(561)988-8000 There is certainly nothing unusual about seeing vehicles pulled over on the roadside with the lights of a police cruiser shining brightly behind. Minor traffic offenses such as speeding, running stop signs or impeding traffic typically yield little more than tickets, fines and in rarer cases, license restrictions for those stopped by law enforcement.
The Florida legislature, however, has seen fit to categorize certain types of driving offenses as far more serious in nature and able to result in serious criminal sanctions for those found guilty of committing them.
If you are facing a charge within this classification, the experienced guidance of a Ft. Lauderdale traffic lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your matter. To get started on your defense, schedule a consultation with an experienced defense attorney today. En Español.
Criminal Driving Offenses in Ft. Lauderdale
Drivers in Florida may be surprised to learn that the list of moving violations considered to be criminal offenses is lengthy. Commonly-charged traffic-related offenses that warrant attention from a Ft Lauderdale attorney include:
- Reckless driving
- Leaving the scene of an automobile accident
- Driving on a suspended, revoked, expired or otherwise invalid license
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Drag racing or racing on highways
- Expired registration or missing license plate tags
- Failure to submit to breath test when requested by law enforcement
- Allowing an unauthorized driver to operate a vehicle
What are the Penalties for a Traffic Violation?
Minor traffic offenses generally result in the driver receiving a ticket on which an accompanying fine is noted. Once the fine is paid and any applicable points are added to their driver’s license pursuant to Fla. Stat. §322.27, the matter is essentially concluded.
However, criminal traffic violations such as those listed above involve court appearances and actual pleas of guilty, no contest or not guilty on charges which may be misdemeanors or felonies in nature depending on the facts at issue.
Those accused of criminal traffic violations in Florida need to bear in mind that based on the specifics of the charges, they may be facing anywhere from 60 days in jail and a fine of $500 all the way up to 30 years in prison and upwards of $10,000 in fines for offenses designated as first-degree felonies.
In addition to the obvious ramifications of these types of convictions, there are ancillary consequences certain to follow, including job loss, social stigma, financial strain, potential revocation or suspension of driver’s licenses, suspension, revocation of professional licenses and more, making it imperative that those accused of a traffic offense consult with a Ft. Lauderdale lawyer as soon as possible.
What Defense Strategies Could Be Used in a Traffic Case?
Though defendants in criminal driving cases may initially believe that they have little hope of defeating or reducing the charges lodged against them, defense strategies may indeed exist which can greatly benefit their cause.
The fact is that in many instances, the law enforcement officer responsible for the initial traffic stop may simply lack the necessary proof to establish the driver’s fault in a given matter, allowing for a dismissal or substantial reduction of the allegations and/or the sanctions imposed.
Ultimately, the most prudent thing for a defendant to do following a traffic offense is contact a Ft Lauderdale attorney as soon as possible so that any and all vulnerabilities in the state’s case may be explored.
Can a Traffic Violation Be Expunged in Fort Lauderdale?
Once a person pleads guilty to a criminal offense, whether it be a misdemeanor traffic case, the individual may not be able to have a conviction expunged off their record. However, if a person was arrested for a traffic offense such as reckless driving, they may be able to have the arrest expunged off their record since it is only a charge. So long as a conviction is not reached, a person could expunge an arrest for a traffic offense off their record with the help of an experienced attorney.
What Makes Ft. Lauderdale Traffic Cases Interesting to Work On?
What makes these cases interesting is that most people drive, most people are cognizant of the rules of the road, but accidents do happen and people do make mistakes. They are very humanistic types of cases. They are relatable types of cases and many attorneys do relate.
Lawyers get questions on a daily basis about traffic cases, how to handle them, what police officers can and cannot do and an attorney can give advice on how people should handle themselves in a situation where they have an encounter with law enforcement. Our firm’s approach to Ft. Lauderdale cases is to answer these questions as accurately as possible and to act as a resource to those who have been ticketed for traffic offenses.
Challenging Aspects of Traffic Cases
What makes traffic cases challenging is the process of trying to protect individuals, to get them the best possible result. It is a challenge that attorneys take on daily. These types of cases happen frequently and to a lot of people, and it is a challenge that the attorney should look forward to. Attorneys should stay up-to-date on laws and statutes, and work with different judges and magistrates so that they can file and make the best arguments. It is a challenge just keeping up with the new laws and the new statutes, and the new strategies which make the traffic cases challenging, but an attorney who works in that field should enjoy it and accept the challenge willingly.
Benefits of Working With Leifert & Leifert
Our firm’s approach to Ft. Lauderdale traffic cases is what makes us stand out from other firms. We have done a great job for the people we work with for well over two decades. The results that we get for the individuals that we work with, the experience that we have– as both former prosecutors of Fort Lauderdale and West Palm- mean that we have dealt with these police agencies for almost 25 years. We have existing relationships with police officers and judges and can leverage those relationships to our advantage. Most people would be hard-pressed to find a law firm that has the amount of experience that we have, the level of service that we offer, and the results that we achieve for others.
We are unique not only with traffic related cases, but with criminal related cases, and every other type of case that we handle. We are not a mill. We are a family run law firm and we treat our potential clients like family. We try to keep our volumes at a manageable rate. We are more interested in spending the proper amount of time on each individual case and trying to get as many cases as we possibly can. We will only take a case if we feel that we could get a good result for others. We take great care of the people we work with, which is why if you face charges for a traffic offense you should contact one of the skilled attorneys at Leifert & Leifert and let us advocate for you.
Contact a Ft. Lauderdale Traffic Attorney Today
Criminal driving offenses in Florida are nothing to take lightly, and it is vital that anyone facing such a charge receive the most aggressive available legal defense through the help of an attorney. A Ft. Lauderdale traffic lawyer can help immediately to examine the facts and work diligently to mitigate the negative effects a conviction could wreak on your life and livelihood.
