Preserve Your Driving Record After A Traffic Violation

Traffic violations in Georgia can have serious consequences for drivers, even when it comes to what may seem like minor infractions. A suspended or revoked license can prevent you from driving to work, running errands or maintaining your independence. You may be required to pay costly fines, attend a driving safety class, or even serve jail time for more extreme or repeated violations.

W. Bartlett Barnwell, P.C., has more than 30 years of experience as an attorney in criminal and civil courts in Dalton and throughout northwest Georgia. He has handled traffic cases for both individual motorists and those with commercial driver’s licenses, so he is well-equipped to evaluate the circumstances of your alleged infraction and fight for the best possible outcome for your case.

You have too much riding on keeping your driving privileges and avoiding costly consequences to take a chance representing yourself in a traffic violation case. Our attorney prices his services fairly, and his representation could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in court costs and fines.

Common Traffic Violations We Handle In Northwest Georgia

Georgia drivers face many types of traffic charges. We handle a wide range of violations in Dalton and surrounding areas, including:

• Speeding tickets are the most common traffic violation. Even a basic speeding ticket adds points to your license and raises your insurance rates. Super speeder violations carry additional fines of $200 on top of your original ticket if you drove 85 mph or more on any road, or 75 mph or more on a two-lane road.
• Reckless driving is a misdemeanor in Georgia. This charge applies when someone drives with willful disregard for safety. Penalties include fines up to $1,000, up to 12 months in jail and four points on your license.
• DUI charges threaten your license immediately. Georgia’s administrative license suspension takes effect before your criminal case concludes. We help clients request administrative hearings to challenge these suspensions and protect driving privileges.

Suspended license violations occur when someone drives with a suspended or revoked license. This makes your situation worse and can lead to additional suspension time, fines and possible jail time.

Failure to appear charges happen when someone misses their court date for a traffic ticket. This results in a bench warrant for your arrest and additional penalties beyond your original violation.

Other common violations include running red lights or stop signs, improper lane changes, following too closely, driving without insurance and expired registration tags.

How Points Affect Your Georgia Driver’s License

Georgia uses a point system to track traffic violations. Different violations carry different point values. When you accumulate 15 points within 24 months, Georgia suspends your license. The suspension lasts for one day for each point over 15.

Points stay on your record for two years from the conviction date. Insurance companies also check your driving record. More points typically mean higher insurance premiums for several years.

We aim to reduce or dismiss charges when possible. This keeps points off your record and protects your driving privileges and insurance rates.

Can Hiring A Defense Attorney Help My Traffic Case?

Regardless of your charge, there are many ways in which Mr. Barnwell can assist you in defending yourself. We know the local courts and understand how a judge may view your infraction. We can explain your charge and its consequences, and we can direct you to the proper location to file any needed paperwork to challenge your charge. In some cases, we may be able to represent you without your needing to be present, saving you time away from work and family. Finally, we can engage with the officer who wrote your ticket and the prosecutor, and we can often reduce your charge to a nonreportable offense if we cannot get it dismissed entirely.

For commercial drivers with CDL licenses, traffic violations carry even more serious consequences. We also handle CDL-related violations, including lane violations, improper lane changes, logbook errors, handheld mobile device violations, DUI/DWI and reckless driving, and other commercial driving issues.

If your violation has led to the suspension of your driving privileges, our attorney can help you apply for a hardship license, which will allow you to drive to work or school.

Call For Comprehensive Legal Representation

Your driving record and your career as a professional driver are too precious to mar with a traffic violation. Call our office in Dalton at 706-770-6459 or set up a consultation by using our online contact form.