Several thousand miles of public roadways in Albuquerque are maintained by the City or the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Drivers are required to follow laws on each of these roads to protect the property and physical safety of other travelers. While drivers here are subject to hundreds of traffic laws, a few of those laws are violated more often than others.
Regardless of the offense, if you have been charged with a traffic violation, you are at risk of financial penalties, license suspension or revocation, and even imprisonment and a criminal record in some cases. Let an experienced Albuquerque traffic lawyer help you understand the consequences you face in your case and develop a strategy to defend yourself against the charges. Our defense attorneys are prepared to help you.
There are many types of traffic infractions, from speeding or driving without insurance to vehicular homicide. Traffic infractions such as distracted driving or failure to use a turn signal typically are considered non-criminal in nature and may be resolved without the defendant even having to appear in court, unless they wish to contest the charge. If they do not contest the charge, the driver may have points added against their license. Drivers who get 7-10 points assessed against their license within a year may face a three-month suspension. 12 points in a year can result in a license suspension of up to 12 months.
Other types of traffic offenses are charged as misdemeanors, such as careless or reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, or violating New Mexico’s open container law. These types of offenses are considered more serious than traffic infractions, but typically do not result in imprisonment (though, depending on the circumstances, jail time of up to a year may be a possibility). The defendant also faces consequences, including fines and points off their license. The misdemeanor will appear on their traffic and criminal record.
Felony traffic violations include those that involve the risk of or actual bodily harm or death of another person or repeat DUI offenses. Additionally, if a driver is accused of failing to stop after an accident that causes bodily harm or property damage, it is generally charged as a felony. An attorney in Albuquerque could help a person determine the penalties for a specific violation.
An Albuquerque lawyer can provide several services focused on helping individuals reduce or eliminate fines, points, and other consequences associated with being convicted of traffic offenses, regardless of how serious those offenses are. One important service an experienced lawyer provides is answers to the legal questions about specific cases and an understanding of the rights and options that those who have been charged have.
A lawyer can deploy various defenses when representing a client, including contesting the ticket and disputing the evidence or procedures used by the police, negotiating a plea deal with the prosecutor to reduce the consequences of the offense, protecting the rights of the client during the court process, and fighting the charges in court.
Traffic offenses present a number of potential consequences upon conviction. Let a local legal team help you navigate the legal process and protect your rights. Duran & McDonald has been defending New Mexico drivers for more than a decade, representing hundreds of clients during that time. Contact an Albuquerque traffic lawyer today to learn more about the services we provide.
