San Antonio Traffic Ticket Attorney

Traffic Ticket Defense

Fundamentally, a traffic ticket is a summons to appear before the court as you have been accused of violating one or more Texas traffic laws. Many citizens do not understand that they have specific constitutional rights when they are issued a citation. You have the right to confront witnesses against you and to defend yourself against the charges. You also have the right to be represented by a San Antonio traffic ticket lawyer who strives to aggressively protect your rights and freedoms.

What may seem like a minor traffic violation or a nuisance to resolve can end up in repercussions far more serious that you may have envisioned. Many violations go beyond a simple citation and are deemed criminal offenses, punishable by fines and time in jail. If a traffic ticket is ignored or incorrectly handled, the consequences can include a warrant being issued for your arrest, having your license suspended or revoked, Department of Public Safety surcharges for a period of years that can cost you thousands of dollars, plus larger payments to your insurance company.

At first glance, it may seem easier to just pay a ticket, admit guilt and be done with it. Convictions can, however, pile up and lead to your license being suspended. If you are caught driving with a suspended license, it is a criminal offense that will be prosecuted. Points against your driving record are even more important if you hold a Commercial Driver's License as it can cost you your job.

At Law Office of J. Blake Etheridge, PLLC, I use hard-hitting tactics which are intended to get your traffic tickets either reduced or dropped or to lessen the adverse effects of a conviction. Legal representation is vital as most people are not well equipped to navigate the frequently complex procedure of defending themselves, preparing a case, questioning a police officer and other actions needed to produce a favorable outcome to their case. Part of my purpose is to work hard for you now, to prevent further, more serious legal ramifications in the future.

I successfully resolve a large variety of traffic tickets and violations and ask you to read further to obtain valuable information on the areas I work in and what can be done to help you.

Areas of Practice

Careless Driving Police are always on the lookout for drivers who operate a motor vehicle on a public road without regard for the safety of others. Careless driving is a traffic offense which carries criminal penalties, not just a ticket and if an officer sees what he believes is a criminal traffic violation, you can be immediately arrested. Through negotiation or in court, my purpose is to achieve the best result possible in your case. Read more about careless driving...Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL) Both traffic tickets and DWI offenses can put your CDL and thus your job at risk. I work to reduce the impact these can have by striving to keep the charges off your record or minimizing the points against your license. If litigation is required to achieve these goals, my firm can fight for you in court as well. Read more about commercial drivers licenses (CDL) ...

DMV Hearings When you are arrested for DWI, the Department of Public Safety will conduct a hearing regarding the suspension of your driving privileges. If you do not request a hearing within the time period allowed by law, your license will be automatically suspended. I work to protect your rights at these hearings and strive to get your privilege to drive restored as quickly as possible. Read more about DMV hearings...

Driving While Suspended If you are convicted for driving while your license is suspended, it can end up costing you thousands of dollars in fees, surcharges and fines. There are many reasons why your license may be suspended and the law in Texas does not require you to have been informed of the suspension in order for you to be arrested. These charges need an energetic defense in order to produce a positive result. Read more about driving while suspended... Drunk Driving When alcohol or drugs make it so that you do not have normal use of your physical or mental abilities, you can be charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). The penalties may include steep fines and surcharges, community service, time spent in jail, loss of your driving privileges and a criminal record. I have many proven defenses against DWI charges and ways to produce the most favorable outcome possible in your case. Read more about drunk driving...

Expired License Operating a motor vehicle with a license that has expired falls under the criminal charge of Driving While License Invalid (DWLI). It frequently follows conviction for another offense which brought about the suspension of your license. Depending on the specifics of your case, fines can run into the thousands of dollars and you can be put in jail for up to 6 months. I can explain your legal options and how your rights can be protected. Read more about expired license... Expungement Having a criminal record, such as a charge for DWI, can affect your ability to get certain jobs, apply for a student or home loan and other key parts of your life. Through expungement, your records can be sealed and no agency or individual may then release or disseminate them. The first step is to ensure you are eligible, followed by preparing and presenting your case to the court. When you records are expunged, you will be able to state that you have not been convicted of a crime. Read more about expungement...

No Valid Registration Operating a vehicle without proper registration is a misdemeanor for which you can be fined. There are, however, many valid defenses to show why your vehicle was not registered and these can frequently be used to prevent legal action against you. Additionally, I can show you how you may still be able to obtain a valid registration without the payment of fines. Read more about no valid registration...

Reckless Driving Driving at a speed which is significantly over the legal limit, weaving in and out of traffic, drunken driving, running a red light and many other actions all fall under the umbrella of reckless driving. It is normally charged as a misdemeanor but can become a felony offense under certain conditions. My firm examines your case closely with the purpose of finding and exposing any weak points in the prosecution's case that can be used to your advantage. Read more about reckless driving...

Speeding Tickets There are specific regulations that a police officer must adhere to in enforcing speed limit restrictions in Texas. By knowing the laws regarding speeding violations and how these are to be administered, I strive to prevent unnecessary expense to you and the accumulation of points against your license. Too many points can result in license suspension and other undesirable consequences. Read more about speeding tickets...

Suspended License While there are a multitude of reasons why your license can be suspended, there are a limited number of ways to get your driving privileges restored or to minimize the length of a suspension. If you drive with a suspended license the fines alone can run into thousands of dollars. I work energetically to prevent your license from being suspended and when that is not possible, to lessen the restrictions that you face. Read more about suspended license... Traffic School In our state, it is possible to reduce the fees for various traffic violations and the assessment of points against your driving record by attending traffic school. At times, this can be the correct tool to prevent your license from being suspended as a result of too many tickets or other situations. This is particularly important to holders of Commercial Drivers Licenses as it can affect their ability to make a living. Read more about traffic school...

Traffic Warrants Police try to arrest any individual who has an outstanding warrant for a traffic violation but my effort is to favorably resolve the situation prior to your being arrested. In many cases, I will be able to get your bond posted, see that your warrant is removed and establish a new date for you to appear in court. It is much better to handle your outstanding tickets now, before a warrant is issued. Read more about traffic warrants...

DPS Surcharges Traffic violation convictions accumulate on your driving record. When they reach a specific amount, it will result in an administrative fee or surcharge being assessed against you. This can run into thousands of dollars in fees and your license can be suspended if the surcharge is not paid on time. The best route to take is a hard-hitting defense designed to avoid convictions in the first place. Read more about DPS surcharges...

To understand your rights and find out how your traffic charges can be defended, contact a San Antonio traffic ticket attorney from my firm for help.