Were you pulled over and issued a traffic ticket in Bakersfield, California? A conviction could add points to your DMV record, not to mention increase your insurance rates.
A Bakersfield traffic ticket lawyer at Fight My Ticket can challenge your citation and protect your driving privileges. Our firm has spent decades helping California drivers keep tickets off their records. Text us your traffic ticket at (323) 435-6045 for a free quote.
Why Do Bakersfield Drivers Hire Fight My Ticket?
Handling a ticket on your own sounds simple enough. But it may mean missing work and arguing against an officer and a court system that may feel biased against you.
That’s why most drivers end up paying the fine just to resolve the matter. Fight My Ticket takes a different approach.
Here is what sets our legal team apart in traffic citation cases:
- Approximately 90% of the cases we handle result in a dismissal or a reduced charge.
- Our attorneys defend drivers across all 58 California counties.
- We handle everything from routine speeding and red-light tickets to serious misdemeanor charges.
- Our flat fees start at $200, and your initial ticket review is free.
Contact our Kern County traffic ticket attorneys today to manage your case.
Is Your Ticket an Infraction or a Misdemeanor?
California categorizes traffic offenses into two main groups: infractions and misdemeanors.
Infractions are the most common offenses. They result in fines and DMV points but do not carry jail time.
Typical infractions include:
- Speeding
- Disregarding a red light or stop sign
- Unsafe lane changes
- Following too closely
- Using a handheld phone while driving
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Driving with an expired vehicle registration
- Driving without proof of insurance
Misdemeanors are criminal charges. A conviction can result in up to a year in county jail, and other penalties.
Traffic misdemeanors include:
- Reckless driving
- Driving on a suspended or revoked license
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
- Failing to appear in court for a citation
Your legal options generally depend on the offense category. In some situations, you may be able to attend traffic school to keep the ticket off your record.
What Does a Traffic Ticket Cost?
A traffic ticket triggers direct fines, which are usually modest. However, these tickets can cost much more, resulting in license points and long-term insurance increases.
California also adds penalty assessments, state fees, and court surcharges to the base fine for every violation. These additional fees often double or triple the final amount owed. For example, a red-light ticket can cost nearly $500 after all mandatory fees are applied.
Points Remain on Your Record
The DMV assigns points to your driving record for most moving violations. Common infractions like speeding add one point; severe offenses like reckless driving or hit-and-run result in two points. Points generally stay on your record for three years; insurers will typically increase your rates after a violation.
Excessive Points Can Jeopardize Your License
Under California’s Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS), the DMV can suspend your driver’s license if you accumulate too many points within a one- to three-year time period. Specifically, license suspension will occur after:
- 4 points within 12 months
- 6 points within 24 months
- 8 points within 36 months
California allows eligible drivers to complete a licensed traffic violator school to avoid a one-point violation once every 18 months. Misdemeanors and commercial driving violations do not qualify for this option.
Using traffic school for a minor ticket may prevent you from using it if you receive a more severe citation later. An attorney can help determine whether contesting the ticket is a better long-term strategy.
What Happens if You Are Convicted of a Misdemeanor Traffic Offense?
A misdemeanor traffic charge is a criminal matter rather than a simple citation. Consequently, a conviction can affect your life long after you pay the fine.
Depending on the specific charge and your record, penalties may include:
- Many misdemeanor traffic offenses carry up to six months in county jail, while some allow up to one year.
- Base fines can reach $1,000 or more before California applies mandatory court assessments.
- Courts typically order one to three years of informal probation, or up to five years for a DUI conviction.
- Serious violations add two points to your driving record, accelerating potential license suspension.
- Certain convictions trigger automatic suspensions or extend existing ones.
- Misdemeanors cannot be hidden from your public record through traffic school.
- The conviction will appear on standard background checks conducted by employers and landlords.
Specific offenses carry additional requirements. For example, a first-time DUI involves mandatory completion of an approved DUI education program, a separate administrative license suspension, and total fines that often exceed $1,000. Furthermore, reckless driving that results in injury carries stiffer penalties than simple reckless driving.
Unlike infractions, a misdemeanor charge requires a court appearance. In many instances, an attorney can appear on your behalf to challenge the state’s evidence, negotiate a reduction to a lesser offense, etc.
What Are Your Options After a Bakersfield Traffic Ticket?
When issued a traffic citation in California, you have three primary courses of action:
- Pay the fine. Paying the fine counts as a guilty plea, placing a point on your driving record that is visible to insurance providers.
- Attend traffic school. If eligible, completing an approved course keeps the point confidential from your insurance company.
- Contest the citation. Challenging the ticket in court creates the opportunity for a full dismissal, avoiding both fines and record points.
Ignoring a traffic ticket only complicates your case. Failing to appear or pay fines by the deadline constitutes a separate misdemeanor under California Vehicle Code § 40508. The court may also issue civil assessments, add financial penalties, and refer your debt to collection agencies. An attorney can help restore your case to good standing if you have missed a court date.
Defenses Available in Bakersfield Traffic Ticket Cases
Receiving a citation does not automatically prove you are guilty of a traffic violation. Many tickets rely on an officer’s observation or technical equipment that can produce errors.
Potential defenses to such tickets include:
- Challenging speed measurement accuracy from Radar and LIDAR devices that require regular maintenance and raining.
- Exposing officer error around vehicle speed, signal timing, or lane positioning.
- Identifying obscured signage hidden by foliage or damaged by weather.
- Demonstrating your were avoiding a greater hazard can serve as a legal defense.
- Proving speed trap violations on roads lacking a current engineering and traffic survey, which can lead to dismissed charges.
- Citing procedural errors in filing the ticket.
In some cases, more than one defense strategy may be in play to help you avoid the worst consequences of a conviction.
How A Bakersfield Traffic Ticket Attorney Assists You
When your case is handled by experienced traffic defense attorneys, you have a better chance of receiving a dismissal or reduced charge that protects your record and driving privileges.
Your attorney will:
- Analyze the details of your traffic stop and citation
- Explain potential impacts on your driving record, license status, and insurance premiums
- Appear on your behalf at the Metropolitan Traffic Division or the regional Kern County courts
- Draft persuasive documentation for trials by written declaration when appropriate
- Cross-examine officers and challenge the prosecution’s evidence in court
- Negotiate charge reductions to prevent points from accumulating on your record
Advise whether attending traffic school is beneficial for your specific circumstances
Preventing a single point on your record can save you far more in long-term insurance costs than the price of hiring legal counsel.
Contact a Bakersfield Traffic Ticket Attorney Today
Paying your ticket fine is not your only resolution. With an effective defense strategy, your citation can be dismissed or reduced, often without requiring your personal presence in court.
Fight My Ticket has decades of experience defending California drivers against costly traffic citations. Text our Bakersfield traffic ticket attorneys at (323) 435-6045 for a free quote.
Kern County Traffic Court Resources
Most Bakersfield traffic citations are processed through the Kern County Superior Court’s Metropolitan Traffic Division. Essential court details include:
- Address: 3131 Arrow St, Bakersfield, CA 93308
- Phone: (661) 610-7000
Citations issued outside the metropolitan area are assigned to specific regional court branches listed on your Courtesy Notice, including:
- Delano: 1122 Jefferson St, Delano, CA 93215, (661) 610-7300
- Lamont: 12022 Main St, Lamont, CA 93241, (661) 610-7100
- Shafter: 325 Central Valley Hwy, Shafter, CA 93263, (661) 610-7200
- Mojave: 1773 State Highway 58 Business, Mojave, CA 93501, (661) 610-7400
- Ridgecrest: 132 E Coso Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555, (661) 610-7450
The court website (kern.courts.ca.gov) provides online case information and payment options. Kern County also utilizes MyCitations, an online portal allowing drivers to request fine reductions or payment plans based on financial need. Court notices generally arrive within a few weeks; if you do not receive one, contact the court before your scheduled appearance date.
