When does a speeding ticket accumulate points?
You accumulate points when you are convicted of speeding unless you attend traffic school when eligible.
What is a Conviction?
A conviction can occur when you enter a guilty plea, are found guilty after a trial, or when you enter a no contest plea. How does this work?
Enter a Guilty Plea
You show up to court on your first court day or on the day of your trial and you tell the judge that you plead guilty.
Found Guilty
This happens after you have your trial. In other words, you show up to court and fight your ticket but the judge decides that there is enough evidence that shows that you violated the law.
No Contest
This means that you accept your conviction but do not admit to the alleged facts. Essentially, no contest has a similar effect as a guilty plea.
Traffic School
Can you be convicted and avoid points? Yes. How? You attend traffic school. However, in order to avoid the point on your record after being convicted of speeding, you must be eligible for traffic school. You are eligible if you haven’t attended traffic school within the last 18 months.
Other Options
When you are not eligible for traffic school and the cop shows up at trial and is ready to proceed, then it is best to take your case to trial and fight your ticket. Another option is to ask the court to change your violation to a non-moving violation – some courts will help you and grant your request and other courts will deny your request but it never hurts to ask (you miss every shot that you don’t take).
We Can Help
If you have a traffic ticket that can lead to potential points on your license, it’s time to call the Law Offices of Mark A. Gallagher. We have over 20 years of experience and have successfully handled countless traffic tickets throughout Southern California. For your free consultation, call our offices at 800-797-8406 or visit our website at https://www.socaldefenselawyers.com/ for more information.
