An older lawyer I knew in another city told me of a time when he was pulled over by a police officer. After the officer gave him the traffic ticket, he told the lawyer that he could just pay off the ticket, and told him how to do so. Recognizing that the ticket could carry serious consequences if he just paid it off, the lawyer looked at the officer and said, “While you are giving legal advice, I have another question,” and went on to ask some obscure legal question. The officer looked at him, grinned, and said, “You’re a lawyer aren’t you?” The two chatted for a few minutes, and both went their separate ways, and of course, the lawyer did not simply pay off the ticket. This older lawyer told me this story before I became an attorney, and his point was that you should always be careful about paying off a traffic ticket. I carried this story with me from that point, and found it to be sage advice from an older lawyer
I pass on the same advice to you. There may be occasions when the best thing you can do is pay off the ticket. But these instances are few and far between. Before you pay off a traffic ticket, you should consult with a traffic attorney. He or she will be able to advise you on the best options that you have. Most of the time it will be in your best interest for you to fight the charge, either by showing up to court on your own, or hiring a traffic attorney to show up and fight your charge for you. Between these two options, I recommend hiring a traffic lawyer, not just because this is what we do, but because a traffic lawyer can try to help you avoid more serious penalties. A lawyer’s understanding of traffic law can help you protect your driving record, your wallet, and your insurance premiums.
