Philadelphia Traffic Lawyer

In Philadelphia, as in most U.S. cities, all drivers are expected to obey traffic rules at all times. When moving violations occur, some may be considered minor. For example, as a Philadelphia traffic lawyer can explain in further detail, a person who is caught driving without a license, or proof of a license, is violating state section 1501. If convicted, the individual faces a fine of $200. Others traffic violations are considered more serious. One of the most serious traffic violations is leaving the scene of an accident under Pennsylvania sec. 3744. If you leave the scene of an accident or collision in which you were involved, you could be charged with hit-and-run. If convicted, a driver faces the possibility of a $10,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

If you are accused of violating any traffic law in the Commonwealth, contacting a Philadelphia traffic lawyer is your best option. He or she will discuss all the aspects of your pending case, outline the strongest possible defense and work aggressively toward getting your violation reduced or dismissed.

Philadelphia Traffic Lawyers Can Help With These Charges

Section 1543, makes operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license a crime. Careless driving is illegal under Section 3714 of the Commonwealth’s code. Careless is a term that means driving without regard to other people’s safety. This may include a pedestrian’s or another driver’s safety. Section 3714 (b) defines causing an unintentional death while sub-section (c) applies to causing serious bodily injury.

Criminal Offenses that May Start Out as Traffic Violations

A person accused of aggravated assault by vehicle involving driving under the influence will likely face a criminal charge under Section 3735.1. The charge states that any person who negligently causes another individual serious bodily injury as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance and who is convicted of violating section 3802 (driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance) has committed a second degree felony when the violation is the cause of the injury.

Reckless driving is defined in Section 3736. A driver is can be found guilty of this offense when he or she drives with wanton or willful disregard for the safety of property or people.

Potential Penalties in Pennsylvania  Traffic Offenses

In addition to the various fines that are imposed  for most traffic offenses, and criminal offenses related to driving, you may also face points against your driving record or license. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) assesses the number of points based on the severity of the traffic offense. For example, if you are convicted of failure to comply with rules like yielding to pedestrians at a crosswalk, two points may be lodged against your driving record. Other violations and the points assessed include:

• Three points for reckless driving
• Four points for leaving the scene of an accident

While points against your license may seem insignificant  the accumulation of points will result in the loss of driving privileges. They can also hinder your ability to secure a commercial driver’s license and interfere with future job prospects.

Defenses to Traffic Violations

An experienced Philadelphia traffic lawyer will have the background and knowledge to determine the best defense for your particular charge. There are several common defenses that pertain to a variety of charges, with the most common being a basic challenge of the facts and lack of evidence of your guilt.

A skilled traffic attorney will also look for evidence of police error. Officers make mistakes, like anyone, and you may have been wrongly charged. Perhaps the officer assigned the wrong traffic code violation or jumped to an unreasonable conclusion.

If you’re traffic offense is related to a red light camera violation, a seasoned Philadelphia traffic lawyer will know how to challenge the accuracy of these  devices.

Regardless of the traffic offense you are accused of, your Philadelphia traffic lawyer will advocate on your behalf.