A simple non-criminal traffic ticket, such as speeding or failure to maintain a single lane, can turn into serious criminal problems if you do not stay on top of your obligations to the Court.
If you receive a simple traffic ticket in South Florida, you can either pay the ticket (not recommended since paying a ticket will result in a conviction, which means points on your license), elect traffic school if eligible, or set the ticket for trial.
You must do one of those three things. You cannot receive a traffic ticket and just do nothing.
Failure to set your ticket for trial, pay the ticket, or elect traffic school will result in a license suspension. If you drive on a suspended license and there is evidence that you have knowledge of the suspension, that is a criminal offense (Driving While License Suspended, also known as DWLS).
The first offense carries a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail. The second offense carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail.
If you have enough DWLS offenses on your record, you may qualify as a Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO), which means that your driving privilege is revoked in Florida for 5 years.
Driving on an HTO revocation is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
Letting tickets go into collections and result in suspensions can not only create serious criminal problems for you, you may be on the hook for thousands of dollars in fines and late fees.
Be proactive! If you get a ticket, make sure you address it properly. If a license suspension is imposed, speak to an attorney about how to quickly set aside the suspension.
Don't drive on a suspended license and run the risk of going to jail.
Eric Matheny is a criminal defense attorney serving Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Contact Attorney Eric Matheny today!