Not every traffic citation in Florida is a simple fix-it ticket. Some traffic violations are classified as traffic criminal offenses, carrying consequences that go well beyond points on a license. Attorney Michael G. Salazar Jr. has handled over 50,000 traffic cases throughout his career defending Fort Lauderdale drivers.
Civil vs. Criminal Traffic Violations
Many traffic violations in Florida are civil infractions, resulting in fines and points but no criminal record. Others, including driving with a suspended license, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and reckless driving, are criminal offenses that can result in an arrest, a permanent criminal record, and even jail time. A Fort Lauderdale Traffic Violation Lawyer reviews exactly how a citation was classified and whether it was issued properly.
Why These Cases Deserve Attention
Beyond potential fines and license points, a criminal traffic conviction becomes part of a permanent record and can affect insurance rates, employment background checks, and if this is your third offense in your lifetime for driving with a suspended driver’s license or operating without a valid driver’s license, you could be facing a minimum mandatory of 10 days in the county jail.. Even civil infractions can lead to a license suspension if enough points accumulate within a short period.
Building a Defense
Traffic cases often turn on details like the accuracy of the officer’s observations, whether equipment such as radar or lidar was properly calibrated, and whether the citation itself was issued correctly. Attorney Salazar’s decades of experience handling traffic and traffic criminal matters throughout Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.
How Points Affect Your License
Florida’s point system assigns a specific number of points to different moving violations, and accumulating too many points within a set period can trigger an automatic license suspension, separate from any individual case outcome. Because points can add up across multiple citations over time, even a seemingly minor violation is worth taking seriously if your license is already carrying points from a prior infraction. Paying moving violation tickets will cause points on your driver’s license and could lead to a license suspension. Therefore, you should never pay your traffic ticket. Traffic tickets cases can not be paid since they carry a mandatory court appearance. Attorney Salazar may appear on your behalf if you execute a waiver of appearance. Most clients do not want to appear in court and allow attorney Salazar to appear on their behalf.
When a Citation Becomes an Arrest
Certain traffic offenses in Florida do not simply result in a citation, they result in an arrest and formal criminal charges, requiring a court appearance and, for some offenses, the possibility of jail time. Reckless driving, driving with a suspended or revoked license, fleeing or eluding law enforcement, and DUI all fall into this more serious category, distinct from the civil infractions most drivers are used to receiving.
Commercial Drivers Face Additional Stakes
For drivers who hold a commercial driver’s license, even a violation that would be relatively minor for a standard license holder can carry serious professional consequences, since commercial licensing rules often apply stricter standards and lower tolerances for violations. Anyone whose livelihood depends on their driving record should treat even a routine-seeming traffic citation with real seriousness rather than assuming it will simply resolve itself.
Reviewing the Citation Itself
Traffic citations are prepared quickly, often on the roadside, and errors in how a citation is written, timed, or documented are not uncommon. Attorney Salazar reviews the citation itself as closely as the underlying conduct, since procedural issues in how a stop or citation was handled can sometimes be just as relevant to the outcome of a case as the facts of the alleged violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a traffic violation in Florida result in a criminal record?
Yes, for certain violations. Offenses such as reckless driving or driving with a suspended license are criminal in nature and can result in a permanent record if convicted, unlike a standard civil infraction.
Is it worth contesting a traffic ticket in Fort Lauderdale?
It depends on the citation and your specific circumstances, including how many points are already on your license and whether the violation is civil or criminal. An attorney can review your citation and explain your realistic options.
How many points can lead to a license suspension in Florida?
Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles can suspend a license once a driver accumulates a certain number of points within a specific timeframe. The exact thresholds depend on the point total and time period involved, and an attorney can explain how your specific driving record may be affected.
Protecting Your Driving Privileges
For many people, a driver’s license is essential to getting to work, caring for family, and simply managing daily life. Attorney Salazar understands what is at stake beyond the citation itself and works to protect a client’s driving privileges wherever a realistic path to doing so exists, recognizing how much a suspended license can disrupt someone’s day to day responsibilities.
If you are facing a traffic violation in Fort Lauderdale, call The Salazar Law Firm at (954) 467-1965 to speak with Attorney Michael G. Salazar Jr.
