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Getting a traffic ticket in Colorado is not unusual. After all, no driver is perfect on the road, and there are various kinds of traffic violations that may lead to a ticket in Colorado. Some of these include speeding, driving under the influence (DUI), and simple parking offenses. While getting a traffic ticket is less serious than most criminal offenses, it can cause you problems in terms of time, money, and insurance rates and may even lead to your license suspension. But there’s no reason to feel upset. Knowing what to do after getting a ticket in Colorado can help you mitigate the adverse effects of a traffic violation.
Here are your options after getting a traffic ticket in Colorado.
If you are like most drivers, you may not be willing to spend your crucial time and effort challenging a traffic ticket. That means you’ll just agree to pay a fine. In most cases, fines for tickets will vary based on the specific traffic violation and your case’s specific circumstances. For instance:
Besides fines, you may have to pay surcharges and get points on your driving record. It is important to bear in mind that you have up to 20 days to remit your payment to the Division of Motor Vehicles if you opt to pay your ticket. This can be done either in person, by mail, phone, or online, based on where you were cited. Paying the fine early enough will help you avoid additional fines and potential problems.
If you feel that your ticket for an improper lane change, speeding, or any other violation was not justified or maybe you want to avoid the negative impact of a ticket, disputing the traffic ticket in court may be the right thing to do. If that’s what you intend to do, the first step is to notify the court and submit your plea either in person or via mail. After that, you’ll have to prepare for your hearing by gathering evidence, contacting witnesses if you have any, and even rehearsing what you intend to say in court. The good thing is that you can hire an experienced Colorado traffic ticket attorney to do that on your behalf.
If you are found guilty of the specific traffic violation you are being accused of, points may be added to your driving record. On the other hand, no points will be added if you are not found guilty. Regardless of your trial’s outcome, you must check your driving record. Sometimes points may erroneously be added to your driving record without your knowledge, resulting in increased insurance rates or suspension of your driver’s license.
The last option that you have after getting a traffic ticket in Colorado is mitigation. This is a situation where you admit the specific traffic violation you are being accused of committing and explain the circumstances that forced you to commit the offense. In most cases, a judge will be lenient on you if he thinks that your explanation is justified and may impose lesser penalties, including:
While mitigation usually applies in cases where you’ve not had a traffic ticket in many years, it does not usually lead to a reduced penalty. In some cases, you may have points added to your driving record and even pay full fines, especially if a judge has cause to believe that your explanations or arguments are invalid. The good thing is that there’s nothing at stake when you opt for mitigation. However, you need to bear in mind that you cannot appeal the court’s decision after mitigation. Why? Because you had initially admitted that you committed the traffic violation.
Getting a traffic ticket in Colorado can be frustrating, to the say the least. Not only do you have fines to deal with, but you risk paying higher insurance rates and even having your driver’s license revoked. But there’s no reason to feel confused. After all, getting a traffic ticket does not deprive you of the right to fight the charges. Talk to an experienced Denver traffic ticket attorney to learn how we can help. Our attorney, Steven J. Pisani, has a decade of experience in defending the rights of residents in Denver and all of Colorado. Please fill out our online contact form or give us a call at (303) 529-2242 to schedule a free initial consultation.
