Michigan Traffic Offense Defense Attorney
Laser and radar speed measurement devices are not foolproof, but suppose there is irrefutable evidence of speeding. A savvy lawyer can still get the charges dismissed or reduced in most cases.
Get Speeding and All Other Civil Infraction Tickets Dismissed
The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards requires that all police officers who are Speed Measurement Operators must be recertified by 12/31/2014 (every five years). If an officer fails to be recertified, their speeding ticket might be subject to attack. Whether through RADAR or LIDAR, any citations issued for speed could be dismissed or not upheld in court if the operator has not been recertified. Your best hope of getting a traffic ticket, including a speeding ticket, dismissed is with an experienced, respected traffic ticket defense attorney.
Pretext Traffic Stops to Justify Felony and Misdemeanor Arrests
Police officers sometimes stop cars to investigate a suspicion that someone is committing a felony or a misdemeanor. The suspicion may come from a hunch, a confidential informant, an anonymous tip, or based on some other reason. In the United States and Michigan, police officers must have reasonable suspicion that a crime is being committed before lawfully stopping a vehicle. Indeed, some officers dutifully do their duty and follow the law; however, some officers play fast and loose with the rules and then make up a civil infraction later to justify the stop. The traffic stops with a made-up or later determined civil infraction to justify pulling someone over are called “pretext stops.” Speeding and traffic ticket defense lawyers know the tricks of the trade to get these matters resolved favorably.
Pretext stops are illegal and, when discovered, can lead to a motion to suppress evidence and a dismissal of all charges. It takes a highly experienced, effective, and fearless defense lawyer to fight charges based on a 4th Amendment violation and win in court. The Defense Team with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. has decades of experience fighting and winning dismissals of traffic and criminal charges in state and federal court based on pretext stops.
Getting a Ticket Dismissed or Reduced – Speeding and Traffic Ticket Defense
In those cases where a client is charged with a civil infraction and the ticket is justified, the charges can still be dismissed or reduced. In many cases, city attorneys are more concerned about collecting money for their jurisdiction than adding points to a person’s driving record. Highly respected attorneys who regularly deal with prosecutors and city attorneys develop relationships and credibility with prosecutors that often help them negotiate reduction and even dismissals of traffic tickets in exchange for nominal fines and costs.
What is the big deal about traffic tickets? Why should someone care about fighting them in court?
Fighting traffic tickets in court is more significant than it might initially seem for several reasons:
- Financial Impact: Traffic tickets can lead to hefty fines, increased insurance premiums, and sometimes additional costs, such as traffic school. Over time, these expenses can accumulate, making it financially prudent to contest a ticket if there’s a reasonable chance of dismissal or reduction of penalties.
- Points on Your Driving Record: Many traffic violations result in points added to your driving record. Accumulating too many points can lead to the suspension of your driver’s license, requiring you to go through the process and expense of getting your driving privileges reinstated.
- Risk of License Suspension: Certain offenses or accumulating too many points on your driving record can lead to the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. Losing your driving privileges can significantly impact your daily life, including your ability to work, attend school, or care for family members.
- Employment Consequences: For those whose jobs require a clean driving record—such as commercial drivers—a traffic ticket could endanger their employment status. Fighting a ticket helps to maintain a clean record and secure livelihood.
- Insurance Rates: Traffic violations often lead to increased car insurance rates. Insurers view drivers with violations as higher risk and adjust rates accordingly. Successfully contesting a ticket may prevent these increases.
- Legal Precedents: Contesting a ticket may also challenge the legality of certain traffic stops or enforcement practices, especially if you believe the ticket was unjustly issued. This can help establish legal precedents protecting other drivers from similar unjust practices.
- Personal and Financial Freedom: Successfully fighting a traffic ticket can maintain your personal and financial freedom, avoiding the constraints and stresses that come with penalties, fines, and the potential loss of driving privileges.
For these reasons, many choose to contest traffic tickets in court, especially when there is a strong case that the ticket was unjustly issued or when the consequences of the ticket could significantly impact their lives.
Criminal Defense Lawyers for Speeding and Traffic Ticket Defense
If you were ticketed for a traffic civil infraction (speeding, traffic accident, failure to obey a traffic control device, careless driving, etc.) or a traffic misdemeanor (DWLS, OWI, DUI, Reckless Driving, No Proof of Insurance, Failure to Stop at Accident, etc.), you need good legal representation to help keep your driving record intact and keep your insurance rates from going up. We can often convince a prosecutor or city official to dismiss charges in exchange for reasonable fines and costs.
Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete an online Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.
We will find a way to help you.
We Are Not Afraid to Win!
