Fort Lauderdale Traffic Violation Lawyer
There were 5,677 guilty verdicts for criminal traffic violations in Broward County in 2012
That is 5,677 people who had their licenses suspended or revoked, who may have spent days, weeks or even months in jail, whose vehicles were impounded, who are now paying much more for auto insurance, who may have totaled their cars or lost their jobs — or who may have caused a serious or fatal injury. And that’s just in Broward County. At Kevin J. Kulik, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale, we do more than keep points off your license. Kevin Kulik uses his courtroom skills, background as a prosecutor and commitment to justice for our clients to provide an aggressive defense — all with the goal of minimizing potential penalties or getting you acquitted. Contact our Fort Lauderdale traffic violation lawyer today.
The most serious traffic offenses require the most serious defense
While many traffic violations do not carry criminal penalties, some of the most serious do. And while even a single speeding ticket can have an effect on your driving record and your insurance bill, others can have an effect on your livelihood and even your life, such as reckless driving and hit and run offenses. Lawyers who focus on criminal defense help clients facing serious charges by examining the evidence, police reports and witness statements to create a solid defense.
Most traffic infractions and minor traffic violations, such as an improper lane change, are noncriminal in nature and can be handled in traffic court. And some criminal violations incur relatively minor punishments. These may include driving with an expired license or failure to wear eye protection while on a motorcycle.
Traffic violations that carry the most severe penalties include:
- DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated): A first offense with no injuries or major property damage may be a misdemeanor, but many DUI convictions result in fines of up to $5,000, imprisonment of up to five years and permanent revocation of driving privileges.
- Leaving the scene of an accident: Even if there are no injuries, it is against the law to leave an accident in which there was damage to a vehicle or property before giving your information to the other driver or to the police at the scene. Conviction can include up to 60 days in jail plus probation or fines.
- Hit and run: A hit and run is similar to leaving the scene of an accident, but in this case, someone is injured or killed. If injury is involved, penalties include a maximum sentence of five years in prison. For hit and run offenses that result in death, the minimum sentence is 21 months to a maximum of 15 years in prison, plus probation or fines.
- Vehicular homicide: If your negligent driving caused the death of another, you could be facing a charge of vehicular homicide. Negligence or recklessness is the key here, as not every fatal accident is a case of vehicular homicide. Vehicular homicide is a second-degree felony. A conviction for this charge includes up to 15 years in a Florida state prison, a fine and a three-year license revocation.
Enhanceable traffic violations
If you have been charged for a violation before and receive a subsequent conviction, your penalties are enhanceable. In other words, they become increasingly harsher.
Driving with a suspended or revoked license is one such offense. Whereas a first conviction for this offense is a second-degree misdemeanor, a second conviction would become a first-degree misdemeanor, with jail sentences increased from up to 60 days to up to one year. A third conviction may earn you the status of HTO, or habitual traffic offender, and a third-degree felony charge that could get your license revoked for up to five years.
Other areas in which police are cracking down
With the growing pressure on South Florida’s roadways, excessive speeding, weaving through traffic and general reckless driving cause accidents. Racing should be left to tracks, yet highway racing has become increasingly popular — and it is very dangerous and highly illegal.
Like other criminal traffic violations, these offenses are punishable by steep fines, potentially lengthy jail sentences and more. If you are facing charges for any of these violations, you need representation from an experienced Fort Lauderdale traffic offense attorney.
Call our Fort Lauderdale traffic offense lawyers today to start protecting your rights
Fort Lauderdale traffic violation lawyer Kevin Kulik offers a free consultation to discuss your situation and how we can help. To schedule a time to talk, please call Kevin J. Kulik, P.A. at 954-761-9411 or contact us online.
