Why You Should Fight A Speeding Ticket

Human beings have evolved to desire instant gratification. This includes wanting to make hassles and problems go away as quickly as possible.

There’s no debating the fact that speeding tickets are a major hassle. A day that began with you thinking about what you’re going to accomplish can end with you worried about fines, driver’s license points and court appointments. Your life is busy enough without the hassle of a speeding ticket, so we understand the temptation to simply pay the ticket to “make it go away.” You may be free to recycle your ticket after paying it, but the consequences of a speeding ticket do anything but go away.

These consequences can haunt you for years due to South Carolina’s traffic points system that results in a license suspension once a driver accumulates 12 points. Two points here, four points there, six points here can quickly result in your driver’s license – and your freedom – being taken away.

“Yes, but I’m not going to get any more speeding tickets so what’s the big deal about paying the fine and having a few points?”

You didn’t think you were going to get the first speeding ticket either, yet here we are. The future is unpredictable. One distracted moment, one day with a heavy foot, or one overzealous state trooper is all that stands between you accumulating more points on your driving record. You can’t predict the future, but you can take action now to protect your driver’s license by challenging the ticket in front of you today.

At Drennan Law Firm, we are proven advocates for drivers in Charleston and throughout South Carolina. We have extensive experience challenging speeding tickets and other moving violations, obtaining the best possible results for our clients. Our goal is to limit the damage you suffer from a ticket and minimize the points on your record so you can drive into the future with peace of mind about the status of your driver’s license.

All it takes is a phone call to get started. Call 843-352-4149 anytime for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help protect you from the consequences of a South Carolina speeding ticket.

South Carolina Fines And Penalties For Speeding

The penalties for speeding tickets come in the form of fines and points on your driving record. The amount of your fines and the number of points you receive will largely depend on how fast you were going above the posted speed limit. There are other aggravating factors that can lead to additional penalties such as speeding in a school zone or being charged with reckless driving.

As you look at this list of speeding ticket penalties, keep in mind that 12 points is the magic number for the suspension of your driver’s license:

• 10 mph or less over the posted speed limit: Two points and fines of $15-$25
• Between 10 mph and 15 mph over posted speed limit: Four points and fines of $20-$50
• Between 15 mph and 25 mph over posted speed limit: Four points and fines of $50-75
• More than 25 mph over posted speed limit*: Six points, fines of $75-$200 and 30 days in jail

There are additional penalties in the form of collateral consequences such as increased insurance premiums or paying to attend traffic school. As you can see, traffic tickets can seem minor at first, but their consequences can linger and cause you plenty of legal and financial problems.

*= can also result in criminal charges for reckless driving.

Pros And Cons Of Fighting A Speeding Ticket

The only con – if there is one – is that you’ll spend some money fighting the ticket. However, you’ll pay money to “just pay the ticket” without the additional benefits you get from fighting the ticket. By spending your cash fighting the ticket instead of paying the ticket, you have a chance to eliminate or reduce points on your driving record, get the ticket dismissed and avoid the collateral consequences, such as increased insurance costs.

Like any criminal or nonmoving violation, another benefit to fighting back is that it is your opportunity to set the record straight. You wouldn’t allow yourself to be unjustly labeled a “criminal” after being wrongfully accused of assault; why would you allow the state to peg you as an “unsafe driver” for something you didn’t do? Radar guns are notoriously inaccurate; fighting a questionable speeding ticket is your opportunity to set the record straight, protecting your driving record and your good name.

How To Fight A Speeding Ticket In South Carolina

Step one in fighting a speeding ticket is finding an experienced traffic defense attorney you can trust to minimize the damage and obtain the best possible result for you. In Charleston and surrounding communities, that means hiring Drennan Law Firm. We have a proven ability to eliminate or reduce speeding tickets in order to protect the interest of our clients. We do so by aggressively investigating the facts in these cases and building a strong challenge that shines light on issues such as sloppy law enforcement procedures and inaccurate radar guns that result in questionable speeding tickets.

We can handle the logistics of fighting your speeding ticket so you can focus on your family, your kids, your friends, your job, your hobbies and everything else that truly matters in your life. Our team understands the ins and outs of challenging traffic tickets and look forward to building a strong defense geared toward protecting your rights and your good name.

Don’t Let A Speeding Ticket Get You Down

Speeding tickets happen, but they don’t have to leave you anxious about your driver’s license being threatened. You can fight back with the help of our experienced lawyers at Drennan Law Firm. From our offices in Charleston and Mount Pleasant, we provide exceptional traffic defense representation to South Carolina drivers as well as out-of-state drivers who are ticketed for speeding. Contact us anytime for a free consultation