Essex County Traffic Ticket Lawyer

When a ticket doesn’t involve the threat of jail ,the way it would with OUI or reckless driving charges, it may be tempting for a person to want to just pay the ticket and get it over with. The sentiment is understandable—people have busy lives and the prospect of a court date and dragging this out might seem unnecessary. But the fact a sentiment is understandable does not mean it is accurate. There are very serious consequences to even everyday traffic violations that can make the fight worth it. 

Consider the following consequences to pleading guilty on a traffic ticket: 

• Your insurance rates will almost certainly go up. Moreover, a recent traffic citation can make it more difficult to change carriers in the event your current insurance premiums skyrocket after a ticket. 
• You are one step closer to losing a license. Under Massachusetts law, three tickets in a year mean the suspension of a driver’s license. 
• You’ll have a record. The next time you get pulled over, the police officer on the scene may be less inclined to let you slide with a warning, in light of this record. Another consequence of having a record is that contesting a second ticket in court may be more difficult. While the circumstances of every case are different, drivers have, all else being equal, a better chance of winning when they challenge the first ticket than those that may come after .
• Future background checks. Your driving history is included when a landlord or employer runs a background check. True, for most people, one ticket for driving 85mph down the Mass Turnpike isn’t going to ruin the chances of getting a job or a place to live. But someone who builds up a record or wants to do a job that requires driving? Now, there might be a problem.