Orlando Traffic Ticket Lawyer

HABITUAL TRAFFIC OFFENDER AND DRIVER LICENSE ISSUES

TURN TO OUR ORLANDO TRAFFIC TICKET LAWYERS

In Florida, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is authorized to suspend or even revoke your license due to certain traffic offenses. Many times, people become designated as “Habitual Traffic Offenders” (HTO) without even knowing it, by simply paying their civil citations. An HTO designation means that your license is automatically revoked for five years. If you are facing a license suspension or revocation, or have already had your license suspended or revoked, there may still be hope to restore your driving privileges. Seeking legal assistance from an experienced Orlando traffic ticket attorney can help you navigate the process and potentially regain your driving privileges

Why Choose Us?

We Care and We Know How to Fight to Win

For Mike Panella, the concept of zealous advocacy developed at an early age – fueled by what he perceived to be an unjust resolution in a personal family legal matter. Panella would later follow his passion for defending rights of those who suffer inequities in the legal system. Before opening Panella Law Firm, Mr. Panella served as an Assistant Public Defender for Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office and worked hundreds of cases in both Brevard and Seminole Counties. Mr. Panella was undefeated at trial.

If you have been charged with a traffic violation, let Orlando traffic ticket attorney Mike Panella and his team fight to get you the most optimal outcome for your case. Call 407-233-1822 to set up a free consultation and learn what we can do for you.

Common Traffic Violations and Their Consequences

Drivers deal with hundreds of traffic rules and laws. At Panella Law Firm, we defend our clients against them all. But drivers in Florida tend to violate some laws more than others. Knowing what these most-violated laws are can help keep you safe and out of trouble.

Driving Without a License or on a Suspended or Revoked License

All motorists in Florida must have a valid license that has not been suspended. There are no exceptions. Those who are caught operating a motor vehicle without a license or with a suspended license face serious consequences.

If you have never had a license or you have a suspended or revoked license and are caught driving, you face:

• Conviction of a second-degree misdemeanor
• $500 in fines
• Up to 60 days in jail.

You are unlikely to be sent to the county jail if you have no prior record of driving without a license. If you are caught driving with a suspended or revoked license, the penalties are the same as those for diving without a license.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is a general charge that covers any driving behavior that exhibits a disregard for the safety of others. Various types of driving behavior fit within this description, such as:

• Excessive speeding
• Racing
• Passing when passing is not allowed
• Improper passing of a stationary school bus in a loading zone
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Road rage.

Reckless driving can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances of the incident. If charged with a misdemeanor, you could be looking at the following consequences:

• First Offense, No Bodily Injury or Property Damage: You will be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor and face up to 90 days in jail, six months’ probation, and a fine of up to $500.
• Repeat Offenses: These are punished by a maximum of six months in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.
• Reckless Driving, Damage, or Injury: This is a first-degree misdemeanor that can net you 12 months in jail or probation and cost you $1,000 in fines.
• Serious Bodily Injury: If you cause serious bodily injury while driving recklessly, you can be charged with a third-degree felony and face up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and a fine of $5,000.

Speed alone is not always sufficient for a reckless driving conviction. It typically must be coupled with other dangerous behavior. That said, some Florida appellate courts have upheld reckless driving convictions based on speed alone.

Speeding Violations

Speeding tickets are very common in Florida. Depending on the circumstances, a ticket can cause you to incur significant fines plus points on your license. In some cases, a speeding ticket might have aggravating factors, such as going 30 miles or more over the speed limit or speeding in a school zone. When present, these aggravating circumstances lead to harsher penalties.

Careless Driving

Careless driving is by far one of the behaviors most cited by law enforcement officers in Florida. The language of the law is so broad that many officers consider it to be a catch-all charge — all manner of driving behavior could potentially fit within its definition. In order to be found guilty of careless driving, you must:

• Be driving a vehicle on a roadway in Florida
• Be driving in a manner that is not careful or prudent
• Endanger the life, health, or property of someone else.

Tickets for careless driving can result in harsh consequences. You could be looking at fines between $160 and $500, and you will get four points on your record. And don’t forget about your insurance premiums.

All of the violations listed above are moving violations. At Panella Law Firm, we also vigorously defend our clients against non-moving violations, including:

• Driving without insurance
• Failure to provide an officer with proof of insurance
• Illegal window tinting
• Unlawful use of a driver’s license
• Driving with expired tags.

Whatever traffic violation you are facing, a Florida traffic ticket attorney from our firm can potentially help you take a bad situation and make it better. So don’t pay that ticket just yet. Call 407-233-1822 for a free consultation today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Got traffic ticket questions? Panella Law Firm has answers. Read through the traffic ticket FAQs below and call to speak with a traffic defense attorney in Florida for more answers to your questions.

How do they measure my speed?

There are four ways that law enforcement measures the speed of vehicles: radar, laser, aircraft, and pace.

Will my insurance increase after a traffic ticket?

It depends. In general, it is reasonable to expect your insurance premiums to rise after a moving violation. However, by attending traffic school, some drivers may be able to avoid premium hikes.

I have a commercial driver’s license. What should I do if I get a ticket?

If you get a moving violation and have a CDL, you are required to report the ticket, major or minor, to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 30 days. If you do not, your CDL may be revoked or suspended.

My ticket has erroneous information. Can I get the ticket dismissed?

Probably not. An incorrect address or car description on a ticket is typically not sufficient for a traffic defense attorney in Florida to get a ticket dismissed.

What type of traffic school must I attend?

There are various types of traffic school courses and education available to Florida drivers. However, if you are taking traffic school because of a ticket, you will sign up for the four-hour Basic Driver Improvement Course.

Do you have more traffic ticket questions? We have a traffic defense attorney in Florida ready to give you answers. Call today!

SKILLED HELP FROM OUR ORLANDO TRAFFIC VIOLATION LAWYERS

A Seasoned Florida Traffic Ticket Attorney Is Ready to Meet

Every Orlando traffic ticket attorney at Panella Law Firm understands that the loss of the privilege to drive is costly, embarrassing, and creates serious burdens on family, friends, and the ability to work. Call 407-233-1822 to speak with a Florida traffic ticket attorney today for a free consultation to determine if we can help you get back to your life.