Did You Get a Traffic or Speeding Ticket in Las Vegas? Here’s What You Should Do.
Judging by the number of recent speeding violations and other traffic offenses in Las Vegas, the exuberance of residents and visitors over the casino reopenings translated into more impatient and aggressive driving habits. One local traffic safety official even speculated that people forgot how to drive during the shutdown. If you get a speeding ticket or other serious traffic citation in Las Vegas, the one thing you should not do is ignore it.
At The Gersten Law Firm, we see proof of the stepped up law enforcement effort to control the post-lockdown increase in traffic and violations, including speeding — which in some cases is resulting in tickets for speeds in excess of 100 miles an hour. Las Vegas traffic ticket defense attorney Joseph Gersten is helping clients fight citations for speeding and other serious traffic offenses, including DUI and DUID. If we can help you with a traffic ticket in Las Vegas, elsewhere in Clark County, or in a rural Nevada county, we welcome you to reach out to us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation.
What Should You Do If You Get a Speeding Ticket in Clark County?
Each local jurisdiction in Nevada sets its own speeding fines. The state is known for having some of the highest speeding fines in the country. Throughout Nevada, fines are doubled if a violation occurs in a school zone, work construction zone, or pedestrian safety zone.
If you plead guilty and pay the fine, the consequences don’t end there. You receive points on your driver’s record too. The number of points is based on the extent to which you exceeded the speed limit. If you live outside Nevada, your state of residence likely will recognize the points as well. Accumulated points can mean loss of your driving privileges.
A speeding conviction on your record also usually results in higher car insurance premiums. The more violations there are on your record, the greater the increase will be. This consequence is one of the main reasons many drivers challenge traffic tickets.
A Nevada speeding conviction is a misdemeanor that stays on your criminal record for at least a year before you’re eligible to request sealing of the record. Because your record is available publicly, it could adversely affect you in a number of ways, including employment opportunities.
If you get a ticket for speeding or another serious traffic violation in Nevada, you have two choices. You can plead guilty, pay the fine, and accept all the consequences — or you can fight the charges. Challenging the ticket usually enables you to avoid some of the serious consequences through a negotiated plea agreement.
Fighting a traffic citation is best accomplished by an experienced traffic ticket defense attorney. Attempting to defend yourself is not likely to get the same results that a knowledgeable lawyer can achieve for you.
What Happens If You Ignore a Las Vegas Traffic Ticket?
While it is true that many things that happen in Las Vegas stay in Las Vegas, traffic tickets are not one of them. Regardless of how you respond, your ticket has consequences beyond the fine you pay for a violation. If you’re a visitor from out-of-state, the ticket follows you home.
Ignoring a Las Vegas or Nevada traffic ticket is not a smart choice. Doing so likely will eventually result in issuance of a bench warrant for your arrest. Then you will need a lawyer to address both the bench warrant and the traffic ticket. And you might end up in jail.
Although police officers do not go out of their way to serve traffic warrants, they run a check if you’re pulled over for any reason at all. Resolving the issues from being picked up and put in jail on a bench warrant is much more complicated than addressing the ticket in the first place.
After issuance of a bench warrant, chances are that it will be much more difficult for your attorney to negotiate a favorable disposition of your traffic ticket. So, you’re in a much worse position on several fronts. That’s why ignoring a ticket really is not a good approach.
Choosing the Right Lawyer to Challenge Your Las Vegas Speeding Ticket
If you get a speeding ticket in Las Vegas or Clark County, you want an attorney who knows the local system and courts. You also want a lawyer who aggressively represents clients and asserts every possible defense.
Las Vegas attorney Joseph Gersten represents clients in serious traffic charges as part of his criminal defense practice. He has the knowledge and experience you need on your side. He draws on his extensive investigative background to explore every possible avenue for challenging traffic charges. He’s a tough negotiator who knows how to work with local prosecutors to secure the best possible outcome for his clients.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Las Vegas Traffic Ticket Defense Attorney
Attorney Gersten represents local residents and visitors, including those from outside the state, on speeding and other serious traffic violations, such as DUI and DUID. He handles tickets in Las Vegas and throughout Clark County, including Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Mesquite, Searchlight, Moapa Valley, and Goodsprings, as well as in some rural Nevada counties.
Contact The Gersten Law Firm to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation.
