Traffic Ticket Attorney in Spanish Fort, Alabama

Representing individuals in traffic related offenses has always been a significant part of our practice. We are proud to serve local residents as well as out of state folks who travel through our area that later find themselves in need of a Traffic Ticket Attorney.  For over five years, Brennan R. Clifton, Attorney at Law, has handled hundreds of cases involving traffic violations across South Alabama. Many of these cases have involved the following traffic offenses.

  • Simple Speeding
  • Reckless Driving
  • DUI
  • Passing stopped school bus
  • Wrong side of the road/illegal passing
  • Following too closely
  • Improper lane change
  • Improper Turn
  • Switched Tag
  • No driver’s license
  • Driving while license suspended
  • Illegal tint
  • Unsafe operation of a motor vehicle

I Received a Traffic Citation. Am I Required to Appear in Court?

Normally there will be explicit instructions on the citation telling you whether a court appearance is required. For routine tickets you will usually be given an option to plead guilty and pay your ticket prior to the court date. If you wish to dispute your ticket or see if you qualify for driving school, you are required to appear in person or hire an attorney to represent you.

Do I have to appear in court if I hire my own Alabama Traffic Ticket Attorney?

No, you do not have to appear if you have hired an attorney. An attorney can appear on your behalf under Rule 9 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure by submitting a signed waiver through their attorney to the court. 

How do I request driving school?

Driving school can be a great way to avoid a conviction if you have minimal traffic citations against your record. Many Alabama courts are happy to offer this exchange for the payment of court costs and completion of an approved driver’s course.

Most of the time, a person must appear in person to request driving school. However, we recommend you get in touch with the magistrate beforehand just to be sure.

If you hire an attorney, you might not be required to appear in person to request driving school.

Wouldn’t paying the ticket be cheaper than hiring an Alabama Traffic Ticket Attorney?

In the short term, yes. But in the long term (within the next three years), No!

This all has to do with your automobile insurance coverage. When you pay the ticket you are pleading guilty to the traffic ticket. This counts as a conviction toward your driving record and will generally raise your automobile insurance premium quite significantly. According to a 2023 analysis by Nerdwallet.com, car insurance rates increase up to 25% when a person is convicted, or otherwise pleads guilty to a speeding ticket. 

Ultimately, how much your rate will increase depends upon your insurance carrier, your automobile policy, the state where you hold your driver’s license, and your driving record. Comprehensive data showing how long your insurance rates will stay increased has been compiled by The Zebra, one of the nation’s leading authorities in helping individuals shop for automobile and homeowner’s insurance. 

How can an Alabama Traffic Ticket Attorney help me?

It is possible that an attorney can mitigate the repercussions of your ticket and/or outright assist in having your ticket dismissed. An experienced Alabama Traffic Ticket Attorney should be trained in every aspect related to the resolution your traffic issue. Generally speaking, an effective traffic ticket attorney should have the following qualifications:

Experience in the Courtroom

Proficiency in Title 32 of the “Traffic” Code of Alabama

Familiarity with the Municipal and District Judges

If I am not a resident of Alabama, how will a traffic ticket from Alabama affect me?

Due to the Driver’s License Compact, nearly all of the states, with the exception of Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Georgia, automatically forward a report to the state in which the driver is licensed when they are convicted of a traffic offense.

For example: If person A, who holds an Alabama Driver’s License, gets convicted of simple speeding while vacationing in Florida, proof of the conviction is immediately forwarded to Alabama.

Can my license become suspended if I get too many tickets?

Yes. Alabama goes by a “point system” in which each type of offense carries a specified number of points. If a certain number of points is accrued during a two-year period, a person’s driver license becomes suspended from a period of 60 to 365 days. It is best to consult with an experienced Alabama traffic ticket attorney if you believe that your license might become suspended.

Does your Firm handle traffic cases throughout Alabama?

Our Firm routinely represents clients in traffic courts all across Baldwin and Mobile Counties. Our court directory can quickly show you each court our firm services.

If you received a ticket, we highly recommend hiring an experienced, Alabama traffic ticket attorney

If you have received a traffic ticket in Alabama, contact Brennan R. Clifton, Attorney at Law, for a local Alabama attorney who has handled hundreds of traffic cases across Alabama. We use our expertise in Title 32 of the Alabama Traffic Code and experience from litigating at trial to best serve our clients. By hiring our firm, you are making it known that when it comes to your driving record, you mean business.