Keeping Your Traffic Record Clean (Explained)

A clean Driver's Record is a valuable thing.  At a minimum, It can make the difference between police officer discretion breaking your way, or against you.  It can also save you money when it comes to motor vehicle insurance.  How can you keep your record clean?  Talk to an experienced Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney.

Solutions

In the State of Minnesota, there are many ways to keep a citation off of your driving reocrd.  Here are just a few.

Continuance for Dismissal.  The prosecutor can agree to continue the a ticket (like speeding, running a stop sign, etc.) for some period of time (like 12 months) on various terms and conditions.  Under this kind of agreement, at the end of the predetermined period, if all conditions have been met, the charge is dismissed by the court as agreed.  Here, no guilty plea is offered, no adjudication is made.  So, nothing is certified by court administration to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.  In general, these conditions include: payment of prosecution and court costs (instead of a fine), and no same or similar violations.  There are many local variations on the term used for this outcome, like: Agreement to Suspend Prosecution, Deferred Prosecution, Continuance Without a Plea.

Local or City Ordinance violation citation, instead of state statute.  Police officers have discretion to cite drivers with a violation of a local or city Ordinance instead of a Minnesota State Statute.  If they do, you should be able to pay the fine, and still benefit from it not going on your State of Minnesota Drivers License Record.  This is nice, but usually this is something the police officer can, in his or her discretion, decide to do for you.  It's unusual for prosecutors to do this, though it is no impossible.  

Stay of Adjudication.  Though less desirable than any of the above, a stay of adjudication will prevent the Court Administrator from certifying the traffic violation to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, which means it won't go on the Minnesota Drivers License Record.  A stay of adjudication involves either a guilty plea, or a finding of guilty after a trial, but the judge staying (delaying) adjudication of guilt upon conditions, for some period of time.  If the person does not violate a condition, it never become an adjudicated violation or conviction, and so never gets on the DL record.  Typical conditions include payment of money to the court, and no same or similar violations.  In criminal cases, a judge will be reluctant to give a stay of adjudication without prosecutor approval (or finding an abuse of prosecutor discretion) but in petty misdemeanor traffic cases this may not apply.

You are going to get one chance to get this right.  If you have any questions, feel free to call the Rolloff Law Office.  I'm a former prosecutor - I know how to help you with these sorts of matters. Call today: (612) 234-1165 

Fight Your Minnesota Traffic Ticket (Explained)

One of the most popular questions I get is: Do I really need a Minnesota Criminal Defense Lawyer to help me fight a traffic ticket?

Sure, sometimes it just makes sense to pay the fine for a minor speeding, an illegal turn, or running a red light citation. If you have a good driving record and you are ticketed or a minor infraction, chances are the fine will not be excessive. The judge may even decide on a reduced penalty without any defense statement from you. You should also look at options offered in some areas such as deferment --- from a hearing officer.

On the other hand, a major infraction such as Minnesota Drunk Driving arrest can cost you thousands of dollars in fines, increased car insurance rates, and fees associated with the reinstatement of your driving privileges. In that case - an experienced Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney may be able to save you an enormous amount of money. Some of the savings are realized years down the road.

A Couple of Reasons Why You Might Want to Hire a Lawyer to Fight a Traffic Ticket

1. Reducing Or Eliminating The Fine

A serious moving violation may carry a penalty of as much as $1,000. If you already have a clean driving record - don't you want to keep it that way?  An attorney working on your behalf may be able to work out a deal with the court - to keep this ticket off of your record too.

2. Arguing The Citation

If the alleged infraction is serious and you believe you are innocent, hiring a lawyer to represent you may save you a great deal of money. Lawyers with experience in Minnesota traffic court matters may successfully argue that the citation was unwarranted. In the end, the only cost you pay is for the services of your legal representative

3. Preventing Insurance Rate Hikes

If you have one or two violations on record, your latest infraction could have a very damaging impact on your insurance premiums. An attorney may be able to successfully defend you against the charge, eliminating the increased insurance costs.

A major traffic violation could result in a fine and a huge hike in insurance rates over the next two years. The money you spend on a lawyer - although a HIT now could end up being money saved over the long term.

Now What?

What can it hurt to at least speak to a lawyer?  Many, like myself, offer a free consultations in order to gather facts concerning your case. Seriously, there are usually one or two key points I like to know in order to determine if you have a chance of beating a traffic ticket in court. Sure, I can't guarantee that you will be able to have a traffic citation thrown out in court - or that the  Nor can fine will be reduced to zero. However, having had been a prosecutor myself - I have a lot of experience in using that "insider's" knowledge to earn my clients the outcomes they're seeking Call the Rolloff Law Office today to get FREE answers: (612) 234-1165.

Minnesota Traffic Tickets (Explained)

In many instances, a traffic infraction will result in a ticket and a mark on your driving record. All to many individuals will simply pay the ticket and forget about the implications. However, the reality is that every traffic violation you commit can result in more than just a note on your driving record. You are also looking at higher insurance fees - on top of the fines and penalties. Additionally, traffic violations can add up to misdemeanor (and even gross misdemeanor) offenses. You may not only be looking at a poor driving record but also heavy fines, jail time, license revocation, vehicle impoundment and anger management classes.

As a Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney, I'm asked on a daily basis about what to do about tickets.  Here are some ideas and suggestions:

SPEEDING AND RECKLESS DRIVING ARRESTS

Speed limit violations, speeding in a construction zone or school zone, reckless driving, erratic lane changes and "road rage" can all be classified as traffic violations. You will most likely be handed a ticket by the arresting officer. In some instances, you may be ordered to attend anger management courses or you may lose your license. It is possible to fight these charges, especially if the ticket was given on unjust grounds.

HIT AND RUN VIOLATIONS


Hit and run violations can be classified as a felony offense in certain instances which is why it is imperative to seek legal counsel as soon as you are accused of being involved in a hit and run case. If you are accused of a hit and run, you are innocent until enough evidence has been collected to prove you are guilty.  (Beware - if you're found guilty you can have your license taken away.)

DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE VIOLATIONS


If your license has been revoked or suspended or if you are caught driving without adequate insurance, then you will most likely lose your license for even longer and be facing further penalties and fines. It is possible to fight back against these convictions with the right legal defense.  (Even if you're "guilty" - an experienced Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney can help negotiate an outcome that preserves your driving privilege.)

Honestly, traffic violation cases can be a huge pain in the neck --- because who among us can afford to lose our license or have our vehicle impounded due to a few outstanding traffic violation tickets? This is why it is so important to fight back against traffic violations before they negatively impact your finances and your transportation freedom.  The Rolloff Law Office handles all manner of traffic violation cases, both inside and outside the court, and can provide you and your family with the aggressive representation, dedicated legal assistance and a sound defense that will make all the difference to your case.  Call today to set up a FREE consultation: (612) 234-1165.