Traffic Offenses

Paying a traffic ticket can have costs that aren’t immediately apparent. Traffic violations result in points being assigned to your driver’s record, which can lead to license revocation and higher insurance costs. Before you pay a ticket, it makes sense to talk to a lawyer about the possible consequences that you may face.

At the Breeding Carter, office in Knoxville, Tennessee, we offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case and possible defenses.

We defend people who are charged with all kinds of traffic violations in Tennessee, including:

• Speeding
• Construction zone violations
• Reckless driving
• Drag racing
• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Driving on a suspended or revoked license
• Driving without insurance
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Commercial driver’s license (CDL) violations

The number of points assigned to your driver’s record depends on the offense. Speeding six to 15 miles per hour in excess of the limit will result in three points. Reckless driving is six points. If you accumulate 12 points in any 12-month period, the state can revoke your license.

Many insurance companies don’t have any forgiveness for traffic tickets and can raise your rates or even cancel your policy after a single offense. Court costs can far exceed the cost of the fine.

There are many things an experienced traffic ticket defense lawyer can do to minimize the consequences. For example, we can seek to have a ticket reduced to a violation that would result in fewer points on your record. Many judges will allow you to plead no contest, which means that the violation won’t go on your record after you complete a probationary driving period. Most Tennessee jurisdictions offer traffic school as a way to resolve tickets without pleading guilty or incurring points on your license.