Criminal Traffic Violations in Florida
What is a Criminal Traffic Violation?
A criminal traffic violation is when a person commits a criminal offense while operating a motor vehicle.
Criminal traffic violations include:
- Reckless Driving
- Driving While License Suspended
- Driving Under the Influence
- Refusal to Submit to Breath Test
- Habitual Traffic Offender
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident
- No Valid Driver’s License
- Expired Driver’s License
- Racing on a Highway
- Attaching Tag not Assigned
- Expired Vehicle Registration
- No Valid Registration
- Unlawful Use of an Identification Card
- No Motorcycle Endorsement
- Unlawful Display of a License
- Permitting an Unauthorized Person to Drive
The difference between Moving Violations and Criminal Traffic Violations
When a person breaks the law while driving a vehicle and is caught, they will receive either a moving violation charge or a criminal traffic violation charge. When a driver is charged with a moving violation, such as speeding, running a stop sign, or running a red light, they will receive a ticket with a fine to pay and points will be added to their license.
A criminal traffic violation is much more serious and results in the driver receiving a misdemeanor or felony charge on their criminal record and has much larger fines than a traffic citation.
Penalties for Criminal Traffic Violations
If a driver is pulled over and found guilty by an officer of committing a criminal traffic violation, the driver’s court date will be on the bottom of their ticket that was issued by the police officer; this is only if the driver was not arrested. For violations such as driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, and reckless driving, the driver may be arrested on the spot.
Criminal traffic violations will be marked on a person’s criminal record forever and will have consequences, such as fines, points on a driver’s license, increase in insurance rates, community service, and jail time.
In addition, criminal traffic violations frequently result in an immediate license suspension or an immediate arrest. Criminal traffic violations will damage a person’s driving record as well as their personal criminal record and could lead to the loss of a job and hardships in finding a new job which can lead to financial problems as well.
What will happen when a Person Receives a Criminal Traffic Violation?
When a person receives a criminal traffic violation charge they will be required to appear in court on their assigned court date and enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. If the individual misses their court date they will most likely have a warrant out for their arrest.
Defenses for a Criminal Traffic Violation
There are several ways in which drivers may not have been at fault for their criminal traffic violations. One of the main ways a driver is not at fault is if the driver had no knowledge that they were committing a crime, such a driving on a suspended license, driving on an expired license, driving on an expired registration, or driving carelessly but not recklessly. The majority of criminal traffic violations are based on the proof that the accusing officer has on the defendant, and many times, the officer does not have solid proof to fight a case.
If a person is charged with a criminal traffic violation they should contact an attorney and try to get their charges dismissed. The amount of money that the accused individual will have to pay will most likely amount to more than what the accused individual will have to pay for an attorney.
Call our Firm today!
We have represented numerous amounts of criminal traffic violations cases throughout the years. We are assertive, smart and driven attorneys that will attempt in every way possible to get your charges lessened or dismissed. We are available around the clock to answer any of your questions and concerns regarding your case. Call us today and set up a free consultation at 1-800-FIGHT-IT (1-800-344-4848).
