Georgia assigns specific point values to a range of traffic offenses in Atlanta depending on the offense. These point assignments can range from zero points for a conviction of driving too fast for the driving conditions all the way up to six points for reckless driving, unlawful passing of a school bus, or speeding more than 34 miles per hour over the speed limit. If an individual is unsure about the consequences of representing themselves within the justice system, or if they are facing serious charges and punishments for violating Atlanta’s traffic laws they should contact an attorney.
The point system looks at a two-year time period from the date of conviction. Within this two-year window, if the person accumulates more than 15 points of traffic offenses, then their license will be automatically suspended by operation of the point system.
For instance, if someone is convicted of speeding 34 miles per hour or more twice in 2015 and then in early 2016 they are also convicted for reckless driving, they would have 16 points on their license within the two-year window of 2015 – 2016 and they would receive a notice from the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services suspending their license. With that said, it is ultimately up to the individual to know how many points they have on their license once their license is suspended. They should not go driving on it again or they could be charged with driving while suspended, which is an additional offense.
While an individual will typically have the option of paying online, as long as it is a ticket and not a more serious offense like reckless driving or DUI, doing so means accepting all the associated driving points against their license. With this in mind, it is often a better idea to consult with an attorney first and gauge the available options before deciding on how to proceed.
While paying the ticket online without ever showing up to court may be the simplest method, doing so means all of the points of the offense will be applied to an individual’s license. Although points to a person’s license may not seem like a big deal, accumulating too many points can lead to serious penalties to a person’s driving privileges. As a result, it may be in the best interest of the person to call an attorney instead. An attorney can resolve the matter for them as efficiently as possible and give themselves the best shot of removing this charge off of their driving history.
Anyone facing serious traffic charges—like serious injuries by vehicle, vehicular homicide, DUIs, reckless driving, aggressive driving, or unlawful passing of a school bus—should absolutely hire an attorney. Anyone facing some of the less serious traffic charges, such as speeding, improper passing, failing to maintain lanes, running a red light, jumping a stop sign, or similar offenses, should at least consult a lawyer for the traffic charges to learn their options and consider the pros and cons of hiring an attorney versus facing Atlanta’s justice system alone.
A local attorney can use the information they have learned about the local court systems to a client’s benefit. They can advise a person on how to proceed with caution in order to achieve a favorable outcome in their traffic matter.