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Questions Answered by Timothy Kraeer
1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: In Pennsylvania, I was issued citation for failure to come to complete stop at stop sign. Can I plead not guilty…

I was issued citation for not coming to a complete stop at stop sign. At the time, my vehicle was not inspected. I am making inspection appointment on Monday

Police officer never looked at my inspection. I feel as if I came to a complete stop but was guilty of an expired vehicle... View More

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jul 25, 2022

You should plead not guilty. Bring proof that you had the vehicle inspected to the hearing, and the officer may withdraw that citation. The officer may also be willing to change the stop sign citation to a section that does not add points to your license. Consider reaching out to a traffic attorney... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: Can an officer mail me a citation for following too closely without ever positively identifying me?

He pulled up to my driveway as i was closing the garage door and I opened the door after he honked. This is a psp trooper in pa.

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jul 21, 2022

No. An officer can mail a citation without ever making contact with a driver if the driver can be ID'd by the trooper, such as if the officer can see the driver and has had prior run ins with him/her. The question in your case is what the trooper is relying on for his identification of you as... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Gov & Administrative Law and Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: I have received a citation stating that I fail to stop at a stop sign. Has me as a defendant and a vehicle that I own.

I was in bed asleep at that time of the violation and the vehicle I don’t drive. It’s a spare for the family. No one in my family was ever pulled over on this date and time or any other time. Is this legal?

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jul 21, 2022

Certainly sounds like a mistake was made, which happens from time to time. You should plead not guilty, which means a hearing will be scheduled that you will have to appear for. It should be as simple as the officer realizing he/she made a mistake when you see him/her at the hearing. You can also... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: Can an officer in pa give you a ticket without pulling you over after they follow you? I’m
Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jul 20, 2022

Yes. I'm not sure what citation you received, but this happens often with suspended license citations. If the officer can ID the driver and knows from past dealings that the driver's license is suspended, a citation can be issued/mailed without being pulled over. If you have received a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: I received a speeding ticket for going 75mph in a 70mph zone. Is this a misdemeanor? Also, should I plead guilty?

The officer told me no points would be added to my license and because it was only 5mph over the limit, my insurance should not be affected. Is that accurate?

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jul 18, 2022

It is not a misdemeanor, and not something that would appear on a criminal background check. It's true that no points will be added to your license if you have a Pennsylvania license. If your license is from another state, that may change. The insurance issue is a little more complicated. Your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: Can a not guilty plea be entered without me submitting my citation or not guilty plea, before the 10 day period?

I was pulled over on the 10th for an expired tag, I also don't have a license and was charged with driving on a DUI suspension and recieved the citation in the mail with instructions on how to plea and my options. On the Friday the 15th I received the citation in the mail, I wasn't given... View More

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jul 17, 2022

If you received a citation for driving under suspension, DUI-related, the court will automatically schedule a hearing because there is mandatory prison time associated with that section. You really should consult with an attorney in your area prior to your hearing date.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: Speeding Ticket

I was pulled over for speeding. Ticket was for 89 in a 65, then stated I tried running from him. He was driving on the opposite side of the highway (I was headed north he was headed south) and clocked me from across the median, windows up, while moving. Now, the device said it was handheld and last... View More

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jul 14, 2022

Yes you should plead not guilty and consult with an attorney to discuss your options. At the very least, it might be possible to have the speed lowered to limit or eliminate any points.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: Hi, I got a failed to obey traffic device ticket (section 3111) does that carry any points?
Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jun 26, 2022

If you have a Pennsylvania license, a conviction for 3111(a) will not give you any points. If you have a license from another state, including a CDL from another state, that answer may change and you should consult an attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: My girlfriend was pulled over by a state trooper and issued a citation for out of date registration and at the time she

She couldn't find her registration card but the sticker on the license plate said it was good until 11-22 and we have the registration card now and it says the same thing what should we do

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jun 21, 2022

She should plead not guilty. A hearing will be scheduled, and if she brings proof of current registration, the trooper may be willing to withdraw the citation. At worst, a violation for expired registration carries only a fine - there are no points or license suspension. That differs however from... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: A cop pulled me over and told me he would mail me a citation, but never asked me to sign anything.

I’m not sure if this is something I’ve experienced but I was always made to sign something when getting a ticket. (I got one 2 years ago in NJ) Not sure if I will actually be getting a citation or if it was a scare tactic?

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jun 16, 2022

An officer is permitted to mail you a citation in Pennsylvania. If you do receive one, feel free to reach out to a traffic or criminal defense attorney for a free consultation. There is some odd interactions between the PA and NJ vehicle code when it comes to points transferring from PA to NJ.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law and Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: In Pennsylvania, do drivers have to provide their license, registration, & insurance information to police when stopped?

I was just pulled over by the police. I asked the officer to tell me what was the reason for the stop, however, he insisted I give him my ID before he'd tell me what was the reason for the stop. Come to find out, my registration expired ten days ago. As I explained to the officer, it was... View More

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jun 11, 2022

Based on what you've written, I don't think you did anything wrong. Most officers, at least those I've interacted with, will run license plates randomly or really whenever they are driving behind someone. A lot of police cars are also now equipped with automatic license plate... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: Hello, I currently have a misdemeanor for simple assault in 2015. In need of expungement

Hello,

I currently have a misdemeanor for simple assault in 2015, my first year of college. In order to continue grad school for social work I'm in need of guidance and assistance with expungement, petition sealing, automated sealing or pardon.

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jun 5, 2022

You may be eligible to petition to have the record sealed, but it will depend on the grading of the offense and the rest of your criminal history (if you have any). You won't be eligible for expungement or automatic sealing given the nature of the offense. Reach out to an attorney for more... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: How should I handle a expired registration traffic ticket in PA?

I live in PA (Chester county). I was pulled by a police and got a ticket for expired registration and inspection. (My registration was expired 4 months ago and I forgot to renew, my inspection is also expired for this year). I have a clean record. I will get them renewed asap. Shall I just plea... View More

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Jun 5, 2022

You can simply plead guilty and pay the fine - you won't be assessed any points or suspension. However, given you have a clean record, you should plead not guilty and bring proof of inspection and registration to the court. Most officers will withdraw the citations if you prove you've had... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: What do I do for a mailed citation (1st ticket) and I know I stopped on a sign and yielded but it caused a car accident?

A car hit my car at the front passenger side as I was making a left turn at Route 663 at 3:40am. The road was blind on my right and a car was speeding down. Instead of him having a collision towards me, he swerved to the right and fell on a ditch and hit a tree. His car was wrecked but he was fine... View More

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on May 1, 2022

You should absolutely plead not guilty. At the very least, it may be possible to have the citation amended to a section that will not add points to your license. Consult a traffic attorney in your area for more information.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Gov & Administrative Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: How is a local ordinance violation different from non traffic summary in PA?

I was charged with public intoxication but plead noy guilty due to the circumstances and that my professional license would be affected. The magistrate offered a plea to a local ordinance violation that he said would stay local and not be accessible without search warrant. I received a citation... View More

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Apr 21, 2022

The difference is that public drunkenness is a violation of the Pennsylvania crimes code, whereas a local ordinance is not. It is only a violation of the local ordinance, or administrative code. It is not a criminal offense, but there will still be a public record generated in connection with the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: Can Pennsylvania officers mail speeding citations?

Cop pulled me over speeding 60 in a 35 mph zone. I wasn’t doing more than 50 but not really going to argue with him. I was still speeding and agree with that. He said I can fight it in court and the ticket will be mailed to me. It’s the first time I ever heard they can mail the ticket. I though... View More

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Apr 21, 2022

Yes it is permissible for the citation to be mailed to you under the circumstances. You should contact an attorney to discuss your options. Many times, we can get the speed reduced on the citation to reduce or eliminate the number of points that are assessed to your license.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: I was pulled over for not moving into the left lane when passing a traffic stop. Should I plead guilty?

I was doing the speed limit then slowed down a bit when passing the stop.

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Apr 17, 2022

Depending on what specific section was cited you might receive points on your license. It would be best to consult with a traffic attorney to get the full details. Most of us provide free consultations. I see your question comes from outside Pennsylvania as well - the answer also depends on what... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: Can a lawyer respond to the citation on your behalf?10 day response on citation is from case filed date or mail receipt
Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Mar 30, 2022

Yes, an attorney can plead not guilty on your behalf. There are some courts that will still require that you post collateral for the citation. If you are interested in hiring an attorney, reach out to one for a free consult to discuss the citation in detail and what your options might be.

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury for Pennsylvania on
Q: If I get money and have to pay other people like for instance a chiropractor, would lawyer receive their 40% before?

For example say I get a settlement of $4,000 but have to pay a doctors $300. Would my lawyer take their 40% from the $4000 or $3700?

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Mar 24, 2022

Typically attorney's fees will come out of the gross settlement figure before other deductions, but you should refer to the written fee agreement you probably signed when the case began.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Pennsylvania on
Q: I got a citation today for driving with suspended license what comes after a citation? Will I have to go in front of jud

Will there be consequences like jail time or just fines and more probation since I’m already on probation?

Timothy Kraeer
Timothy Kraeer
answered on Mar 20, 2022

The answer depends on a few different factors like whether this is the first time or if you've been convicted for driving under suspension before, as well as whether your license was suspended for a DUI. Contact an attorney for a free consultation and we can tell you what the potential... View More

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