Lexington, VA asked in Traffic Tickets for Virginia

Q: should I pay or go into court for a failure to obey highway sign infraction?

college-aged female, 1 previous record of speeding (non reckless) from over a year ago, otherwise clean record, involved in community. is there a benefit to at least showing up to court?

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Maria T Patente
PREMIUM
Maria T Patente pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Manassas, VA
  • Licensed in Virginia

A: People frequently choose to pay a ticket rather than contest it because they think it costs more to go to Court and take a day off of work than to pay the ticket. However, most people experience a large increase in their insurance premiums when points appear on their driving record. Three points on your driving record can be very costly. If you have grounds to contest the ticket, reduce it to a lesser violation, or attend a traffic school course, those are all better options. It is usually cheaper to hire an attorney to handle this for you than to go to Court yourself especially if you qualify to take a driving course to avoid the points.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.