If you have been issued a traffic ticket in New Jersey, there are several things you need to be worried about, most notably:
- The cost in terms of fines, court costs, surcharges, and time spent in jail.
- Your driving record; and
- Your insurance premiums
However, if you handle the ticket the right way, you may be able to minimize or completely avoid any unwanted consequences. An experienced New Jersey traffic ticket defense lawyer can help you resolve a New Jersey traffic ticket with the best outcome possible.
What a New Jersey Traffic Ticket Really Costs
Perhaps the biggest concern you should have when you have been issued a traffic ticket in New Jersey is how much it’s going to cost you to resolve the ticket.
The Fines
All New Jersey traffic violations are punishable by a fine. The more serious the violation, the higher the fine. For example, speeding 1-9 mph above the speed limit is punishable by a fine of $85. But, if you were going 35-39 mph above the speed limit, you may be fined $260.
What’s more, if you received the ticket for speeding in a designated safety zone, a highway construction zone, or where the posted speed limit is 65 mph, the fine you face will be doubled.
Moreover, law enforcement often issues multiple tickets for the same traffic stop. So, for example, if you were pulled over for speeding, you may be issued a ticket for reckless driving as well. The more tickets, the more fines you will need to pay.
The Court Costs
If you decide to go to court rather than simply pay a New Jersey traffic ticket online, you will have to pay as much as $33 to the local municipal court.
The Surcharges
If you are convicted for any of the following traffic violations in New Jersey, you will be required to pay a surcharge every year for 3 years, in addition to any other penalties you receive:
- Driving Without a License – $100 surcharge
- Driving With a Suspended License – $250 surcharge
- Driving Without Liability Insurance – $250
What’s more, if you accumulate 6 points against your driving record within 3 years, you will be required to pay a surcharge of $150 each year for three years, plus an additional $25 for each point above 6.
Incarceration
Lastly, some New Jersey traffic violations carry the possibility of incarceration. For example, a second conviction for driving while suspended can be punished by up to 5 days in jail and a third conviction can get you up to 10 days in jail.
How a New Jersey Traffic Ticket Lawyer Can Help
If you have been issued a traffic ticket in New Jersey, it is important to look at it closely to see if the “court appearance required” box is marked. If it is, you need to take note of the date and time you need to appear in court. Also, keep in mind that if you fail to appear in court on that date and time, a warrant can be issued for your arrest and your driver’s license may be suspended.
It would also be in your best interest to contact an experienced New Jersey traffic ticket defense attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can help you contest the ticket in court by casting doubt on the evidence against you, be it a faulty radar gun or doubtful surveillance footage.
If your attorney is successful, the charge against you may be reduced to one that carries fewer consequences, or the charge may be dismissed altogether. Similarly, if you are facing multiple violations, your attorney may be able to obtain a plea deal, whereby certain charges will be dropped in exchange for a guilty plea.
Contact an Experienced New Jersey Traffic Ticket Lawyer
If you have a New Jersey traffic ticket to deal with, and you don’t know what to do or where to start, call our law firm for a free consultation with a knowledgeable New Jersey traffic ticket defense attorney. We help people who have been issued traffic tickets in New Jersey resolve them with the best possible outcome.
Call us today. The sooner you call, the more we can do for you.