Traffic Violations Attorney in Lawrence, Kansas

Driving over the speed limit often happens on the way to an appointment or work. When you’re running behind and need to be on time, speeding is a shortcut that you might be tempted to take. But more than one speeding ticket or other traffic violation can affect your driving record and cause problems in your day-to-day life. 

Whether you’re facing a speeding ticket or another traffic violation, it’s essential to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. For almost 20 years, I have communicated closely with my clients to ensure they are informed and prepared for each step of their case. I am not afraid to go to battle in the courtroom to seek your best outcome. My firm, Chahine Legal LLC, proudly represents clients in Lawrence, Olathe, Overland Park, and Lenexa, Kansas, including parts of Missouri.

Traffic Violations

Throughout Kansas, a wide range of actions fall under the umbrella of traffic violations. From running stop signs to criminal traffic offenses such as driving under the influence, traffic violations have a wide variety of consequences.

Moving Violations vs. Non-Moving Violations

Traffic violations are broadly categorized as either a moving violation or a non-moving violation. Non-moving violations are less serious and include infractions such as illegal parking and expired tags. Moving violations are more serious and come with heftier fines. They include violations such as running a red light, speeding, and reckless driving.

Understanding the Point System

While Kansas does not use the points system, the state of Kansas will still note every violation on your record. In Missouri, each violation adds points to your driving record. The more points on your record, the higher fines, and penalties you will receive. An experienced criminal defense attorney can provide expert legal guidance as you are fighting a traffic violation.

Traffic Violation Fines and Penalties

In Kansas, the punishment corresponds to the action when it comes to traffic violations. For example, the failure to signal when turning may result in a fine of less than $50. Unlawfully passing a utility vehicle could result in a fine of over $100. On a second infraction, the fine could be doubled. The more infractions a driver has, the heavier the penalty.

Fighting a Traffic Violation

It’s possible to use several different strategies when fighting a traffic violation. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help you select the best strategy and argue it on your behalf.

You can dispute the officer’s account of what happened, casting doubt on the accusations against you. Or, you can dispute the evidence in your case. For example, if you received a parking ticket that you should not have, you can dispute the evidence that you had parked illegally.

It’s also possible when fighting a traffic violation to prove that there was a mistake made. In the mistake of fact, you had no intent to break the law and no knowledge that you were breaking the law with your action. 

Last, in some situations, it is possible that the action was justified which led to the traffic violation. For example, if someone parked illegally to help a person in great need and received a parking ticket for it, they may be able to argue that the action was justified and have the traffic violation dropped.