Plano Traffic Ticket Attorney
Were you pulled over for speeding in Plano? Were you issued a traffic ticket in the the City of Plano? Every municipality has their own ordinances and procedures when it comes to traffic violations. I am Jack Byno, and I have been serving clients in the Plano & the Collin County area as a traffic ticket attorney for over a decade.
Traffic Violation in Plano?
Call Jack Byno • 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Were you given a traffic ticket in Plano a few months ago? That doesn't mean you face the very same situation for your recent speeding ticket in Dallas. Every municipality has their own specific procedures. Over the past decade, I have represented clients in local courts throughout the greater Dallas - Fort Worth - Plano Area. I understand the challenges they face. I know how local laws differ and I know how to get you results in Plano.
If your case is not dismissed, it will be set on an Attorney Plea Docket. On that date, you do not need to appear with me, but I will go to court on your behalf and I will negotiate the best deal I can with the prosecuting attorney. In most cases, I can get you a deferred adjudication probation, which will keep the citation off your driving record.
Contact Me at 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Every city handles speeding tickets and other traffic violations differently. The sooner you call an experienced lawyer, the sooner you can set realistic expectations for your case in the Plano area. Contact me today for a free initial consultation with a Plano area attorney.
Contact the Plano traffic violations lawyers at the law offices of Jack Byno. Our attorneys have extensive experience in traffic violations. We offer representation for people who hold commercial drivers licenses (CDL).
We represent our clients with:
Traffic tickets
Moving violations
Commercial Drivers License (CDL) ViolationsFailure to appear in court
Speeding Violations
Failure to stop for a police officer
Hit and run accidents
Running a stop sign
No insurance
Passing a school bus while stopped
Plano, Texas Traffic Ticket Defense Attorney
Plano Traffic Ticket Warrants Lifted
Jack Byno, Attorney At Law, can get your Plano warrants lifted usually on the same day you hire him. Simply visitour website and use the Intake Form.
If you failed to take your traffic violation seriously, there may now be a traffic warrant issued in your name. If you have been contacted by the town or county where your ticket was first issued, it is time to call an experienced lawyer. Jack Byno can help you resolve your Plano warrant, before you are arrested.
Traffic Violation in Plano, Texas?
Call or email Jack Byno • 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
You do not want to be issued a ticket for a traffic violation when there is already an outstanding warrant in your name regarding a previous violation. There are two separate kinds of warrants issued by the state of Texas, and with over a decade of experience as a traffic attorney:
Alias Warrant: Did you fail to respond to your Plano traffic ticket? If so, the ticket expired and now there is an alias warrant in your name. You still have the right to appear in court. I will post your bond, remove your warrant, and set a new court date.
Capias Warrant: If you already had your hearing, but you failed to comply with the orders of the Plano municipal court, then they issued a capias warrant. You have two options: pay the fine or go to jail.
Traffic Warrants
Even the smallest traffic violations can result in a warrant, if you fail to take care of your Plano ticket or comply with court orders. Do not underestimate the importance of taking care of your traffic violation:
Speeding tickets
Driving without a license (No DL)
Driving while license suspended (DWLS)
Running a red light or stop sign (DTCD)
Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (FMFR)
No Insurance
No registration or expired registration (MVR)
No inspection or expired inspection (MVI)
Reckless driving
Failure to appear (FTA)
Violation of promise to appear (VPTA)
Failure to signal
Failure to maintain a single lane
Following too close
Statewide Warrant Roundup
Plano, Texas police make an effort to arrest every person with an outstanding traffic warrant in the state. By contacting me today, I can help you avoid the statewide warrant roundup and help you take care of your warrant today.
Contact Me at 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Why Hire A Ticket Attorney?
People’s motivations for hiring lawyers in Class C Misdemeanor cases include, among other things:
* having warrants they need lifted
* needing a lot of time to pay
* being intimidated by the system because of language or past experiences
* being too annoyed by the process to go through it
* holding a Commerical Drivers License
* being too busy to handle it themselves
* not wanting to miss work time
* considering it so important that their violations don’t go on their record that it is worth the low fee.
If these or some other reasons apply to you, I can help!
Jack Byno, DFW Traffic Ticket & Warrant Attorney, represents traffic ticket defendants with speeding tickets and other traffic tickets and can get your traffic ticket warrants lifted in the following courts: Dallas JP Courts, Addison Municipal Court, Carrollton Municipal Court, Cedar Hill Municipal Court, Cockrell Hill Municipal Court, Combine Municipal Court, Coppell Municipal Court, Dallas Municipal Court, Desoto Municipal Court, Duncanville Municipal Court, Farmers Branch Municipal Court, Ferris Municipal Court, Garland Municipal Court, Glenn Heights Municipal Court, Grand Prairie Municipal Court, Highland Park Municipal Court, Hutchins Municipal Court, Irving Municipal Court, Lancaster Municipal Court, Lewisville Municipal Court, Mesquite Municipal Court, Ovilla Municipal Court, Richardson Municipal Court, Rowlett Municipal Court, Sachse Municipal Court, Seagoville Municipal Court, Sunnyvale Municipal Court, University Park Municipal Court, Wilmer Municipal Court, Collin County JP Courts, Allen Municipal Court, Anna Municipal Court, Blue Ridge Municipal Court, Celina Municipal Court Municipal Court, Fairview Municipal Court, Farmersville Municipal Court, Frisco Municipal Court, Josephine Municipal Court, Lavon Municipal Court, Lowry Municipal Court, Lucas Municipal Court, McKinney Municipal Court, Melissa Municipal Court, Murphy Municipal Court, Nevada Municipal Court, New Hope Municipal Court, Parker Municipal Court, Plano Municipal Court, Princeton Municipal Court, Prosper Municipal Court, Richardson Municipal Court, Royse City Municipal Court, Saint Paul Municipal Court, Van Alstyne Municipal Court, Weston Municipal Court, Wylie Municipal Court, Tarrant County JP Courts, Arlington Municipal Court, Bedford Municipal Court, Colleyville Municipal Court, Euless Municipal Court, Fort Worth Municipal Court, Grapevine Municipal Court, Haltom City Municipal Court, Hurst Municipal Court, Keller Municipal Court, North Richland Hills Municipal Court, Richland Hills Municipal Court, Southlake Municipal Court, Denton County JP Courts, Argyle Municipal Court, Aubrey Municipal Court, Corinth Municipal Court, Cross Roads Municipal Court, Denton Municipal Court, Hickory Creek Municipal Court, Highland Village Municipal Court, Lake Dallas Municipal Court, Lewisville Municipal Court, Little Elm Municipal Court, Northlake Municipal Court, Pilot Point Municipal Court, Shady Shores Municipal Court, The Colony Municipal Court, Kaufman County JP Courts, Rockwall County JP Courts, Rockwall Municipal Court.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
FORT WORTH TRAFFIC TICKET ATTORNEY - Tickets Defended & Warrants Lifted
Fort Worth Traffic Ticket Attorney
Were you pulled over for speeding in Fort Worth? Were you issued a traffic ticket in the Fort Worth area? Every municipality has their own ordinances and procedures when it comes to traffic violations. I am Jack Byno, and I have been serving clients in the Fort Worth area as a traffic ticket attorney for over a decade.
Traffic Violation in Fort Worth?
Call Jack Byno • 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Were you given a traffic ticket in Arlington a few months ago? That doesn't mean you face the very same situation for your recent speeding ticket in Weatherford. Every municipality has their own specific procedures. Over the past decade, I have represented clients in local courts throughout the greater Dallas - Fort Worth Area. I understand the challenges they face. I know how local laws differ and I know how to get you results in the Fort Worth area:
Alvarado
Arlington
Bedford
Burleson
Colleyville
Crowley
Denton
Fort Worth
Granbury
Grapevine
Haltom City
Kennedale
Mansfield
North Richland Hills
Roanoke
Saginaw
Sanger
Springtown
Weatherford
White Settlement
And others
Fort Worth Traffic Violations
It is more difficult to have your speeding ticket dismissed in Fort Worth than it is in Dallas. In Fort Worth, there is a two step process to resolving all traffic tickets. First there is a pre-trial docket where the officer must show up and validate the ticket. If there are any serious mistakes or the officer doesn't show, the case may be dismissed. If you have a CDL, you should take any chance you can get to pursue dismissal of your traffic ticket.
The second step takes place if your case is not dismissed, it will be set on an Attorney Plea Docket. On that date, you do not need to appear with me, but I will go to court on your behalf and I will negotiate the best deal I can with the prosecuting attorney. In most cases, I can get you a deferred adjudication probation, which will keep the citation off your driving record.
Contact Me at 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Every city handles speeding tickets and other traffic violations differently. The sooner you call an experienced lawyer, the sooner you can set realistic expectations for your case in the Fort Worth area. Contact me today for a free initial consultation with a Fort Worth area attorney.
Contact the Fort Worth traffic violations lawyers at the law offices of Jack Byno. Our attorneys have extensive experience in traffic violations. We offer representation for people who hold commercial drivers licenses (CDL).
We represent our clients with:
Traffic tickets
Moving violations
Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Violations
Failure to appear in court
Speeding Violations
Failure to stop for a police officer
Hit and run accidents
Running a stop sign
No insurance
Passing a school bus while stopped
Fort Worth Texas Traffic Ticket Defense Attorney
Fort Worth Traffic Ticket Warrants Lifted
If you failed to take your traffic violation seriously, there may now be a traffic warrant issued in your name. If you have been contacted by the town or county where your ticket was first issued, it is time to call an experienced lawyer. Jack Byno can help you resolve your Fort Worth warrant, before you are arrested.
Traffic Violation in Texas?
Call or email Jack Byno • 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
You do not want to be issued a ticket for a traffic violation when there is already an outstanding warrant in your name regarding a previous violation. There are two separate kinds of warrants issued by the state of Texas, and with over a decade of experience as a traffic attorney:
Alias Warrant: Did you fail to respond to your Fort Worth traffic ticket? If so, the ticket expired and now there is an alias warrant in your name. You still have the right to appear in court. I will post your bond, remove your warrant, and set a new court date.
Capias Warrant: If you already had your hearing, but you failed to comply with the orders of the Fort Worth municipal court, then they issued a capias warrant. You have two options: pay the fine or go to jail.
Traffic Warrants
Even the smallest traffic violations can result in a warrant, if you fail to take care of your Fort Worth ticket or comply with court orders. Do not underestimate the importance of taking care of your traffic violation:
Speeding tickets
Driving without a license (No DL)
Driving while license suspended (DWLS)
Running a red light or stop sign (DTCD)
Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (FMFR)
No Insurance
No registration or expired registration (MVR)
No inspection or expired inspection (MVI)
Reckless driving
Failure to appear (FTA)
Violation of promise to appear (VPTA)
Failure to signal
Failure to maintain a single lane
Following too close
Statewide Warrant Roundup
Fort Worth, Texas police make an effort to arrest every person with an outstanding traffic warrant in the state. By contacting me today, I can help you avoid the statewide warrant roundup and help you take care of your warrant today.
Contact Me at 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
If you failed to take care of your Fort Worth traffic ticket, then there is most likely a traffic warrant issued in your name. You don't want to face a second violation without appropriately taking care of the first. Contact me today for a free initial consultation with a lawyer.
Were you pulled over for speeding in Fort Worth? Were you issued a traffic ticket in the Fort Worth area? Every municipality has their own ordinances and procedures when it comes to traffic violations. I am Jack Byno, and I have been serving clients in the Fort Worth area as a traffic ticket attorney for over a decade.
Traffic Violation in Fort Worth?
Call Jack Byno • 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Were you given a traffic ticket in Arlington a few months ago? That doesn't mean you face the very same situation for your recent speeding ticket in Weatherford. Every municipality has their own specific procedures. Over the past decade, I have represented clients in local courts throughout the greater Dallas - Fort Worth Area. I understand the challenges they face. I know how local laws differ and I know how to get you results in the Fort Worth area:
Alvarado
Arlington
Bedford
Burleson
Colleyville
Crowley
Denton
Fort Worth
Granbury
Grapevine
Haltom City
Kennedale
Mansfield
North Richland Hills
Roanoke
Saginaw
Sanger
Springtown
Weatherford
White Settlement
And others
Fort Worth Traffic Violations
It is more difficult to have your speeding ticket dismissed in Fort Worth than it is in Dallas. In Fort Worth, there is a two step process to resolving all traffic tickets. First there is a pre-trial docket where the officer must show up and validate the ticket. If there are any serious mistakes or the officer doesn't show, the case may be dismissed. If you have a CDL, you should take any chance you can get to pursue dismissal of your traffic ticket.
The second step takes place if your case is not dismissed, it will be set on an Attorney Plea Docket. On that date, you do not need to appear with me, but I will go to court on your behalf and I will negotiate the best deal I can with the prosecuting attorney. In most cases, I can get you a deferred adjudication probation, which will keep the citation off your driving record.
Contact Me at 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Every city handles speeding tickets and other traffic violations differently. The sooner you call an experienced lawyer, the sooner you can set realistic expectations for your case in the Fort Worth area. Contact me today for a free initial consultation with a Fort Worth area attorney.
Contact the Fort Worth traffic violations lawyers at the law offices of Jack Byno. Our attorneys have extensive experience in traffic violations. We offer representation for people who hold commercial drivers licenses (CDL).
We represent our clients with:
Traffic tickets
Moving violations
Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Violations
Failure to appear in court
Speeding Violations
Failure to stop for a police officer
Hit and run accidents
Running a stop sign
No insurance
Passing a school bus while stopped
Fort Worth Texas Traffic Ticket Defense Attorney
Fort Worth Traffic Ticket Warrants Lifted
If you failed to take your traffic violation seriously, there may now be a traffic warrant issued in your name. If you have been contacted by the town or county where your ticket was first issued, it is time to call an experienced lawyer. Jack Byno can help you resolve your Fort Worth warrant, before you are arrested.
Traffic Violation in Texas?
Call or email Jack Byno • 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
You do not want to be issued a ticket for a traffic violation when there is already an outstanding warrant in your name regarding a previous violation. There are two separate kinds of warrants issued by the state of Texas, and with over a decade of experience as a traffic attorney:
Alias Warrant: Did you fail to respond to your Fort Worth traffic ticket? If so, the ticket expired and now there is an alias warrant in your name. You still have the right to appear in court. I will post your bond, remove your warrant, and set a new court date.
Capias Warrant: If you already had your hearing, but you failed to comply with the orders of the Fort Worth municipal court, then they issued a capias warrant. You have two options: pay the fine or go to jail.
Traffic Warrants
Even the smallest traffic violations can result in a warrant, if you fail to take care of your Fort Worth ticket or comply with court orders. Do not underestimate the importance of taking care of your traffic violation:
Speeding tickets
Driving without a license (No DL)
Driving while license suspended (DWLS)
Running a red light or stop sign (DTCD)
Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (FMFR)
No Insurance
No registration or expired registration (MVR)
No inspection or expired inspection (MVI)
Reckless driving
Failure to appear (FTA)
Violation of promise to appear (VPTA)
Failure to signal
Failure to maintain a single lane
Following too close
Statewide Warrant Roundup
Fort Worth, Texas police make an effort to arrest every person with an outstanding traffic warrant in the state. By contacting me today, I can help you avoid the statewide warrant roundup and help you take care of your warrant today.
Contact Me at 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
If you failed to take care of your Fort Worth traffic ticket, then there is most likely a traffic warrant issued in your name. You don't want to face a second violation without appropriately taking care of the first. Contact me today for a free initial consultation with a lawyer.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
DALLAS AREA TRAFFIC TICKET ATTORNEY
Dallas Traffic Ticket Lawyer
Have you been given a traffic ticket in the Dallas metro area? Were you pulled over for speeding somewhere in Dallas County? Every municipality has their own ordinances and procedures regarding traffic violations. I am attorney Jack Byno, and I have been representing clients with traffic and other violations in the greater Dallas area over the past decade.
Traffic Violation in Dallas?
Call Jack Byno • 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Dallas Traffic Warrants Lifted.
Were you given a speeding ticket in Plano? Just because you faced a similar charge in Irving, that doesn't mean you should know what to expect in your current case. The procedures in every city are different. With over a decade of experience, I know the local courts. I know the local judges. I know how their policies differ and I know how to get you results in the Dallas area:
Addison
Carrollton
Cedar Hill
Coppell
Dallas
Denton
DeSoto
Duncanville
Garland
Grand Prairie
Grapevine
Greenville
Hutchins
Irving
McKinney
Mesquite
Plano
Richardson
Rowlett
Waxahachie
And others
Dallas Municipal Traffic Violations
If you follow my instructions, I can help you try to get your Dallas traffic ticket dismissed. The first thing I will do is send a notice to the court, in order to set a court date, which will usually follow in about six months. More often than not, Dallas police officers do not show up for these cases, and so they are completely dismissed. However, in order to have your case dismissed, you must attend the hearing with me to get it dismissed. If you cannot appear in court with me, in most cases, I can keep the citation off your record but you will have to pay a probation fee to the city.
Contact Me
If you received a traffic ticket in the city of Dallas, I can help you try to have it completely dismissed. If you got a speeding ticket in a surrounding city, I can help you understand your options. Contact me today for a consultation with a Dallas area attorney.
In Texas, a traffic violation can result in extensive fines, thousands of dollars in increased insurance rates, and even the loss of your driver's license if you accrue too many points. If you are a commercially licensed driver (CDL) who has received a ticket for a traffic violation, you may also be in danger of losing your job.
Our firm defends clients in traffic-citation cases in Dallas and the surrounding area involving:
Driving without insurance
Speeding tickets
Running a red light
Stop-sign violations
Driving without a driver's license
Driving with a suspended license
Traffic-ordinance violations
The legal process in the city of Dallas is different from that outside of the city. We have extensive experience in both. When you contact our firm, we will listen to your needs, answer your questions, and explain what you can expect in court.
Contact our law firm today for a consultation to discuss the facts of your case and learn how we can help you protect your rights.
Have you been given a traffic ticket in the Dallas metro area? Were you pulled over for speeding somewhere in Dallas County? Every municipality has their own ordinances and procedures regarding traffic violations. I am attorney Jack Byno, and I have been representing clients with traffic and other violations in the greater Dallas area over the past decade.
Traffic Violation in Dallas?
Call Jack Byno • 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Dallas Traffic Warrants Lifted.
Were you given a speeding ticket in Plano? Just because you faced a similar charge in Irving, that doesn't mean you should know what to expect in your current case. The procedures in every city are different. With over a decade of experience, I know the local courts. I know the local judges. I know how their policies differ and I know how to get you results in the Dallas area:
Addison
Carrollton
Cedar Hill
Coppell
Dallas
Denton
DeSoto
Duncanville
Garland
Grand Prairie
Grapevine
Greenville
Hutchins
Irving
McKinney
Mesquite
Plano
Richardson
Rowlett
Waxahachie
And others
Dallas Municipal Traffic Violations
If you follow my instructions, I can help you try to get your Dallas traffic ticket dismissed. The first thing I will do is send a notice to the court, in order to set a court date, which will usually follow in about six months. More often than not, Dallas police officers do not show up for these cases, and so they are completely dismissed. However, in order to have your case dismissed, you must attend the hearing with me to get it dismissed. If you cannot appear in court with me, in most cases, I can keep the citation off your record but you will have to pay a probation fee to the city.
Contact Me
If you received a traffic ticket in the city of Dallas, I can help you try to have it completely dismissed. If you got a speeding ticket in a surrounding city, I can help you understand your options. Contact me today for a consultation with a Dallas area attorney.
In Texas, a traffic violation can result in extensive fines, thousands of dollars in increased insurance rates, and even the loss of your driver's license if you accrue too many points. If you are a commercially licensed driver (CDL) who has received a ticket for a traffic violation, you may also be in danger of losing your job.
Our firm defends clients in traffic-citation cases in Dallas and the surrounding area involving:
Driving without insurance
Speeding tickets
Running a red light
Stop-sign violations
Driving without a driver's license
Driving with a suspended license
Traffic-ordinance violations
The legal process in the city of Dallas is different from that outside of the city. We have extensive experience in both. When you contact our firm, we will listen to your needs, answer your questions, and explain what you can expect in court.
Contact our law firm today for a consultation to discuss the facts of your case and learn how we can help you protect your rights.
ARLINGTON TRAFFIC TICKETS DEFENDED & WARRANTS LIFTED
Arlington Traffic Ticket Attorney
CITY OF ARLINGTON TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS DEFENDED & WARRANTS LIFTED
The City of Arlington police department issues speeding tickets other traffic violations, and non-traffic citations. Whether you got a speeding ticket, a no insurance ticket, or a stop sign ticket in Arlington, these are Class C Misdemeanors that should be taken seriously. Arlington Traffic Ticket Attorney Jack Byno, can help fight your ticket and get your Arlington warrants lifted.
CDLs are always welcome.
Contact our office today at 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Jack Byno has experience in Arlington municipal court handling traffic tickets and non-traffic tickets and clearing warrants.
Jack Byno can help you with:
• Arlington Speeding ticket
• Arlington No Insurance Ticket
• Arlington No Driver License Ticket
• Arlington Driving While License Invalid ticket
• Arlington Driving While License Suspended Ticket
• Arlington Expired Drivers License Ticket
• Arlington Seat Belt Ticket
• Arlington Fail to Signal Ticket
• Arlington Registration Ticket
• Arlington Inspection Ticket
• Arlington Defective Equipment Ticket• Arlington Speeding in a School Zone Ticket
• Arlington Illegal U-Turn Ticket
• Arlington Stop Sign Ticket
• Arlington Fail to Yield Right of Way Ticket
Contact us today!
CITY OF ARLINGTON TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS DEFENDED & WARRANTS LIFTED
The City of Arlington police department issues speeding tickets other traffic violations, and non-traffic citations. Whether you got a speeding ticket, a no insurance ticket, or a stop sign ticket in Arlington, these are Class C Misdemeanors that should be taken seriously. Arlington Traffic Ticket Attorney Jack Byno, can help fight your ticket and get your Arlington warrants lifted.
CDLs are always welcome.
Contact our office today at 817-685-0912 or visit our website.
Jack Byno has experience in Arlington municipal court handling traffic tickets and non-traffic tickets and clearing warrants.
Jack Byno can help you with:
• Arlington Speeding ticket
• Arlington No Insurance Ticket
• Arlington No Driver License Ticket
• Arlington Driving While License Invalid ticket
• Arlington Driving While License Suspended Ticket
• Arlington Expired Drivers License Ticket
• Arlington Seat Belt Ticket
• Arlington Fail to Signal Ticket
• Arlington Registration Ticket
• Arlington Inspection Ticket
• Arlington Defective Equipment Ticket• Arlington Speeding in a School Zone Ticket
• Arlington Illegal U-Turn Ticket
• Arlington Stop Sign Ticket
• Arlington Fail to Yield Right of Way Ticket
Contact us today!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Aggressive Enforcement Adds Financial Strain to Already-Struggling Texans
Economic strain on local governments is forcing municipal courts in the DFW metro area and around the state to ramp up attempts to collect revenue from fines associated with tickets arising from speeding, parking violations, disorderly conduct and more. Cities are not only getting more aggressive in their efforts to receive payments, they are also finding more creative and cost-effective ways to do so.
In recent years, municipalities have not only steadily increased the number of tickets written, they have worked hard to make sure that the people who get the tickets actually pay the fines imposed upon them. Traditional collection methods, setting a court date and issuing bench warrants if payments are not made, have not been altogether successful. Now city administrators and municipal court directors throughout Texas are thinking outside the box to find new ways of convincing people to pay up. These include:
Publishing a "Top 10" of people with outstanding fines for Class C misdemeanors
Allowing payment plans for higher fines
Using collection agencies
Calling those who haven't made a timely payment
Sending reminder letters that payments are due
Offering alternate payment options; payments can now be mailed in, paid over the phone, online or at satellite offices (reducing the wait time and frustration that keep many people away from paying their fines in person)
Offering non-interest-bearing extensions of payment dates for those in need
Prohibiting renewal of drivers' licenses and/or vehicle registrations
Doubling fines if a warrant must be issued
Negotiating settlements
Millions of Dollars in Fines Are Unpaid
In the Fort Worth area alone, roughly 400,000 of tickets are issued for Class C misdemeanours, traffic violations and parking citations annually. Recent data shows that nearly 850,000 tickets were handed out since January of 2008, and 125,000 of them resulted in the issuance of bench warrants. Considering the amount of uncollected fees, fines and court costs associated with those unpaid tickets and the warrants themselves, the city is waiting on nearly $80 million of payments. The situation is almost as dire in nearby Arlington; that city has over 100,000 active warrants stemming from unpaid citations.
The economic impact of non-payment of these bills extends beyond the city governments themselves; the state of Texas receives a portion of all recovered fees, so they are adding fuel to the fire, pressing cities to make more aggressive collection efforts. To see just how much of an interest the state has in pursuing unpaid fines, look to Fort Worth: of the $60 million in municipal court payments collected since October of 2007, $19 million went to pad the state budget; another $16 million (of a total $42 million collected) came from Arlington.
Ignoring Tickets Will Not Make Them Go Away
Some people choose, out of principal or stubbornness, to not pay tickets. Some are financially unable to pay fines and court fees - this is especially true in a bad economy - and hope they will be able to make them in the future. Others are confused by the options available for resolution. To use traffic-related citations as an example, people who have been issued a ticket have the right to:
Plead guilty and pay the ticket
Pay the fine and attend a defensive driving course; this will keep the ticket from appearing on their driving record
Plead not guilty and argue their case at trial
Request a payment plan
Ask about working off the fine by performing community service
Consult with a caseworker about the possibility of "sitting out" the fine in jail (equivalent to $100 in fines each day, with a maximum time of eight days)
Regardless of your reason for not paying the fines associated with any of the nearly 3,000 citable offenses handled by Texas' municipal courts, ignoring them will not make them go away.
What Are the Penalties for Non-Payment?
Even a single unpaid ticket could potentially result in:
A bench warrant for your arrest
Accrual of interest on your fine
Additional court or filing fees
A blemish on your driving record (for traffic-related citations)
You being prohibited from renewing your driver's license or vehicle registration
Intervention of a collection agency (and the often-harassing ways in which they attempt to recover past due amounts).
What Should You Do to Minimize the Consequences?
Many people assume that having a citation issued to them means that they have been "found guilty" of something - that is not the case. You have a right, under Texas state law, to challenge a ticket. Your chances of success in doing so, however, are greatly improved when you work with an experienced advocate who has in-depth knowledge of the municipal court system.
Having a lawyer handle citations on your behalf can protect your rights, your hard-earned money, your driver's license and even your freedom. Attorneys who focus their practice on resolving traffic tickets and other citations on behalf of their clients have the knowledge and skill necessary to navigate the often-confusing legal system. They educate you about your options (paying the ticket, community service, etc.), examine your specific situation to determine what the best course of action for you is, and then work to resolve the matter in the most beneficial way possible. Where you might not be comfortable approaching a judge to seek a payment plan or negotiating with the prosecutor to reduce or drop charges, an experienced attorney can make an effective argument on your behalf.
In recent years, municipalities have not only steadily increased the number of tickets written, they have worked hard to make sure that the people who get the tickets actually pay the fines imposed upon them. Traditional collection methods, setting a court date and issuing bench warrants if payments are not made, have not been altogether successful. Now city administrators and municipal court directors throughout Texas are thinking outside the box to find new ways of convincing people to pay up. These include:
Publishing a "Top 10" of people with outstanding fines for Class C misdemeanors
Allowing payment plans for higher fines
Using collection agencies
Calling those who haven't made a timely payment
Sending reminder letters that payments are due
Offering alternate payment options; payments can now be mailed in, paid over the phone, online or at satellite offices (reducing the wait time and frustration that keep many people away from paying their fines in person)
Offering non-interest-bearing extensions of payment dates for those in need
Prohibiting renewal of drivers' licenses and/or vehicle registrations
Doubling fines if a warrant must be issued
Negotiating settlements
Millions of Dollars in Fines Are Unpaid
In the Fort Worth area alone, roughly 400,000 of tickets are issued for Class C misdemeanours, traffic violations and parking citations annually. Recent data shows that nearly 850,000 tickets were handed out since January of 2008, and 125,000 of them resulted in the issuance of bench warrants. Considering the amount of uncollected fees, fines and court costs associated with those unpaid tickets and the warrants themselves, the city is waiting on nearly $80 million of payments. The situation is almost as dire in nearby Arlington; that city has over 100,000 active warrants stemming from unpaid citations.
The economic impact of non-payment of these bills extends beyond the city governments themselves; the state of Texas receives a portion of all recovered fees, so they are adding fuel to the fire, pressing cities to make more aggressive collection efforts. To see just how much of an interest the state has in pursuing unpaid fines, look to Fort Worth: of the $60 million in municipal court payments collected since October of 2007, $19 million went to pad the state budget; another $16 million (of a total $42 million collected) came from Arlington.
Ignoring Tickets Will Not Make Them Go Away
Some people choose, out of principal or stubbornness, to not pay tickets. Some are financially unable to pay fines and court fees - this is especially true in a bad economy - and hope they will be able to make them in the future. Others are confused by the options available for resolution. To use traffic-related citations as an example, people who have been issued a ticket have the right to:
Plead guilty and pay the ticket
Pay the fine and attend a defensive driving course; this will keep the ticket from appearing on their driving record
Plead not guilty and argue their case at trial
Request a payment plan
Ask about working off the fine by performing community service
Consult with a caseworker about the possibility of "sitting out" the fine in jail (equivalent to $100 in fines each day, with a maximum time of eight days)
Regardless of your reason for not paying the fines associated with any of the nearly 3,000 citable offenses handled by Texas' municipal courts, ignoring them will not make them go away.
What Are the Penalties for Non-Payment?
Even a single unpaid ticket could potentially result in:
A bench warrant for your arrest
Accrual of interest on your fine
Additional court or filing fees
A blemish on your driving record (for traffic-related citations)
You being prohibited from renewing your driver's license or vehicle registration
Intervention of a collection agency (and the often-harassing ways in which they attempt to recover past due amounts).
What Should You Do to Minimize the Consequences?
Many people assume that having a citation issued to them means that they have been "found guilty" of something - that is not the case. You have a right, under Texas state law, to challenge a ticket. Your chances of success in doing so, however, are greatly improved when you work with an experienced advocate who has in-depth knowledge of the municipal court system.
Having a lawyer handle citations on your behalf can protect your rights, your hard-earned money, your driver's license and even your freedom. Attorneys who focus their practice on resolving traffic tickets and other citations on behalf of their clients have the knowledge and skill necessary to navigate the often-confusing legal system. They educate you about your options (paying the ticket, community service, etc.), examine your specific situation to determine what the best course of action for you is, and then work to resolve the matter in the most beneficial way possible. Where you might not be comfortable approaching a judge to seek a payment plan or negotiating with the prosecutor to reduce or drop charges, an experienced attorney can make an effective argument on your behalf.
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