Traffic Offense Attorney Serving Palm Beach County FL

At The DUI Center, our attorney Andrew Simko isn’t just a former prosecutor—he was also Lead Attorney for the unit focused on traffic offenses in Florida. His experience handling thousands of traffic-related cases means he’ll give you the best representation possible.

Getting pulled over in Florida usually doesn’t seem like a big deal… until you’re suddenly in handcuffs. While many traffic offenses aren’t categorized as ‘criminal’ in Florida, you can still quickly find yourself facing misdemeanor or felony charges. In this situation, the best thing you can do is to hire a knowledgeable, focused traffic offense attorney as soon as you can.

You see, criminal traffic violations in Florida can bring serious consequences like fines, points on your driving record, license suspension, or even jail time.

The Most Common Criminal Traffic Violations in Florida

Some of the most common criminal traffic infractions in Florida are:

• Reckless driving – In Florida, reckless driving is defined as ‘driving any vehicle with a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of others.’ Examples include high-speed driving, weaving through traffic, and other dangerous behaviors.
• Leaving the scene of an accident – You can’t be involved in an accident and then leave the scene without offering your personal info or rendering aid. Doing so is grounds for being charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
• Driving with a suspended license – It’s illegal to drive in Florida if your license has been suspended or revoked. You can be charged with a criminal traffic offense if you’re pulled over while doing so.
• Driving without a license – Driving without a valid driver’s license in FL is illegal, too. Getting behind the wheel without one can easily lead to a criminal traffic charge.

If you or a loved one are facing criminal traffic offense charges in Palm Beach County, FL, contact us at The DUI Center today.

Our traffic lawyer Andrew Simko will review all evidence against you, identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and pursue either a plea deal or taking your case to trial—whichever has a better chance of winning you the most favorable outcome.

Penalties for Traffic Offenses in Palm Beach County

Per Title XXIII of the Florida Statutes, penalties for traffic crimes in Palm Beach County are as follows:

• Reckless driving – Up to 60 days in jail and minimum $25 fine for first offense; up to six months in jail and $500 fine for second offense; additional penalties if property damage and/or personal injury occurred.
• Leaving the scene of an accident – Up to five years in prison if personal injury occurred; up to 60 days in jail and $500 fine if only property damage occurred.
• Driving with a suspended license – Up to 60 days in jail and $500 fine for first offense; up to one year in jail and $1,000 fine for second offense; up to five years in prison and $5,000 fine for third offense.
• Driving without a license – Up to 60 days in jail and fines up to $500.
• Aggravated fleeing and eluding of a law enforcement official – Mandatory minimum three years in prison, up to 15 years maximum. Fines up to $10,000.
• Drag racing on highways – Possible driver’s license suspension, vehicle impoundment/revocation/forfeiture, and a criminal record. Fines between $1,000 – $3,000.

Potential Defenses for a Florida Traffic Violations in Palm Beach County FL

When you search online for a “traffic lawyer near me in Palm Beach County,” you’re likely wondering about the best defense strategy for your case. As your traffic offense attorney, we’ll work with you to get an in-depth, crystal-clear understanding of the charges against you. From there, we’ll create a custom defense strategy to win the best possible outcome.

That said, one of the best potential defenses for a Florida traffic offense is to negate elements of the charges against you.

Basically, for you to be found guilty, a prosecutor must prove your guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.” A skilled Florida traffic offense attorney like Andrew Simko will build a defense to prevent the prosecutor from doing so.

How? By doing things like challenging any subjective conclusions made by the arresting officer, demonstrating a lack of conclusive evidence against you, or challenging the accuracy of equipment like radar guns.

Once we’re familiar with your case, we’ll give you a breakdown of weaknesses in the evidence against you and how we aim to leverage them for your benefit.

Court Process When Charged with Criminal Traffic Offense in Palm Beach County Florida

Once you’ve been charged with a criminal traffic offense in Florida, the court process typically unfolds in this order:

1. Arrest or citation. You can either be arrested during/following the alleged offense or receive a citation. A citation normally lists the charges against you and a court date.
2. Initial appearance. If you’re arrested, you’ll appear before a judge within 24 hours. At this appearance, the judge will decide if you’re eligible for bail and what the bail amount is. If you received a citation, it’ll list a specified date to appear in court.
3. Arraignment. This is a formal court hearing where the charges against you are read and you must plead either guilty, not guilty, or no contest. If you plead guilty, you’ll proceed straight to sentencing.
4. Pre-trial proceedings. This process includes several steps that allow your traffic lawyer and the prosecution to exchange information, prepare for the trial, and potentially negotiate a plea agreement.
5. Trial (if no agreement is reached). Your case goes to trial if you don’t reach a plea agreement or get the charges dismissed. Yours may include only a judge, or a judge and jury, depending on your case. Both sides present their evidence and talk to witnesses.
6. Sentencing (if found guilty). If you’re found guilty, the court schedules a sentencing hearing. By law, the judge must consider many factors like your past criminal record and the nature of your current charges to determine a sentence.
7. Appeals. If you believe any errors occurred during your trial, you can appeal to a higher court. They’ll review the proceedings of your case to decide on what happens next—which may be nothing, a new trial, or several other outcomes.

Protect Your Rights and Best Interests by Hiring a Focused, Responsive, Aggressive Palm Beach County Traffic Violations Attorney

It’s true that criminal traffic offenses are seen as less serious crimes in Florida. But that doesn’t reduce the huge, stressful burden you’re carrying while waiting to resolve these charges.

At The DUI Center, we’ll never treat you as ‘just another case.’ We understand that regardless of the specific penalties you’re facing, your life could change—for the worse—in major ways if you’re convicted of this offense. Everything from points on your license to potential jail time is keeping you up at night.

That’s why we pride ourselves on our responsiveness and attention to detail with every single client, including you. Whether you want to learn more about our process or you’re ready to discuss the details of your case, contact Jupiter Criminal Defense Law Firm The DUI Center now.

Questions Frequently Asked to a Palm Beach County Traffic Lawyer

What’s the difference between a civil traffic infraction and a criminal traffic offense in Palm Beach County Florida?

In Florida, the difference between a civil traffic infraction and a criminal traffic infraction is that the latter carries potential criminal penalties like jail time and a criminal record.

Civil infractions, on the other hand, are simple non-criminal violations under Florida statutes. You receive a citation—also called a traffic ticket and may have to pay a fee and/or attend a defensive driving class. With a civil infraction, you also have the option to request a court hearing and explain your side of things.

Said another way, civil infractions are seen as ‘lesser’ than criminal infractions, which are categorized as misdemeanors or felonies.

What benefits are there to hiring a Palm Beach County traffic lawyer versus representing myself?

Some of the many benefits to hiring a traffic lawyer versus representing yourself are:

1. You can save money. While hiring a traffic offense attorney isn’t free, it might be cheaper than defending yourself. After all, minimizing jail time and fines is often worth investing in a lawyer.
2. No more stressing about deadlines and paperwork. Trying to learn legal terminology while submitting paperwork on time is quite a tall order. Hiring a traffic lawyer means you can rest easy knowing these details are taken care of.
3. You can win a much more favorable result. Whether your case goes to trial or is settled via negotiation with the prosecutors, winning the best outcome on your own is a Herculean task. An experienced traffic lawyer knows the fastest, most reliable path to winning the best possible result.
4. Benefit from their connections. You don’t know any private investigators or expert witnesses, but your traffic offense attorney does. Leveraging these connections can make it easier to get your charges reduced or dismissed entirely.

These are just a few of the benefits you can expect from hiring a lawyer to handle your traffic offense. If you or a loved one would like to learn more about hiring The DUI Center to represent you in court, just contact us today.

How do I choose the right Palm Beach County traffic attorney for my traffic case?

To choose the right attorney for your traffic case, you’ll want to look for these qualities:

• Familiarity with local prosecutors and judges – This pre-existing rapport can make it much easier for your traffic offense lawyer to negotiate and minimize potential consequences. As a former prosecutor, Andrew Simko knows these people—and he knows how to defend against the types of cases they build.
• Experience taking cases to trial – Legal knowledge is crucial, but so is experience with trials and court etiquette. Andrew Simko has taken thousands of cases to trial over the years.
• Clear, honest communication – You rely on your attorney to explain the lay of the land and present the best path forward, all in a timely fashion. As your traffic lawyer, Andrew Simko will always keep you informed and up-to-date.

Our attorney Andrew Simko will explore every possible avenue for your defense strategy by leveraging his years of successful experience in the courtroom. And the sooner you call, the sooner we can start fighting for your freedom.

If you or a loved one needs a traffic offense attorney in Florida, don’t delay—contact us now or call (561) 951-1264.