Grand Rapids Traffic Tickets

Highly qualified defenders against traffic citations

Traffic tickets happen to almost all drivers at one time or another. Speeding, following too closely, failure to completely stop at a stop sign, or failure to signal a turn can all result in a ticket. But while it may be a common occurrence resulting from a simple mistake, a traffic ticket can be expensive, time-consuming, and regrettable. When you need a highly qualified traffic ticket attorney in Grand Rapids, turn to The Law Office of Jeffrey J. O'Hara.

Defending against a traffic ticket

If you receive a ticket for a traffic violation, you must respond by paying a fine or appearing in court. If you fail to respond to a ticket, a warrant may be issued for your arrest and your driving license may be suspended. To dispute a traffic ticket, you must appear in court on a scheduled date and enter a plea. (Read more about contesting a speeding ticket in Grand Rapids.) Always hire an experienced lawyer before appearing in court. It can be reckless and foolish to represent yourself in a courtroom. While you may have a perfectly good argument against the citation, if it is not presented precisely according to the rules of the court, your argument will never be heard.

An experienced Grand Rapids traffic ticket lawyer can help you use the rules to your benefit. For example, if even one item on a traffic citation is filled in incorrectly by the police officer—such as the date, time, or location of the infraction—the citation may be dismissed entirely. Ticketed drivers often consult a Grand Rapids traffic ticket attorney to help evaluate the validity of the ticket, find possible errors in it, and make an educated judgment as to whether it is likely to be dismissed in court.

Kinds of traffic tickets

Michigan traffic tickets are issued for either civil infractions like speeding and for misdemeanors or felony traffic infractions like DUI or fleeing the scene of an accident.

Grand Rapids traffic ticket violations are also classified as moving or non-moving violations. Moving violations include driving:

• Above the maximum speed
• Below the minimum speed
• Through a stop sign or red light
• Without a seat belt fastened
• While drunk

Non-moving violations include:

• Illegal parking
• Parking in a handicapped zone
• Driving with an invalid registration
• Expired or missing license plates
• Leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine running

Get us on your side today

For an effective Grand Rapids traffic ticket defense, call The Law Office of Jeffrey J. O'Hara today at (616) 235-2000 or contact us online.