How traffic tickets are treated in Georgia

Traffic ticket law in Georgia is similar to traffic ticket law elsewhere in the United States. Traffic violations are considered infractions, rather than crimes. This means a ticket does not give the guilty party a criminal record. Different cities and counties in Georgia have their own levels of punishment for traffic tickets. Punishments are fairly similar, however, and usually include fines and suspension of the guilty party’s license if the offense is serious. Occasionally, a person who commits a very serious offense may be banned from driving for a year or more.

Minor traffic offenses

Most of the traffic tickets issued in Georgia are for minor offenses. There are many types of minor offenses. In fact, there are quite a few more types of minor offenses in the state of Georgia than major offenses.

The most common minor offense is, of course, speeding. Any person ticketed at a speed of less than fifteen miles per hour over the speed limit is considered to have committed a minor offense. This carries with it a fine and a certain number of points are added to the driver’s DMV record. The size of the fine and the number of points vary based on the location of the offense. In the state of Georgia, speeding tickets average around $150. Most minor speeding offenses give the driver two or three points on his or her license.

There are other types of minor violations. Having defective or improper equipment is considered to be a minor violation. Defective or improper equipment violations concern the functionality of the car. A car that is missing a sideview mirror, for example, can get the driver a ticket. The same goes for a car that has non-operational turn signals. Driving too slowly is also a minor violation.

Seatbelt and child restraint violations are another type of minor offense. They are one of the most common minor infractions in the state of Georgia. The state of Georgia does not require drivers 16 or older to wear seatbelts. However, children under the age of 16 must be restrained at all times. Parents that do not follow this law are risking a large fine.

The last common category of minor traffic ticket violations in Georgia is insufficient proof of license, insurance, or registration. This is not to be confused with a lack of license, insurance, or registration. If a driver is not current on any of these three things, that is automatically a major violation. If the driver merely does not have proof of these three things, it is a minor violation. Drivers in the state of Georgia are required to have their license, proof of insurance, and registration in the car at all times when they are on a public road.

Major traffic violations

Major violations make up a much smaller percentage of traffic tickets in Georgia. There are fewer categories of major violations. The most common major violation is reckless driving, which often translates to going more than 30 miles an hour over the speed limit. Drivers that do this may be arrested on the spot, but this usually does not happen. They will, however, be required to appear in court. If they are found guilty, they will have to pay a very large fine and will accrue six or more points on their license.

Reckless driving can include offenses other than severe speeding. Drivers that are weaving in and out of traffic or tailgating other motorists may find themselves hit with a major violation traffic ticket. Reckless driving is the most common sort of major violation.

The second most common type of major violation is damage to property. Drivers may incur this ticket for any damage to any property, public or private, that occurs because of their reckless driving. If the damage to property is serious, the driver may find himself or herself in jail. Usually, this is not the case. If a driver causes minor damage, such as knocking over a parking meter or a mailbox, they will merely be issued with a massive ticket and required to go to court.

How Georgia keeps track of offenses

All drivers that commit major or minor offenses in Georgia go into the state’s database. The database keeps track of the number of points each driver has. If a driver accumulates more than fifteen points in a two year period, they are banned from driving for a period of six months.

Once the driver is ticketed, they are able to mail in their plea and the fine, if they plead guilty. They usually have approximately two weeks to do so. Drivers in the state of Georgia can also request a mitigation hearing. This is a hearing in which the driver admits their guilt, but asks for a reduced fine.

Drivers that plead innocent must go to court. Some states allow the driver to defend themselves via mail, but this is not the case in the state of Georgia. A person accused of a traffic violation must show up in court of have their attorney show up for them.

Those who have received traffic tickets have the right to an attorney, just as they would have the right to an attorney in a criminal case. However, most people do not consider a traffic case to be worth attorney’s fees.

One major difference in the trial

A trial for a traffic violation is much the same as a trial for a misdemeanor or felony, with one important exception. A traffic violation trial in the state of Georgia is a judge trial, in which a justice decides the verdict. This is not favorable for motorists that wish to go to trial.