Is it worth it? What should I do?

[Brooke Wilde]

I was recently pulled over & received 4 tickets (only one being for speeding).

I was thinking of hiring a traffic ticket attorney, but it seems that they all charge by each infraction, & since I have 4, it ends up getting pricey pretty quickly.

Is it even worth it to hire an attorney? I figure it will cost at least $600 ... then if I am found guilty - or even able to settle for less - it doesn't seem like I am saving much money.

I assume (please correct me if I am wrong) that if I get them reduced, they are still going on my driving record (which I what I am trying to avoid).


What should I do?

[IhaveaBBC]

I always hire Sullo & Sullo. They do an amazing job and last I checked they were not that expensive. They stack like 50 people in a Courtroom sometimes and it’s guaranteed dismissal. You are rolling the dice hoping cops don’t show up or going in there trying to negotiate . Who has time for that? Quick analogy…..if you were a dude…….do you want a list crawler/street walker or do you pay more for a Tryst , P411 , Eccie or Ourhome2 lady . I go for the latter all the time. Good luck

[Unique_Carpenter]

Brooke,
It's not the price, but the points test are a key issue.
Yes plead them down to get lower points on each. It's worth using an atty simply to avoid mistakes. Pick an atty that works the courtroom that the tickets will go to.

[Brooke Wilde]

Originally Posted by IhaveaBBC

I always hire Sullo & Sullo.

They charge per ticket & were one of the higher priced ones.

[Brooke Wilde]

Originally Posted by Unique_Carpenter

It's not the price, but the points test are a key issue.

Let's say I can't plea the ticket down, but I am able to get the fine reduced, would the same number of points go on my record?

Is there somewhere I can look up the point system or would a good ticket attorney have that information?

[IhaveaBBC]

Point system works where if you get so many points a year on your license your license will be suspended and your insurance will go up. Yes , the speeding ticket can be handled through defensive driving but that also entails time. You need to elaborate what the other 3 are to get really helpful information. Shit like seat belt violations, who gives a fuck. If it’s pertaining to actual violations like running a red light then yeah you are fucked if your points add up.

You can gamble. Go in reset it and pray the cop doesn’t show up but that’s a gamble . I am absolutely not trying to be funny at all. I’m just truthful. There is someone that you have seen who is a lawyer. If spending 600 or whatever it costs irks you that much, just simply send a beautiful text to him saying baby I’ll barter you a free session to represent me in court to make this go away. Once a lawyer shows up to these bullshit traffic tickets literally it’s always dismissed

There’s a ghetto route to get this done but it takes about a day of your time, which you might or might not want to give. Ive been caught with tickets before. On the road. Got locked up. Quickly called a friend to get the car so it’s not towed. Sat in jail for a day and guess what tickets dismissed. I’m talking about like 2200 worth of tickets. Walk out go home, take 3 showers, burn the jail clothes and it’s absolutely over with.

You are going to have to make a decision soon because they won’t magically disappear and they will snatch your license and your insurance will go up. Again, you have a lady some advice about life decisions and consequences. It was true. I say pony up, pay Sullo. Think about it this way, those attorneys buy pussy. That’s how they can afford to pay these exorbitant rates here and in strip clubs, so eventually that money will filter back to you some kind of way or at least the business. I would pay the attorney fees and just slow the fuck down. Either way you will have to pay the Piper one way or another on this. Sucks, but just like your advice to that lady, we have to own our bad decisions and move on. Sullo for the win. Get it over with.

[Unique_Carpenter]

Brooke,
Again it's the points that are key issue. Yes if points go on record and add up, well...
Texas should have a web site that lists points per type of infraction and how long time wise till they expire.

Key item: suppose ECG got a 90 in a 70 zone in her Vette (sold a while back) but her atty made a deal to plead guilty to 75 in a 70 zone. Yes less points. My point being look up the point system and that will help you make a decision.

[majorjones]

What you should do is stop driving like an idiot and putting yourself in this position.

[GhostRiderYYZ]

Are the court dates all the same ? If so see if you can get them reset to different dates. Take Defensive drivers course for one which will null it out, see if you can deferred adjudication on another if possible

[Michael8219]

Texas does not use a points system for driving violations:

Texas repealed its Driver Responsibility Program (DRP), which used a points system, in 2019. The DRP was in place from 2003 until 2019.

Texas now tracks the number of moving violations a driver has in a 12- and 24-month period. A driver's license can be suspended if they have:
4 or more moving violations in a 12-month period
7 or more moving violations in a 24-month period

I would use a competent traffic attorney. Seems like there a couple others similar to Sullo but they (Sullo) always seem to represent the most folks (i.e., that have representation). Most likely since they purchase the database of those getting tickets and automatically mail a solicitation letter daily or weekly.

Sometimes on a first offense and with humility the prosecutor usually shows some leniency but with a lawyer you’re likely to get a couple dismissals, probation, lowered fines, defensive driving etc.

When I’ve had one violation I go without lawyer and/or apply for adjudication by taking defensive driving. One time when I couldn’t take dd since it had only been a few months I had my deceased brother make a call to the prosecutor and request probation - when I showed up, ticket was dismissed for court cost and 6 months probation.

[Unique_Carpenter]

Thank you Mikey.
Good points.

[Brooke Wilde]

Originally Posted by majorjones

What you should do is stop driving like an idiot and putting yourself in this position.

LOL. You are very judgmental.

I was doing 43 in a 30MPH nonresidential area on Westpark.

Find one person anywhere that has not done 43 in a 30 in an urban area. The ticket even says "urban area'.

I never knew the speed limit reduced to 30 on Westpark.

[Brooke Wilde]

Originally Posted by Michael8219

Texas does not use a points system for driving violations:

Thank you for all of that information. It is very helpful.

The tickets were for speeding (43 in 30).

No seatbelt.

No front LP

Expired registration - it only expired the month before :-(

[Brooke Wilde]

Originally Posted by IhaveaBBC

If it’s pertaining to actual violations like running a red light then yeah you are fucked if your points add up.

I think technically only one was a moving violation. Speeding (43 in a 30). The others were - No front LP. No seatbelt. Expired registration.

I used to do the "ghetto route" years ago.

I'd plead not guilty to every ticket I received & when I went back to court, I'd guess over 50% of the time the officer didn't show up. So, they were dismissed.

If the officer showed up, I'd plea to something, let it go into warrant status then once a good number of tickets piled up, I'd turn myself in.

I've probably done it 7 or 8 times over a 15-year period. It's actually a great way to get rid of tickets if you have a few hours to spear. Now in days, I don't want my son to think it's okay to commit a small (or any) crime because you can just go sit in jail for a few hours to clear up the matter. Now that he is 10, I'd like for him to get a feel for how the system & life works.

Originally Posted by GhostRiderYYZ

Are the court dates all the same ? If so see if you can get them reset to different dates. Take Defensive drivers course for one which will null it out, see if you can deferred adjudication on another if possible

They are all the same evening.

[Unique_Carpenter]

Brooke, the key item is the moving violation.

Consider calling the prosecutors office and ask if you can make a deal on that. As in how much $$$ if they convert it and you plead guilty to equipment defect. However, the other tickets may have them say no.

You really are on the edge of needing an atty to deal with this, as the cop was an azz writing you four in one shot.