged to you as well as the cost of the school. Election to attend the school is made through the Clerk of the Court office in the County in which you received the ticket.
If a person elects to attend and complete the driver improvement course their insurance rates cannot go up and their policy cannot be cancelled because of the traffic violation, unless this involved a crash where they were at fault. Points may not be added to their driver license record.
Not all persons are eligible to attend the school. You may not make the election to go to school and avoid the points if you have made that election in the preceding 12 months. A person may make no more than five elections in a lifetime. You may not attend the school and avoid the points if you hold a Commercial Driver's License or CDL.
If you pick the school option, then you must complete the class within the time allowed by the Clerk of Court in the county where you receive the citation. The schools charge a fee in addition to the fine.
If you elect the school option, you waive, or give up, any and all defenses you may have had to the ticket. Those defenses may result in the ticket being dismissed in court or the court waiving the points and only assessing a fine and costs.
If you are not eligible to attend the school or want to have a traffic court hearing then you should contact traffic ticket defense lawyer Ronald W. Slonaker in Ocala. Contact my office by e-mail or call local at 352-502-4847 for a free initial consultation. The toll-free phone number to call is 888-365-2180.
FIGHTING THE TICKET
As a former police officer and as an experienced attorney I fight for my clients in Traffic Court and provide low cost, competent representation for all types of moving violations. Please contact Ronald Slonaker at the Slonaker Law Firm, a Marion County traffic ticket lawyer, to help you fight the charge against yourself.
There is no need to miss a day from your work to show up in Traffic Court or to travel a great distance from your home to the courthouse. In most cases, you will not even have to appear in Traffic Court if you elect to fight the traffic ticket, because as your Attorney, I can appear on your behalf. In some cases I may feel it is in your best interest to prepare a written statement of your version of the case and I can help you prepare that for filing with the court.
For every traffic ticket conviction, including those caused by paying the fine instead of fighting the ticket, the Florida DMV will assess points to your driving license. If you are an out-of-state driver, the Florida DMV will notify your home state DMV which will then likely assess points on your record. Accumulate enough points and you can lose your license to drive. Almost all traffic ticket convictions, including those due to payment of the fine without fighting the ticket, will cause an increase in your insurance rates. Therefore, it is very important that you defend the ticket in court.
If you must appear in traffic court or you want to have a traffic court hearing, then you should contact traffic ticket defense lawyer Ronald W. Slonaker in Ocala. Contact my office by e-mail or call local at 352-502-4847 for a free initial consultation. The toll-free phone number to call is 888-365-2180.
Contact Traffic Ticket Defense Lawyer in Leesburg and Ocala
You have rights and options after a criminal traffic offense, traffic ticket or DUI. Our fees for routine traffic tickets are extremely reasonable. With most traffic tickets we can handle everything over the phone with you and can accept payment for our reasonable fees via a credit card transaction. If we do need to meet, I am available to meet with you weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Evening and weekend consultations can be arranged upon request. . Contact my office or call local at 352-502-4847. The toll-free phone number to call is 888-365-2180.
Help Is Only A Phone Call Away!
Contact my office by e-mail or call local at 352-502-4847 for a free initial consultation. The toll-free phone number to call is 888-365-2180.
