Hudson County Traffic Ticket Attorney

Many of us have received a traffic ticket at some point in our lives. As common as traffic tickets are in Hudson County, you should never take a ticket lightly. Depending on the offense and your driving history, a traffic ticket could land you in court, cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines, and result in the loss of your driving privileges.

If you need legal advice after receiving a traffic ticket, contact William Proetta Criminal Law immediately. A Hudson County traffic ticket lawyer can help you avoid the worst possible penalties and fight to keep your driving privileges. Having a skilled lawyer on your side will save you time and money in the long run.

Contact William Proetta Criminal Law today to speak to an experienced Hudson County traffic ticket lawyer for free.

Why Do You Need a Lawyer for a Traffic Ticket in Hudson County?

In most cases, traffic tickets are fairly minor compared to other criminal offenses. This makes many people think they do not need a lawyer to help them with a traffic ticket. But even seemingly minor offenses can have major consequences, and a lawyer from William Proetta Criminal Law can help you by:

Offering honest advice and guidance based on extensive experience with traffic tickets
Being an intermediary between you and the courts to level the legal playing field
Going to court on your behalf, especially if you cannot attend the hearing yourself
Suppressing any evidence that should not be allowed
Bringing in expert witnesses to dispute the case against you
Negotiating for a lesser offense and smaller fines if this is what’s in your best interests
Working to get your case thrown out whenever possible

Types of Traffic Tickets We Can Help With

Here are a few of the traffic offenses in Hudson County we can help with at William Proetta Criminal Law:

Speeding – Under New Jersey law, you can receive a speeding ticket for driving too fast for road and traffic conditions, regardless of whether you exceeded a posted speed limit. You can also receive a speeding ticket for going over certain speed limits in designated areas like school zones and business districts.
Reckless driving – In New Jersey, reckless driving is defined as driving in a manner that willfully or recklessly places other people in danger of injury or death.
Failure to observe a traffic signal – Running a red light or ignoring any other type of traffic control sign (stop signs, yield signs, etc.) could result in a traffic ticket under New Jersey law. Additionally, drivers in New Jersey are required to treat any intersection with a missing or broken traffic light as a four-way stop, so failing to do so could also lead to a traffic ticket.
Careless driving – This is a broad offense that is a slight step down from reckless driving. It is defined as driving without caution or concern for others or driving in a way that has the potential to injure someone.
Improper passing of a school bus – To keep students safe when boarding or exiting a school bus, especially if they have to cross the street, New Jersey law requires drivers to stop at least 25 feet away from a stopped school bus and stay put until all passengers have left the street.
Driving with a suspended license – If you have had your driver’s license suspended, being caught operating a vehicle is a major traffic offense.
DWI/DUI – Driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) are both terms used to describe drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs. You can be charged with DUI or DWI if your ability to drive is substantially impaired due to drugs or alcohol, though you will be considered impaired by default if you are found with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher.
Leaving the scene of an accident – State law requires drivers to remain at the scene of any accident that results in an injury, death, or property damage. Leaving or attempting to leave the scene of the crash could lead to a criminal hit-and-run charge.
Racing on a highway – Racing against other drivers on public highways in New Jersey is a major traffic offense.

Are There Mandatory Court Appearances for Traffic Tickets in Hudson County?

Depending on what offense you are alleged to have committed and how it occurred, you could be required to appear in municipal court after receiving a traffic ticket in Hudson County. You can usually tell if you will have a mandatory court appearance because “Court Appearance Required” will be written somewhere on the ticket.

Court appearances are usually only required for serious traffic infractions, such as:

Exceeding a posted speed limit by 40 mph or more
Tailgating
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Racing another driver on a highway
Improperly passing a stopped school bus
Going more than 20 mph over a posted speed limit in a construction zone
Parking in a handicapped parking space without a valid placard.

You may also need to appear in court for a traffic ticket if you are:

Contesting the traffic ticket
Involved in a crash in which someone was injured or killed
Accused of a violation is not included in New Jersey’s Statewide Violations Schedule

What Are the Penalties for Traffic Tickets in Hudson County?

Many people don’t think much about the penalties for traffic tickets. However, depending on what your alleged offense is, the consequences for a traffic violation in New Jersey can be substantial. Based on your alleged offense and your prior driving record, you can face penalties including:

Fines – Some traffic offenses carry fines of only $50. But more serious offenses like reckless driving, DUI, and leaving the scene of an accident could cost you thousands of dollars.
Surcharges – To punish offenders who rack up multiple traffic tickets in a short time, New Jersey sometimes requires offenders to pay additional fees known as surcharges. Some of these surcharges are one-time payments, but some traffic violations require offenders to pay certain amounts every year for several years.
Demerit points on your driver’s license – Many traffic offenses will add demerit points to your driving record. If you accumulate too many demerit points within a certain timeframe, your driving privileges could be temporarily suspended.
Revocation of your driver’s licenses – Drivers who receive multiple traffic tickets for major offenses or are caught driving with a suspended driver’s license can have their license permanently revoked.
Jail time – Major traffic violations like leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, or DUI can result in offenders having to spend several weeks or months in jail.

What You Need to Know About the New Jersey Traffic Ticket Point System

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission has a Points Schedule that specifies how many demerit points you will receive for certain offenses. Some traffic offenses that can result in demerit points are:

Moving against the flow of traffic – 2 points
Driving the wrong way down a one-way street – 2 points
Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk – 2 points
Passing another vehicle that is yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk – 2 points
Driving on the sidewalk – 2 points
Failing to properly observe traffic signals – 2 points
Failing to yield the right-of-way when required – 2 points
Careless driving – 2 points
Going 1-14 mph over a posted speed limit – 2 points
Using handheld devices while driving – 3 points
Improper passing – 4 points
Driving in an unsafe manner – 4 points
Going 15-29 mph over a posted speed limit – 5 points
Racing on a highway – 5 points
Tailgating – 5 points
Reckless driving – 5 points
Going 30+ mph over a posted speed limit – 5 points
Improper passing of a stopped school bus – 5 points
Fleeing the scene of an accident involving injury or death – 8 points

How to Pay a Traffic Ticket in Hudson County

You have multiple ways to pay a New Jersey traffic ticket in Hudson County. These include paying online, by mail, or in person at your local municipal court. Before you pay a traffic ticket, though, keep in mind that paying the ticket is effectively the same thing as pleading guilty. By paying the ticket and accepting a guilty verdict, you could face consequences such as:

Having to pay a fine and any associated surcharges for the offense
Having demerit points added to your driving record
Having your driver’s license suspended if you have accumulated too many demerit points
Seeing your auto insurance premiums increase
Having to attend a driving course to offset your demerit points or avoid higher insurance premiums

It is tempting to take care of a traffic ticket by paying for it. However, working with an experienced Hudson County traffic ticket lawyer can help you avoid the heavy penalties and likely save money in the long run.

Get a Free Case Review with a Hudson County Traffic Ticket Attorney Now

Before you pay your ticket, take the time to talk to a Hudson County traffic ticket lawyer. An attorney from William Proetta Criminal Law may be able to help you save money and avoid other penalties for your offense. Contact our office today for a free case review.