Should I Be Concerned About My Teenager’s Ticket?

Teenage and young adult drivers are at a significantly higher risk of committing a traffic violation and receiving a ticket than older drivers are. According to the CDC, teens are more likely to speed, and they have the lowest rate of seat belt use. Pair those factors with their general inexperience and it’s easy to see why teenagers and young adults are at greater risk for getting pulled over and getting a ticket, which can lead to them having their license suspended.

Everything from less serious offenses, like failing to stop  at a stop sign, to potential felonies, such as a serious injury by motor vehicle, can add points to your license, lead to a license suspension, or even incarceration. Parents might think that less serious traffic violations aren’t a reason for concern, but even tickets for small offenses build up points or suspend a young driver’s license, and the point threshold for license suspension is lower for teenagers. It’s common to think that paying the fine and moving on with life is the best course of action. But failing to take every ticket seriously and examine the best way to fight it can leave your child’s immediate future at risk.

We Have the Experience to Fight Your Teen’s Ticket

With over 14 years of experience defending teens and young adults against traffic tickets of all kinds, we have sustained success overturning tickets and having charges reduced. Check out our success story about an 18-year-old who was charged with going 94 mph in a 70 mph zone and who ended up with a positive result and zero blemishes on his driving record.

What Can Lead to a Teenager or Young Adult Getting a License Suspension

A suspension is given out when a driver accrues a certain number of points on their license. Point totals are based on the nature of the offense – different violations carry different point totals – and the age of the driver. Anyone between 18 and 20 years old will have their license suspended for three reasons:

• They get 15 or more points in 24 months
• They’re convicted of a serious traffic offense that carries an automatic driver’s license suspension
• They’re convicted of a single offense that is worth four or more points

The most common single-ticket offenses that carry four or more points are:

• Driving 24 or more mph over the speed limit: 4-6 points
• Reckless driving: 4 points
• Aggressive driving: 6 points
• Improper passing on a hill or a curve: 4 points
• Improper passing of a school bus: 6 points

What About 16- and 17-Year-Olds?

Drivers who are 16 or 17 years old are at the greatest risk of having their license suspended. Not only do they face the same penalties as 18 to 20 year olds, but instead of being penalized for accruing 15 points in a 24-month time period, they face a six-month suspension for accruing four or more points in a 12-month period.

That means 16 and 17 year olds can face an automatic license suspension for just one instance of reckless driving, improper passing, or speeding 24 mph or more over the speed limit. Outside of those situations, almost any tickets that carry points will also suspend their license. Parents, teenagers, and young adults need to be aware that choosing to simply pay the ticket instead of going to court with professional help can easily lead to a license suspension. You can find a complete list of driving offenses and their point totals here.

Our Process for Fighting Traffic Tickets

Regardless of the charge your teen or young adult is facing, we start with this four-step process for representing our clients:

1. Conduct an Initial Defense Strategy Meeting
2. Identify a preliminary strategy for defending your case, as well as things you can complete to improve your situation
3. Execute the initial strategy
4. Provide you with an analysis of your options, and finalize the case strategy

Once we have this strategy in place and you have a full understanding of it, we’ll move forward with the plan of your choosing. Reach out to our team to schedule an Initial Defense Strategy Meeting with a member of our team who can help with your traffic ticket defense.

With proper help from our award-winning team, we can build a defense and execute a plan that minimizes the negative impacts of traffic tickets, such as license suspension or increased insurance premiums. We want to help remove the stress that comes with facing unknown outcomes related to traffic tickets by helping you understand your options. You’ll then be empowered to choose the best option for you and your teenager that minimizes the impact this situation has on your lives.

Contact us today to schedule your Initial Defense Strategy Meeting.

If you aren’t ready to schedule your Initial Defense Strategy Meeting, then click here to download our complimentary eBook 5 Things Not to Do When You’ve Been Charged with a Crime to learn what you need to know to start protecting your future immediately. Additionally, you can reach out to us today to schedule your initial consultation.