You just got a speeding ticket. You’re irritated but it’s no big deal, right? You can pay the fine online, by phone, or by snail mail and won’t even have to go to court. Wait a minute! You’d better rethink this and contact an Indianapolis traffic lawyer with litigation experience to guide you through the process. Why? Because speeding tickets and other traffic infractions can have far more serious consequences than you realize. Kevin Potts, Indianapolis traffic attorney, is here to help you.
In Indiana, most traffic infractions are moving violations. If you are convicted of or plead guilty to a moving violation, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will assess points against your driver’s license. What most people don’t realize is that when they pay a fine without going to court, they’ve just pled guilty to whatever infraction(s) they were charged with.
Different violations carry different points. Some common ones are:
• 2 points – driving 1-15 MPH over the speed limit; failing to use headlights; having non-working brake lights
• 4 points – driving 16-25 MPH over the speed limit; making an illegal U-turn
• 6 points – driving 26+ MPH over the speed limit; disobeying a stop sign; following another vehicle too closely
• 8 points – failing to yield to an emergency vehicle; driving with a suspended license
Points stay on your driver’s license for two years. If they start adding up, the accumulation can drastically raise your insurance rates and your driver’s license could be suspended or revoked. If you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), that could mean you’re out of a job.
What makes traffic offenses even more serious is that states share conviction information with each other under the Driver License Compact (also known as the Interstate Compact). That means that any out-of-state conviction(s) could come back to haunt you in Indiana since those points, too, could be added to your Indiana driver’s license.
Kevin Potts is very experienced in traffic law and is your best choice when you need an Indianapolis traffic lawyer to protect your rights and your driver’s license. Contact him today at (317) 951-0087 for more information and a free consultation. You can also fill out the online form to contact Kevin Potts directly.
