Traffic Ticket Attorney for Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, and Wise Counties
If you have received a traffic ticket in Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, or Wise counties, you need an experienced attorney who knows the procedures for handling traffic violations. The legal team at Joaquin & Duncan, L.L.C. knows what to do. If you have received a traffic ticket for offenses such as speeding or reckless driving, contact Joaquin & Duncan, L.L.C. Call 1-877‑650‑9050 (toll free).
If you are a commercial truck driver and have received any type of traffic ticket, contact an attorney at Joaquin & Duncan, L.L.C. As you well know, if not addressed immediately and correctly, traffic tickets can be extremely costly and could result in job suspension or job loss. Our firm defends individual truckers and their employers against all state and federal driving charges including:
- Overweight Truck
- Log Book Violations
- Drunk Driving
- Drugs Operating After Suspension
- Improper Licensing
Tickets are normally issued by either a city policeman, a deputy sheriff, a deputy constable, or a DPS officer. Tickets issued by a city policeman are usually handled in that particular city’s municipal court. All others are usually set in one of the Justice of the Peace courts in the particular county.
It is best to hire Joaquin & Duncan, L.L.C. as soon as possible after the ticket is issued. This allows the maximum time to reset the case and tends to reduce the costs. Paying the ticket results in a conviction appearing on your driving record. Having a record of traffic violations can affect your insurance rates, result in a license suspension, or Administration License Removal for up to two years if you receive additional tickets.
In most cases, even if you are guilty or if you are not eligible for defensive driving, we can keep moving violations off of your driving record. The goal is to receive either deferred adjudication or have your case dismissed. With either dismissal or a deferred sentence, the ticket will not be reflected on your driving record.
Joaquin & Duncan, L.L.C. can also help if there is a warrant for your arrest because of unpaid traffic tickets. We can write bonds and lift most warrants. We can also remind you of upcoming court dates to reduce the risk of having another warrant issues for your arrest.
What To Do If Stopped For A Traffic Violation
If you are stopped for a traffic violation, you should do the following:
- Slow down immediately, use your turn signal and pull over as soon as it is safe;
- Stay in your car unless the officer instructs you otherwise;
- Follow all of the officer’s instructions exactly;
- Move slowly and keep your hands visible at all times. Quick moves could be misinterpreted as a threat;
- Be extremely polite, even if you do not feel like it;
- Sign the ticket. By doing so, you are merely acknowledging that you received it. Signing the ticket is not an admission of guilt. If you refuse to sign the ticket, the officer has to arrest you;
- Once you have the ticket, you have 10 days to decide how to respond. You can either pay the fine or appear in court. It is your responsibility to tell the court what you intend to do. You must contact them.
When you retain Joaquin & Duncan, L.L.C., to represent you, our attorneys will contact the court for you and may be able to post a bond is you have any outstanding traffic warrants.
Texas Point System, Surcharges, and Habitual Offenders
Texas operates under a simple point system:
- Any moving violation: 2 points;
- Any moving violation resulting in an accident: 3 points
- If you accumulate six points on your license, you must pay a violation surcharge (see below).
Violations Resulting in a Surcharge:
Texas uses a penalty system called the Driver Responsibility Program for those drivers who have moving violations that constitute crimes, such as DWI, driving without insurance, or driving without a license. The program also applies to drivers who have numerous violations. The program imposes a series of annual fines (“surcharges”) for those guilty of these offenses and will result in you paying an additional fine annually for several years. The surcharge can range from $100 each year to $2,000 per year for three years. The surcharges are in addition to the fine you had to pay for the ticket.
Habitual Violators:
If you accumulate four moving violations in a 12-month period or seven moving violations in a 24-month period, you will be classified as a habitual violator and your license could be suspended. In addition, because you are over the six-point limit, you will be subject to an annual surcharge.