Did you recently receive a traffic ticket in Los Angeles, CA? Beyond fines, a ticket can add points to your driving record, raise your insurance rates, and even threaten your license. A Los Angeles traffic ticket lawyer at Fight My Ticket can fight your ticket for you, often without you ever setting foot in court.
We have helped drivers across Southern California contest tickets and protect their records for over 30 years. We have built our practice on it. We’re ready to put our experience to work for you. Call (323) 435-6045 for a free consultation.
Why Hire Fight My Ticket to Challenge My Traffic Ticket?
Fighting a ticket on your own means taking time off work, navigating an unfamiliar court system, and arguing against an officer trained to testify about your alleged violation. At Fight My Ticket, we level the playing field and give you the resources you need to challenge the offense.
Drivers across Los Angeles, California, turn to our traffic ticket firm because:
- We have spent more than 30 years fighting traffic tickets throughout Southern California
- We have a strong track record of getting tickets dismissed or reduced
- We can appear in court on your behalf for most infractions, so you do not have to
- We represent drivers on everything from speeding to serious moving violations
- We offer free consultations and straightforward, affordable representation
Letting a ticket go unchallenged can cost you far more than the fine itself. Call us today and let our Los Angeles traffic ticket lawyers take the fight off your hands.
Common Types of Traffic Tickets
Traffic violations in California generally fall into two groups. Most are infractions, which carry fines and points but no jail time. Others are misdemeanors, which are more serious and can involve jail (up to a year), larger fines, and a criminal record.
Common infractions include:
- Speeding
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Illegal or unsafe lane changes
- Following too closely
- Using a cell phone while driving
- Failure to yield
- Driving without proof of insurance
- Expired registration
- Carpool lane violations
More serious traffic offenses are charged as misdemeanors, such as:
- Reckless driving
- Driving on a suspended or revoked license
- Hit and run
- Driving under the influence
Whether your ticket is an infraction or a misdemeanor changes how it should be handled, which is why it helps to have an attorney review your citation before you decide what to do.
What Are the Penalties for Traffic Tickets?
California penalties come in three forms: fines, points, and the risk of losing your license.
Fines
The base fine for a violation is only the beginning. California adds penalty assessments and surcharges that often multiply the total. A ticket with a modest base fine can end up costing several hundred dollars. For example, a simple red-light violation can cost more than $490.
Points
The DMV also assigns points to your record for moving violations. The most common violations, such as speeding or running a red light, add 1 point. More serious offenses, such as reckless driving or driving on a suspended license, add two points. These points can remain on your record for three years or longer. Insurers may use them to justify higher premiums.
Suspension
Points can add up to a suspended license. Under California’s negligent operator rules, the DMV can suspend your license if you accumulate:
- 4 points in 12 months
- 6 points in 24 months
- 8 points in 36 months
Certain offenses, like driving on a suspended license or a DUI, carry their own separate suspension consequences on top of the point system.
Keeping points off your record is often more valuable than simply avoiding the fine. The insurance impact can be significant. A single added point can raise your premiums for three years or more, and the total increase can make the original ticket seem small.
That is why treating even a routine citation as something worth fighting can pay off long after the case is closed.
What Happens If I Ignore a Traffic Ticket?
Ignoring a ticket only makes things worse. Failing to appear or pay by your deadline is a separate offense under Vehicle Code Section 40508, on top of the original violation.
The court can add a civil assessment of up to $300, place a hold on your driver’s license, and refer your debt to a collection agency.
Do I Have to Appear in Court for a Traffic Ticket?
In most infraction cases, no. An attorney can appear on your behalf, so you avoid missing work and sitting in a courtroom.
Your case begins with an arraignment, where you enter a plea, and the matter is set for trial if you contest it. Your presence may be required in limited situations, but for routine tickets, your lawyer typically handles every appearance for you.
What Is the Process for Challenging Traffic Tickets?
When you receive a ticket, you generally have three choices: (1) pay the fine and accept the consequences, (2) attend traffic school if you are eligible, or (3) contest the ticket. Contesting your ticket preserves your chance to avoid the fine and the points on your license.
If you choose to fight the ticket, the process usually follows these steps:
- Responding by the deadline. You must respond to the court by the date on your citation to avoid extra penalties or a failure-to-appear charge, which is a separate offense.
- Choosing how to contest. California lets you fight an infraction through a trial by written declaration, where you submit your argument in writing, or through an in-person court trial.
- The trial. At a court trial, the citing officer must appear and testify. If the officer does not show up, the case may be dismissed.
- The decision. If you win, the ticket is dismissed. If you lose a written declaration, you can often request a new trial in person.
For most infractions, an attorney can appear on your behalf, meaning you may never have to take time off work or step into a courtroom. That convenience alone makes hiring a lawyer worthwhile for many drivers.
Traffic School
For many eligible infractions, California allows you to attend a licensed traffic school to keep the point off your public record, which can prevent an increase in your insurance. You can generally use this option only once every 18 months, so it is not always the right move.
Using it on a minor ticket now could leave you without that protection when a more serious ticket arrives later. An attorney can help you weigh whether to fight the ticket, take traffic school, or combine strategies for the best long-term result.
Defenses to Traffic Violations
Just because you received a ticket does not mean you will be found responsible. Many tickets rest on an officer’s judgment or on equipment that can be wrong.
Depending on your case, possible defenses include:
- Officer error. The officer may have misjudged your speed, your position, or your actions.
- Faulty equipment. Radar and lidar devices must be properly calibrated and maintained; errors can invalidate a reading.
- Unclear or obstructed signage. A damaged or missing traffic sign can be a valid defense to some violations.
- Mistaken identity. With red light camera tickets in particular, the images may not clearly show that you were the driver.
- Emergency or necessity. You may have violated a traffic law to avoid a greater and immediate danger.
- Procedural errors. Mistakes in how the ticket was issued or processed can lead to a dismissal.
An experienced attorney can help you determine which defense fits your situation and how to present it in writing or in the courtroom.
How an Attorney Can Defend Your Traffic Ticket Case
Handling a ticket yourself increases the risk of simply paying and accepting the points. A traffic ticket lawyer changes the equation and puts experience in your corner.
Your attorney can:
- Review your citation and the circumstances of the stop for weaknesses
- Explain how the ticket affects your record, your points, and your insurance
- Appear in court on your behalf for most infractions
- Prepare and file a trial by written declaration when appropriate
- Cross-examine the citing officer and challenge the evidence at trial
- Negotiate to reduce the charge or keep points off your record
- Help you decide whether traffic school is the smarter option in your case
Even a single point avoided can save you more than the cost of representation once higher insurance premiums are factored in.
Contact a Los Angeles Traffic Ticket Lawyer for Assistance
You do not have to simply pay a ticket and accept the consequences. With the right representation, you may be able to get your ticket dismissed or reduced, without the hassle of going to court yourself.
At Fight My Ticket, we have spent more than two decades helping Southern California drivers fight back against unfair and costly tickets. Contact our Los Angeles traffic ticket lawyers today at (323) 435-6045 for a free consultation, and let us put our experience to work for you.
