I get a lot of calls about traffic tickets. Most people just want to keep the ticket “off their record.” This is usually accomplished through deferred adjudication. If you do not have a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) you are eligible for deferred.
Deferred Adjudication means that the case will be dismissed if you pay the fine and do not get a ticket for your probation period.
Every court has a different policy for deferred. Some require defensive driving or do not allow it for certain speeding offenses (eg 20mph over the limit). A local attorney can reduce the fines, get companion cases dismissed, and make an appearance for you.
Ticket Secret 1- Even if you get another ticket while on probation most courts don’t know. I have not seen a court yet that could actually verify if you completed the probation or not without getting a citation. That is why some courts require you to file an affidavit promising you have been a good driver.
Ticket Secret 2- Trying a ticket that is more than a few months old is practically impossible for the State. I have yet to meet an officer who can honestly remember a ticket they wrote six months ago. They write so many tickets that the details run together. The first trial I lost as a prosecutor was a speeding ticket. The defense attorney was Pre Paid Legal. My cop testified he couldn’t remember the stop or citation. Not Guilty.
Labels: Texas, Traffic Tickets