You’re driving along minding your business when the flashing blue lights appear in your rear-view mirror. You pull over to let the police car go by and your heart sinks when he pulls up behind you. You go through the customary steps, finding out why you’ve been pulled over, offering license and registration, and receiving the citation and a caution not to do it again. Back on the road you’re annoyed at the inconvenience and financial hit but resign yourself to paying the fine and moving on. But should you just pay it and move on? Is appealing that traffic ticket worth the headache? Your answer depends on a couple of things.

When deciding whether to appeal the traffic citation you need to determine whether it is a civil or criminal infraction. If it is a civil infraction, you need to determine if the fine is the only punishment – there are times when a civil infraction can have consequences beyond the fine, sometimes lasting consequences. Be sure you know the full extent of the punishment if your citation is civil. If there are consequences greater than a fine, we often counsel our clients to appeal the citation. If you receive a criminal citation and are NOT arrested, we recommend that you should always appeal. Read more here about the factors you need to consider to decide whether to appeal.

If you are in doubt about whether to appeal a traffic infraction, you should contact us. We can help you determine any long term-consequences that might exist and help you make an informed decision about whether to pay the fine or appeal.  If you need legal help, call or text us. Contant Law 617-227-8383.

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