It Pays to Be Proactive about Oakland Traffic Tickets
All types of drivers are at risk for an Oakland speeding ticket and other types of traffic tickets. One reason is due to the nature of the area. For example, the combination of many vehicle types and pedestrians means that it can become all too easy to misjudge how long a yellow light lasts or to not notice a change in speed limits. Another reason is that some police officers can be aggressive in handing out tickets, even doing so unjustifiably or skipping critical details during the process. However, as many an Oakland traffic attorney at The Ticket Clinic can tell you, experienced and skilled lawyers can find holes and procedural or technical errors in many traffic ticket cases.
Let a Well-Regarded Law Firm Help
Need an Oakland accident ticket attorney? The Ticket Clinic may be able to help. Our lawyers and assistants nationwide have a success rate that exceeds 80 percent, meaning that we were able to get cases dismissed or charges reduced. It also means that in some cases, we were able to prevent points from appearing on a driver’s license or ensure that a driver did not have to attend traffic school.
We bring success and an excellent price point to case types such as:
- Red lights
- DUIs
- Reckless driving
- Fix-its
- Suspended licenses
- Accidents
- Speeding
For example, if you want to fight an unpaid suspended license ticket, the lawyers at our firm have a vast amount of collective experience that has led to deep knowledge of strategies and tactics to use in the court system. Thanks to us, many clients have had their legal ability to drive restored.
California Cell Phone Use Laws
The traffic laws in California are some of the toughest in the nation in regards to cell phone use. Due to the high number of fatalities caused by distracted driving, state lawmakers have chosen to impose the following laws:
- It is illegal to use a handheld cell phone while operating a motor vehicle (it is not illegal to use a Bluetooth device or speaker function).
- No driver under the age of 18 is allowed to use a cell phone while operating a vehicle (even with Bluetooth).
- It is illegal to use a cellphone with earpieces.
The traffic laws listed above also take texting and driving into consideration, and if you are caught texting while driving, you may receive a ticket.
Do Traffic Tickets Issued for Cell Phone Use Add Points?
Although city of Oakland traffic tickets related to cell phone use do not add points to your driving record, you may still want to hire a texting and driving attorney to represent you. Over time, the financial cost of tickets can add up, and in certain cases, greatly increase your insurance rate. Also, if you were using a Bluetooth or speak device while you were on your phone, you may not deserve a ticket at all. An attorney may be able to help you fight your ticket and ensure you don’t have to pay a fine you don’t deserve.
Consequences of Running a Red Light
California is famous for having a lot of traffic, so it is no surprise that many individuals eventually run a red light just to avoid being late. Even if there isn’t a police officer sitting nearby, California has automated cameras at some intersections which take a photo of you and mail a ticket to the vehicle owner’s house.
If you are charged with running a red light, you might be given a moving violation which can come with some hefty fines, license points and required completion of traffic school. A lawyer at Ticket Clinic Oakland can help you determine if there are some ways you can clear the violation from your record. Maybe the red light was obscured by a tree branch and you didn’t see it, or you weren’t the one driving the car at the time. Red light cameras are required to have a sign indicating their presence, and if there was one missing and you take a picture of the intersection to prove it, you might be able to fight your ticket.
Reckless Driving Charges
California has very strict driving laws which makes it more likely for any good driver to break a rule at some point in their life. Being charged with reckless driving could end in fines, jail time and possibly license suspension. The penalties become more severe if there were drugs or alcohol involved and whether you injured someone else or damaged property.
To be charged in court with “reckless” driving means you are proven to have been driving in a way that was not necessary and that disregarded the safety of others. There are some defenses that a traffic lawyer Oakland could use to reduce or eliminate your charges under certain circumstances.
If you were not pulled over and asked to identify yourself, a lawyer might be able to prove that it wasn’t actually you who was driving. Or if you were driving, was there an emergency that caused you to drive irresponsibly? If the road you were driving on did not have the correct signs, or your actions were not reckless but perhaps simply negligent, you might have a good chance of reducing your penalty.
Fighting a Speeding Ticket
Some speeding tickets are easier to fight than others. For example, if the officer who pulled you over only charged you with going a few miles per hour over the limit, there is a good change you can reduce the fees and prevent the points from being added to your driving record.
Occasionally, excessive speeding is charged as reckless driving which can come with more severe penalties. If the officer who pulled you over was using a speed measuring device, how accurate was it and was it calibrated properly? Did the officer using it know what they were doing? There are some stretches of road that might not have enough speed limit signs posted, in which case you could defend yourself saying you didn’t know the speed limit.
Depending on your traffic charges, Oakland traffic violation lawyerscan assist you in fighting your ticket and improve your chances of reducing or completely eliminating it. There is no reason to simply pay hefty fines and allow license points to rack up, only to then watch your insurance rates increase and worry about your license being suspended the next time you make a driving mistake on busy California roads.
Navigating the California Traffic Court System
It can be hard to navigate traffic court Oakland CA, and without professional legal guidance, you may end up having to pay a fine or deal with points on your license. Learning about traffic courts near me is a good start, but eventually, you will want to hire a traffic attorney who understands the law and knows how to fight ticket. Contrary to popular belief, police testimony is not always 100 percent accurate, and there have been times when law-abiding drivers were issued expensive tickets erroneously. An Oakland red light camera ticket lawyer may be able to help you avoid costly car insurance increases as well as convictions stemming from driving charges. A conviction may mean thousands of dollars in fines, a suspended license, a criminal record that hurts job chances and jail time, so it’s important to watch out for yourself. Get in touch with us today via our online contact form or by calling 1-800-CITATION (248-2846).
What Our Clients Are Saying
“It was so easy and straightforward. I tried them 2 times, once in Florida and once in California and so far they are really good!”-Amin M., Oakland
“No need to show up to court and the likelihood that your ticket will be dismissed is extremely high. So far 100% record with my multiple violations annually. What’s truly invaluable about this service is its ability to insure you don’t lose the one unreplaceable thing the justice department uses most of: time. Highly recommend.” -S C., Oakland