When you are pulled over for speeding in California and live in another state, you may feel trapped. Beyond the usual anxiety, annoyance, and embarrassment that go with getting a ticket, you may feel the added stress of being out of your own territory. Fortunately, contacting an experienced California traffic attorney can restore your sense of balance and empowerment.
Although traffic laws vary from state to state, when you are driving in a state other than the one you live in, you are obligated to follow the traffic code of the state you’re visiting. This means that if you are ticketed for a traffic violation in California, you must respond by either paying the fine by mail (essentially admitting your guilt and taking the consequences) or appear in the designated California court to fight the charges. Clearly, the latter is inconvenient, time-consuming, and may be very expensive — particularly if it involves travelling across the country. Here’s where the California traffic attorney comes in.
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Using a Skilled California Traffic Attorney Makes All the Difference
Using a traffic attorney who focuses on this one area of the law makes a tremendous difference in the quality of legal representation you receive. An attorney who is adept at dealing with traffic cases in California is an added advantage. Make sure to find one who has a track record of success. Remember, a speeding conviction is a serious matter, especially if you have other violations on your record. Points on your license can accumulate quickly and may result in a suspension or revocation of your driving privileges.
What specific steps can a California traffic attorney take to help me?
The most important thing a California traffic attorney can do for you is to take your place in the courtroom. Think of the savings in time and money! No travel expenses, no lost work time for the court appearance or the trip back to and from California, no time spent working out a possible courtroom strategy. When you look for a traffic attorney to best represent you, make sure you find one whose services are cost-effective. If you pick a traffic lawyer with exorbitant fees, you defeat the purpose.
In addition to being your courtroom representative, an adept in-state traffic attorney will know which tactics are likely to work best with which judges and will have familiarity with the way various California traffic courts are run. This knowledge can prove invaluable in fighting your case and bring you the results you’re looking for.
Are there agreements among states about handling out-of-state violations?
Yes. Most states, including California, are part of “interstate traffic violation compacts,” in which states share information and follow certain procedures when dealing with out-of-state traffic offenders. Only a few states — Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin — have opted out of these agreements.
Essentially, what these agreements say is that convictions in other member states will be treated the same way as if they had been committed in your home state. So, if you are convicted of speeding in California and you come from Oregon, the Oregon DMV will be informed and will put the same points on your license that it would have if you had been arrested for speeding in Oregon.
Exceptions to Every Rule
Some states do not add a point to your license for a first traffic offense, so if you are lucky enough to live in one of these states, your insurance premiums will not increase after your first violation. Nonetheless, it is wise to realize that the more serious your offense, the more the out-of-state violation is likely to haunt you. If you drove while intoxicated in California, for instance, the news of your offense will unquestionably follow you to your home state.
If You’re Stopped for Speeding in California, Do What Smart Californians Do
Contact a California traffic attorney who can straighten out your life without disturbing your routine. This action will cost you less and is much more likely to get you the results you’re looking for than making your speeding ticket a do-it-yourself project.
Author Bio
John J. Pearson, Esq. is the founder and shareholder of Law Offices of John J. Pearson, A Prof. Law Corporation, doing business as CheapTrafficAttorneys.com. Mr. Pearson is an attorney with over 21 years experience and a former California police officer. Mr. Pearson has successfully represented over 10,000 Defendants in Southern California Traffic Courts. He focuses his traffic ticket law practice, known as CheapTrafficAttorneys.com, in Orange County & Los Angeles County where all of the regular Traffic Judges know him and his reputation as an expert traffic ticket attorney. Mr. Pearson has successfully obtained “Not Guilty” verdicts at Trial in nearly every Traffic Ticket Court in Orange County & Los Angeles County. He has successfully obtained dismissal of charges in thousands of ticket cases throughout all of Southern California.