Traffic Tickets - Fighting a Traffic Ticket

When you're given a ticket that can be paid by mail, you'll be offered the opportunity to plead guilty and pay the ticket without having to go to court. Information on how to do this is found on the back of the ticket.

While paying a ticket by mail may be more convenient than going to court, it may have consequences that outweigh the convenience. If the ticket you're pleading guilty to carries points in Missouri, or is a moving violation in Kansas, you may be putting your license in jeopardy.

You may also be raising your insurance rates or jeopardizing employment prospects. In the long run, it is usually less expensive to hire an attorney to negotiate a minor traffic ticket to a non-point or non-moving violation.

Since traffic tickets are normally heard in our court system, without a jury, you may find yourself in a court room where many cases must be handled in a short period of time. Sometimes this can result in individuals being lost in the shuffle and can result in penalties and fines which are not reasonable under the circumstances. Driving is a virtual necessity in today's society, receiving a traffic ticket can endanger that privilege and could result in hardship and inconvenience, as well as expense. For that reason you should carefully consider the advisability of fighting any traffic ticket which you may receive.

In most minor violations, your attorney can handle everything without you having to go to court. You'll still have the convenience of handling it by mail without the consequences of points.

Of course, more serious offenses will require a court appearance. If you do have to appear in court, it will usually pay to have an attorney represent your interests. The legal process is complicated. The policies of judges and prosecutors differ depending on where you were arrested and how many previous convictions you have. In the Kansas City metroplex there are 47 municipalities in five counties and two states, Missouri and Kansas. Each has a different set of policies. That's why you need a lawyer with experience in these cases.