Piett and Wright Las Vegas Attorneys at Law

Traffic Citations

Q: If I am guilty of a traffic violation, shouldn't I just pay the ticket and get it over with?

A:  Paying the tickets subjects you to the maximum fine and puts you on record with the DMV in Nevada. That can raise your insurance rates, contribute to the loss of driving privileges, or impact your job. There are many options to pleading guilty, and the attorneys at Piet & Wright can help you decide the best option in your case.

In Nevada, no particular criminal intent is required to convict a person of a minor traffic offense. This concept is sometimes referred to as strict liability. The only proof needed is evidence that the person charged actually committed the prohibited act. For example, if there is reliable evidence of speeding, it need not also be proven that the driver intended to exceed the speed limit; it rarely matters for liability purposes if the speeding was inadvertent or purposeful. Strict-liability traffic offenses typically include such violations as failure to use turn signals, failure to yield, turning into the wrong lane, driving a car with burned-out headlights, failure to use tow bars when towing another vehicle, parking next to a yellow curb, parking in a handicap spot without the required permit, overdue parking meters, and exceeding the speed limit.

Traffic Misdemeanors and Felonies

Almost every traffic violation becomes a misdemeanor or felony if it involves injury to a person or destruction of property. A person who changes lanes without signaling and hits another car can be charged with the misdemeanor crime of reckless driving or even vehicular homicide if the lane-changer was attempting to inflict serious bodily injury and the other driver is killed. In addition, some traffic offenses are legally defined as misdemeanors or felonies, such as driving with a revoked license and leaving the scene of an accident. A person accused of these more serious traffic offenses is entitled to all criminal procedures, including the right to an attorney and a jury trial. The attorneys at Piet & Wright can help.

The primary purpose of traffic-violation laws and regulations is to deter unsafe driving and to educate and reform bad drivers. Even good drivers, however, for whom safety is a priority, can be charged with a traffic violation. If you or someone you know has been charged with breaking a traffic law, a skilled criminal defense attorney from Piet & Wright with experience in traffic law can explain the procedures and possible penalties that await you, and can work with you to ensure the best possible outcome.