William C. Head, P.C.
Atlanta DUI Law Firm
7 Best Reasons to Hire a Traffic Lawyer in Georgia
By: Larry Kohn, Atlanta Traffic & DUI Lawyer with 20+ Years of Experience
Georgia Traffic Ticket Fines for a Georgia Traffic Citation Are Just One Issue
If you are asking whether you need a lawyer for traffic violations in Georgia, the answer for most drivers is yes. Georgia traffic fines and add-on fees can exceed $1,000 for a single offense. Hiring a lawyer for a traffic charge can save you money. More to the point, it saves you stress and doubt about what a guilty or no contest plea will really cost you.
In over 95% of our cases, we save clients time. Time has extreme value to our successful clients.
Save Time, Money, and Stress by Hiring an Experienced Georgia Traffic Attorney
A misdemeanor traffic case can be a real burden to handle alone. Most people who are not traffic lawyers do not know the many ways to soften a license hit when they plead to a Georgia traffic charge. Every Georgia traffic ticket is a misdemeanor. You could stand in traffic court with a winning defense or motion in hand and never know it. Hiring a lawyer for a Georgia uniform traffic citation buys you peace of mind on an unwelcome charge.
The 7 Best Reasons to Hire a Traffic Ticket Lawyer in GA for Your Traffic Violation
If you are weighing whether to hire a Georgia traffic attorney, these seven points cover what an experienced traffic lawyer brings to a case:
Fight or dismiss your traffic ticket. Experienced Georgia traffic ticket lawyers know many ways to close out a citation on good terms. They can limit or erase a criminal record, cut license points, or both. Knowing Georgia traffic law and how to work a misdemeanor case is what makes that possible.
Handle your case without you appearing in court. Most traffic court judges let your attorney use a Power of Attorney to cover the case without you there. Serious charges such as DUI cannot be handled that way. Most Georgia traffic ticket cases can be closed without your appearance, which saves you a day of missed work.
Reduce license point consequences and charges. With a full grasp of Georgia's points system, your lawyer can push for a dismissal. Your lawyer can also seek a reduction that will not appear on your driving record. A deferred plea can head off an insurance hit and a license suspension.
Get your court date rescheduled if needed. If you need a new date for health, family, or work reasons, a traffic attorney can usually get the case reset. That saves you a wasted trip to court.
Protect out-of-state driving privileges. Georgia traffic attorneys know traffic lawyers in other states. They can find out how a Georgia citation may hit your home-state license. Unless your record calls for a lawyer in your own state, that research costs you nothing extra.
Avoid mistakes that cost you more later. Handling a traffic charge right the first time is critical. Too often drivers go it alone, plead to the wrong count, and create a bigger problem. Fixing that mistake usually doubles the legal fee. Some Georgia traffic court judges will not allow a fix at all.
Help you avoid costly insurance increases. Beyond saving your license, a traffic lawyer may head off a sharp rate hike. Georgia traffic attorneys know many ways to keep a conviction off your driving record. That keeps your premiums down for years.
How Georgia's Points System Works and Why It Drives the Whole Case
Georgia assigns points to your license for each moving violation you are convicted of. The scale runs from 2 to 6 points, depending on the offense. Speeding 15 to 18 mph over the limit draws 2 points. Speeding 34 mph or more over the limit draws 6. Reckless driving draws 4. Most other moving violations land in the middle of that range.
The number that matters most is 15. A driver who picks up 15 points in any 24-month window has their Georgia license suspended. Two bad tickets in the same year can put a driver within one conviction of that line, which is why a single charge is worth fighting.
Georgia does give drivers two safety valves, and a traffic attorney will check both. A Georgia licensed driver may ask the Department of Driver Services to take up to 7 points off the record once every five years. To qualify, you must finish a certified 6-hour driver improvement course and turn in the original certificate to DDS.
The second valve is a plea of nolo contendere, often called a no contest plea. DDS accepts one nolo plea on a moving violation in any five-year span without adding points to the record. Drivers under 21 get no such break, since a nolo plea counts as a conviction for the suspension rules that apply to them. Because you only get one nolo every five years, when to spend it is a judgment call worth talking through with a lawyer.
How Much Does a Georgia Traffic Lawyer Cost?
Most drivers ask this right after they learn what a traffic lawyer can do. The cost of hiring a Georgia traffic attorney varies with how hard the case is.
Many Georgia traffic attorneys charge between $150 and $400 for a routine speeding ticket. Harder cases cost more. A Super Speeder citation, a reckless driving charge, or a ticket that puts your license at risk may run $500 to $1,500 or more. What you pay depends on the court and the work involved.
Those numbers look different next to the cost of going it alone. A conviction that adds points can raise your auto insurance for three years running, often by hundreds of dollars over that stretch. A Super Speeder conviction adds a $200 state fee on top of the original fine, and failing to pay it on time costs you your license. An unrepresented plea to reckless driving leaves a misdemeanor record that shows up on background checks for good.
We offer flexible payment plans to make legal help workable for every driver. Instead of facing one large bill, we work with clients to set up a payment plan that fits their budget. In many cases, the cost of a lawyer is far less than the total cost of fines, insurance hikes, and reinstatement fees.
The right answer depends on your court, the prosecutor on that docket, and your driving history. A free consultation can tell you what you are facing and whether a lawyer makes financial sense in your case.
Your Ticket Costs Will Be Higher If Classified as a Georgia Super Speeder
A Georgia Super Speeder ticket is more than just a fine. It can cost you hundreds in penalties and put your license at risk. Under Georgia law, any driver convicted of going 75 mph or more on a two-lane road, or 85 mph or more on any highway, is a Super Speeder. If you are classified that way, an extra $200 is added to your existing speeding ticket charges, and that is after court fees.
That fee is not billed by the court. The Department of Driver Services mails you a separate notice, and you have 120 days from the date of that notice to pay. Miss it and your license, permit, or driving privilege is suspended. Getting it back then costs you a $50 reinstatement fee on top of the $200 you still owe. Drivers who move after a ticket are the ones most often caught out, because the notice goes to the address DDS has on file.
Traffic Ticket Defense Across Georgia – Including Athens
We represent drivers across Georgia. We keep a strong focus on Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, and DeKalb Counties, where we have office locations. Our legal network also reaches Athens-Clarke County and more than 20 other jurisdictions statewide. We can help drivers no matter where the citation was written.
If you were cited in Athens, our network includes highly rated Athens traffic violation lawyers who handle cases in Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court. An Athens traffic lawyer from our referral network can appear on your behalf. That holds whether you are a UGA student cited on Lumpkin Street, a commuter ticketed on Loop 10, or facing a Super Speeder charge on US-29. Defense attorneys who appear in that court regularly know how its prosecutors and judges treat common charges, including basic speeding, reckless driving, and Super Speeder cases.
Major Courts We Handle Cases In:
Fulton County: Atlanta Municipal Court, Fulton Recorder's Court
Cobb County: Marietta Municipal Court, Cobb County State Court
Gwinnett County: Gwinnett Recorder's Court, Lawrenceville Municipal Court
DeKalb County: Decatur Municipal Court, DeKalb State Court
If your traffic case turns into a criminal charge such as a DUI, we handle those cases too. We appear in Superior Courts and State Courts across Georgia.
What Happens at a Georgia Traffic Court Date
Your citation names a court and a date, and that date is the one that counts. On that day the court calls a docket and each driver answers the charge. Because Georgia traffic charges are misdemeanors, you keep the rights you would have in any criminal case: the right to a lawyer, the right to see what the state has, and the right to a trial instead of a plea.
Three outcomes are common. The prosecutor reviews the file and the charge is dismissed or reduced. You plead guilty or nolo contendere and the court sets a fine. Or the case is put on a later calendar because you are fighting it.
What your lawyer does before that date usually matters more than what happens in the room. Pulling the citation, the officer's notes, the radar or laser records behind a speed reading, and your driving history is what turns a routine plea into a real negotiation. A driver who walks in alone with nothing in hand has nothing to trade.
Points, not fines, are the part drivers end up regretting. A fine is a one-time cost you forget about. A conviction that reports to DDS rides on your license and your insurance for years.
If Your Traffic Violation Case Is Outside of Metro Atlanta, We Can Still Help You
Our offices are in Metro Atlanta, but we can refer you right away to our statewide network of 20+ highly rated traffic attorneys. These attorneys handle cases in cities and counties across Georgia. That includes major cities such as Macon, Savannah, Columbus, Augusta, Dalton, Albany and Athens, plus smaller towns such as Tifton, Thomasville, Valdosta, Blakely, Cartersville, Winder, Toccoa, and Carrollton. Whether you were ticketed in Macon, Savannah, Augusta, or a small town off I-75, we can put you in touch with an experienced lawyer to fight the case.
Hire an Experienced Traffic Lawyer Near Me in Georgia for Your Traffic Citation Case
Call our 24-hour traffic lawyers now at 404-567-5515. Ask for Atlanta traffic ticket lawyer Larry Kohn, who has handled over one thousand Georgia traffic violation cases. Georgia traffic attorney Cory Yager worked as a traffic officer in Georgia for nearly 10 years before law school. He joined our Atlanta law firm as a traffic ticket attorney 10 years ago. Every traffic attorney in our law firm has been named a Super Lawyer. Law partner William C. Head has written and lectured on Georgia traffic and DUI law for decades. He has practiced criminal defense for 47 years, handling misdemeanor and felony charges across Georgia, including Georgia traffic offenses. Mr. Head is also Board Certified in DUI Defense by the National College for DUI Defense, a credential held by fewer than 70 DUI attorneys in America.
Speak With a Georgia Traffic Ticket Lawyer Today
If you are still asking whether a traffic lawyer is the right call, the fastest way to find out is a free consultation. When you call William C. Head, PC at 404-567-5515, a traffic attorney reviews your citation, the court where the case sits, and your driving record. You get an honest read on whether a lawyer makes sense for your situation.
Do not sit on it. Your citation lists a court date, and that date is the one that counts. Skip it and the court can report you to DDS for failing to respond to a citation, which suspends your license until you go back, clear the case, and pay what you owe. A suspension like that also adds reinstatement fees and fresh legal headaches you could have avoided.
Our attorneys focus on Georgia traffic defense and handle DUI cases statewide. Whether you face a speeding ticket, a Super Speeder charge, reckless driving, or a citation that puts your CDL at risk, call 404-567-5515 today. The consultation is free. The phone is answered 24 hours a day. You have nothing to lose by learning your options.
Are Traffic Lawyers Worth It in Georgia?
For most Georgia drivers, hiring a traffic lawyer is worth it. The long-term cost of a conviction, counting insurance hikes, license points, and a possible suspension, usually runs well past the attorney's fee. A traffic lawyer can often cut or dismiss a charge that an unrepresented driver would simply plead guilty to.
Representation clearly pays for itself in a few settings. Drivers facing Super Speeder tickets gain the most. The $200 state fee and the suspension that follows non-payment reach well beyond the original fine. CDL holders risk their commercial license on even minor charges. Drivers who already carry points face suspension at 15 points in 24 months. Out-of-state motorists need a Georgia attorney who can appear for them, which keeps an interstate compact report from reaching their home-state license.
In a narrow set of cases, a lawyer may not be worth the cost. A first-time driver with a clean record who gets one low-speed citation, say 10 mph over in a 45 mph zone, may face little point or insurance fallout. Even then, a free consultation can confirm the risk is as low as it looks.
The math is simple enough. Routine traffic fees commonly run from $150 to $400. A single conviction that adds points can raise your insurance for three years, and the extra premium often runs into the hundreds. Add reinstatement fees if your license goes down, and the cost of skipping a lawyer climbs fast. Are traffic lawyers worth it? In most Georgia traffic cases, yes. The only way to know for certain is to have an attorney look at your citation and your record.
Related Links:
Below are additional resources to help you understand the specific charges you may be facing: Speeding Ticket Penalties in Georgia Fighting a Super Speeder Ticket What Is Reckless Driving? Driving Under the Influence: What You Need to Know
Finding Legal Assistance:
Georgia DUI Attorneys DUI Lawyer Near Me Sandy Springs DUI Attorney
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Traffic Lawyers Worth the Cost for a Georgia Speeding Ticket?
Yes, in most cases. A Georgia speeding ticket can add 2 to 6 points to your license and raise your insurance for up to three years. Set a routine fee of $150 to $400 against three years of higher premiums and the math usually favors hiring a lawyer. An attorney may work out a reduction to a charge that is not reported to DDS, which keeps points off your record. Results turn on the court, your driving history, and the charge itself.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Traffic Ticket in Athens, Georgia?
Yes, if you were cited in Athens-Clarke County. A traffic lawyer can appear for you so you do not have to miss work or drive back for court. Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court handles a heavy traffic docket built on UGA students and commuters. An experienced attorney who knows that court's habits and prosecutors may get a reduction an unrepresented driver would not know to ask for.
Can a Traffic Lawyer Keep Points Off My Georgia Driver's License?
Yes, in many cases. Georgia's points system adds points for each moving violation conviction. A traffic attorney can seek a dismissal, a reduction to a charge that is not reported, or a nolo contendere plea when you are eligible. Each of those can keep points off your driving record. DDS honors only one nolo plea per driver every five years, so the choice is worth weighing with counsel. What is available depends on the charge, the court, and your history.
How Much Does an Athens Traffic Lawyer Cost?
Fees for an Athens traffic attorney commonly run from $150 to $500. The number depends on how serious the charge is and whether the case needs a court appearance or trial prep. Super Speeder cases and reckless driving charges in Athens-Clarke County can cost more because the stakes are higher. Many attorneys offer a free consultation, so you can learn the cost before you commit.
What Happens if I Just Pay My Georgia Traffic Ticket Without a Lawyer?
Paying a Georgia traffic ticket is the same as pleading guilty. The conviction goes on your driving record. Points are added to your license under Georgia's points system. Your insurance company may raise your rates at the next renewal. For Super Speeder violations, you also owe a $200 state fee, and your license is suspended if DDS does not get it within 120 days of the notice. Once a guilty plea is entered, undoing it is hard and usually costs more than fighting the charge would have.
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