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Traffic Violations

Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg, South Carolina

Under South Carolina state law, traffic violations are considered criminal offenses. This means that traffic violations fall under the same procedural regulations as any other criminal offense. As criminal defense attorneys, the lawyers of the Dick James Law Firm, located in Greenville, South Carolina are able to use their criminal trial knowledge in order to defend you against the traffic violations with which you are charged.

Therefore, if you are charged with a traffic offense, you are entitled to the following:

• A trial by jury
• Discovery motions which compel the State to provide evidence pertinent to your defense
• To be innocent until proven guilty by the State

Many people hold commercial drivers' licenses or depend on their license to be able to commute to and from work. Insurance rates and license points can be affected if you are convicted of a traffic charge. So, it is in your best interests to consult a criminal defense attorney if you have been charged with a traffic violation in South Carolina.

Speeding Tickets

In South Carolina, there are three different types of speeding tickets and, depending on the type of violation, are worth with 2, 4 or 6 points. The fines range from $76.88 - $440 and most add points to your license based on the violation.

Speeding is considered to be a strict liability offense, so even if it was unintentional, inadvertent or accidental, you may still receive a conviction. If you live out of state, the ticket points are generally forwarded to your home state. Once you have received a certain number of points, your license may be suspended

The officer who wrote the ticket generally has exclusive authority to reduce or dismiss the charges against you. Your attorney's job is to either negotiate a resolution with the officer or challenge the charges in court. Your possible defenses in court may include:

• The radar equipment was not working correctly or was not properly certified
• The officer may not have been properly trained to operate the equipment
• The officer may have clocked a different car and ticketed you instead
• The sign alerting drivers to a speed reduction was missing or malfunctioning

Accident Tickets

If you have received a ticket due to your involvement in a traffic accident, it cannot be reduced. You must contest the ticket in court. However, if a trial is requested, the charges may be dropped due to lack of discovery and lack of cooperation from the other driver.

More Serious Traffic Violations

If you have been charged with a more serious traffic violation such as reckless driving, hit and run, reckless homicide or failure to stop for a red light, you may be facing much more severe penalties if convicted. Do not hesitate to contact a criminal defense attorney who knows how to protect your rights.

To learn more about traffic violations in Anderson, Spartanburg and Greenville, South Carolina, please contact the Dick James Law Firm to schedule a complimentary consultation today.