How Much Does a Traffic Ticket Lawyer Cost?

A traffic ticket lawyer’s fee in California depends on the work your ticket needs: the citation, the court that hears it, whether the charge is an infraction or a misdemeanor, and how many court dates the case takes. Call or send us your ticket details for a free consultation, and we’ll discuss your case and let you know how we can help.

Four Things Shape a Traffic Defense Fee

A lawyer’s fee follows the work a case needs. Four things set that work.

• The citation.The Vehicle Code section on your ticket decides what the court must find and what a conviction adds to your record. Most moving violations add one point; reckless driving, DUI and driving on a suspended license add two (Vehicle Code § 12810).
• The court.Each court sets its own process, such as how to ask for a trial and whether it offers remote trials (California Courts).
• Infraction or misdemeanor.An infraction is punished with a fine. A misdemeanor is a criminal charge that can carry up to a year in jail, and in Los Angeles County it is heard in the Superior Court’s Criminal Division (Los Angeles Superior Court).
• The number of court dates.A traffic case can need an arraignment on one day and a trial on another (California Courts).

The Free Consultation Covers Your Case and Your Options

The consultation is free. You call us or send your ticket details, and we discuss the details of your case and let you know how we can help, so you understand your options before you decide. Request a free consultation.

Paying a Ticket Costs More Than the Fine

When you pay a California traffic ticket, the court treats the payment as a conviction. For tickets such as speeding or running a red light, the conviction goes on your DMV record and adds a point. Points can stay on your record for 3 to 7 years, raise what you pay for car insurance and even lead your insurance company to cancel your policy (California Courts).

Points also count toward your license. A driver with 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 months or 8 in 36 months is presumed to be a negligent operator, which puts the license at risk of suspension (Vehicle Code § 12810.5).

Traffic school changes part of this. If the court finds a driver eligible and the driver finishes traffic school by the deadline, the point stays on the record but is hidden from insurance companies (California Courts).

Fighting the ticket costs a lawyer’s fee. Whether that fee is less than what a conviction costs you depends on your ticket and your driving record, and the free consultation is where we look at both.

What a Law Firm Does for Your Ticket

A law firm employs licensed attorneys. They build a strategy for your case, file the paperwork and represent you in court. California courts also let a driver contest many tickets in writing, through a trial by written declaration (California Courts). Read how to tell a ticket service from a law firm.

Questions About What a Traffic Lawyer Costs

How Are a Traffic Lawyer’s Fees Set?

By the work the case needs: the citation, the court, whether the charge is an infraction or a misdemeanor, and how many court dates it takes. See all the tickets we fight.

Is It Cheaper to Just Pay the Ticket?

Paying costs the fine, and it is also a conviction that can add a point to your record for 3 to 7 years and raise your insurance (California Courts). Fighting costs a lawyer’s fee. Which costs you less depends on your ticket and your record.

Does a Misdemeanor Cost More to Defend Than an Infraction?

A misdemeanor has more at stake than an infraction: it is a criminal charge that can carry jail time and a higher base fine, and in Los Angeles County it goes to the Criminal Division (Los Angeles Superior Court). Ask us in your free consultation how your charge affects the fee.

What Does the Free Consultation Include?

We discuss the details of your case and let you know how we can help, by phone or through our contact form. It costs nothing.

How Much Does a Speeding Ticket Lawyer Cost?

The fee for a speeding ticket is set the same way as for any other ticket: by the citation, the court and the number of court dates. Read how we fight speeding tickets.

Call or contact us today for your free consultation: (310) 455-6810 .

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