St. Louis Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

A simple St. Louis speeding ticket can have a tremendous impact on your permanent driving record in the state of Missouri. That is because Missouri uses a “points” system each time you are found guilty of the traffic ticket for which you were cited. But there is a very easy, cheap way to fix a speeding ticket in St. Louis. And the right St. Louis traffic ticket attorney can it done for you.

FEES START AT $40 FOR A ST. LOUIS TRAFFIC TICKET

Getting pulled over by a police officer is never fun. But the experience is made doubly worse if you receive points from the state as well. “Points” are like little red flags that the state puts on your driving record. These points indicate a ‘bad’ record of driving (especially when they pile up). For instance, a typical St. Louis traffic ticket will result in the state giving you two (2) points. That may not seem like a lot. But each time you receive points, your automobile insurance company will increase your monthly premiums. In addition, if you are to receive too many points in a compressed period of time, you can actually lose your driver’s license. For example, if you get eighteen (18) points in an eighteen month period of time, the state will automatically suspend your license for a year.

You do this by hiring an experienced St. Louis traffic ticket attorney to make sure that the ticket does not stay on your permanent driving record. But there are other benefits in making sure that the ticket stays off your record.

When a St. Louis traffic ticket goes onto your driving record, it is because you plead guilty to the charges listed on the ticket itself. The primary way in which this is done is when someone simply signs the back of the citation, and then mails in the associated fines. Taking care of the ticket in this manner will certainly get rid of it. But there are consequences for handling things in this way.

For instance, when you plead guilty to the traffic infraction, the state will assess a certain number of points to your record. “Points” are like little red flags that tend to make you look like a bad driver. When you receive points, your automobile insurance company will raise your rates. The insurance company (an entity that is constantly on the lookout for a chance to increase your monthly premiums) will review your driving record at least once a year, and make adjustments to your rates according to how many points appear.

Your automobile insurance rates will rise because of points being added to your permanent driving record. You receive points every time you plead guilty to the St. Louis traffic tickets that you receive. But this does not at have to happen (you do not have to receive points, and your insurance does not have to go up).

When you are pulled over by a police officer, and he or she writes you out a St. Louis speeding ticket, one of your options would be to simply sign the back of the ticket and mail in the associated fine. This will certainly dispose of the ticket (insofar as you will no longer be obligated to anything more by the state), but the consequences of doing so can be far reaching.

Once you sign the ticket and mail it in, you are pleading guilty to the charges listed on the document. So for instance, if you are pulled over for speeding, and you mail in the fine, the state will be able to assess a certain number of points to your permanent driving record. “Points” are like little red flags that make it look as if you are poor driver. Once your car insurance carrier is made aware of this fact, it will then label you a “risky” driver, and raise your rates.

No, you don’t. But if you chose to handle your St. Louis speeding ticket by yourself, it can easily lead to higher automobile insurance, and/or a suspension of your driver’s license. Let me explain why:

$40 FOR A ST. LOUIS TRAFFIC TICKET

When you receive a St. Louis traffic ticket, the officer will hand you a rectangular shaped document. On this small piece of paper, you will notice your court date and time, what exactly you have been pulled over for, and what the associated fines are. One option at this point would be to simply sign the ticket itself and pay the fine. This would certainly take care of the ticket, but there are a lot of unforeseen consequences for doing so.

Yes, it is possible to lose your Missouri state driver’s license if you do not take care of a St. Louis traffic ticket. However, even if you have lost your license, it is possible to get the license reinstated).

When you get pulled over for having violated the traffic laws (like when you receive a St. Louis speeding ticket), the officer will provide you with a citation that states the court date and time, the type of infraction that you are being charged with, and information as to how one might take care of the ticket. But even if you pay the fine listed (which will certainly dispose of the ticket), this will result in the state assessing a certain number of points to your permanent driving record. “Points” are like little red flags that make it look as if you are a bad driver. For instance, the standard number of points assessed for a common speeding ticket is two (2). As these points accumulate on your record, there is a much greater likelihood that you will have your license suspended.

If for example you receive eighteen (18) points in an eighteen month period of time, the state will automatically suspend your driver’s license for one full year. So as you can see, it is far better to have an experienced St. Louis traffic ticket lawyer take care of your tickets for you. Such an attorney can work very closely with the local prosecutor to get the traffic ticket reduced to a non-moving violation. A non-moving violation does not come with any points from the state. This is very important because in addition to running the risk of losing your license, your automobile insurance will increase as well.