Traffic Law in Grand Rapids, MI
Traffic law refers to the creation, implementation, and enforcement of Grand Rapids, Michigan traffic codes. Traffic violations can vary in severity, ranging from minor speeding tickets to serious DUI charges. These violations lead to consequences, which can include fines, license suspension, license revocation, and even jail time.
In many states, when people fail to disprove traffic offenses, authorities may assess points and add them to a person’s driver’s license. These points can increase your car insurance premium for several years. If you accumulate too many points, it can even lead to a license suspension.
The Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) outlines critical information about the state’s point system for drivers. Specifically, each traffic violation conviction results in certain court fines and costs. In addition, the SOS may post the points to your driver record. For example, failure to yield generates 4 points, while an open alcoholic beverage in a vehicle generates 2 points. Under a new Michigan law, Grand Rapids drivers no longer face suspensions for failing to pay a ticket, or for failing to appear in court for certain violations.
If you’re facing traffic violation charges in , , it’s crucial to consult with an attorney right away. Many people mistakenly believe they can handle the case on their own, but an experienced , traffic law attorney can significantly improve your chances of proving your innocence. They can also help you reduce penalties and prevent points from being added to your license.
Legal Strategies to Fight Grand Rapids, Michigan Traffic Tickets
Many people don’t realize that fighting a traffic ticket and winning is common. You might think paying court and legal fees to fight a ticket isn’t worth it. On the other hand, keeping costly points off your license can save you more money in the long run. If you hire a qualified Grand Rapids attorney to fight your traffic ticket, oftentimes the police officer won’t even show up to court and you’ll win. In these instances, you no longer have to pay the ticket, and the points get removed from your license.
The Kent County 61st District Court typically handles traffic citations in the City of Grand Rapids. However, the Kent County 63rd District Court also has geographic jurisdiction over Grand Rapids and East Grand Rapids.
If the officer does show up at court, an experienced traffic lawyer can make a solid case in your defense. Here are common legal strategies that your lawyer may employ to help you fight a traffic ticket.
Challenge the Officer’s Conclusion in Traffic Law Court
If any Grand Rapids, MI officer made a judgment on whether you broke the law, your attorney may argue the conclusion they came to was not the right one. For example, an officer might say that you made an unlawful turn, but in actuality, they couldn’t see whether it was unlawful or unsafe.
Challenge the Officer’s Observations in Traffic Law Court
Challenging an officer’s observation in a traffic case often comes down to your word against theirs, which can be difficult as judges tend to side with law enforcement. However, a skilled traffic law attorney can work to cast doubt on the officer’s account. By presenting strong evidence that supports your version of events, you improve your chances of winning the case. Examples of useful evidence may include witness statements, dashcam footage, or documented inaccuracies in the officer’s report.
- Photographs of the scene of the traffic violation
- Witnesses, such as passengers or bystanders
- A diagram showing where your car was, and where the officer’s car was about the traffic violation
- Showing that the point of view from where the officer was made it impossible for them to see what happened
Prove Your Conduct Was Legally Justified
If you commit an unlawful driving violation in Grand Rapids, MI you can argue that it happened due to the circumstances. There are countless examples of this. The main goal is to prove to the judge that even though your actions may have constituted a violation, you had good reason to do so. Here are a few of these examples:
- Driving too slowly because you are about to make a left turn
- Swerving your car in a panic after a bump in the road caused hot coffee to spill from the cup in the cupholder
- Driving above the speed limit to get to the hospital because of a sudden medical emergency
Prove Your Conduct Was Necessary to Avoid Harm
Sometimes, you have to violate Grand Rapids traffic law because you were preventing injury to yourself or others. This would be a viable defense to fight a traffic law ticket. You may believe your conduct is justifiable because you were avoiding harm. Ensure that you can clearly and accurately explain the situation in court. Here are some situations in traffic law where unlawful conduct is necessary to avoid harm:
- Speeding up well past the limit to avoid an out-of-control car
- Speeding up to avoid being rear-ended by an aggressive driver
- Slamming the brakes on a main road to avoid colliding with an animal that was crossing the street
- Swerving your car into the neighboring lane to avoid another car that swerved into your lane
Prove Your Conduct Was a “Mistake of Fact”
If your unlawful traffic violation happens due to a “mistake of fact” this means you simply made an honest and understandable error. When using this angle to defend your traffic ticket, try to have photo evidence of the issue in question for your hearing. The judge can use their discretion to determine if your error was a mistake of fact and can either enforce or drop the traffic ticket. Here are some examples where this might prove applicable:
- You failed to stop at an obscured stop sign.
- The sun was at the exact angle that you could not see the light turn yellow and it was too late to stop when you did see the light.
- A traffic sign was faded and hard to read so you could not do as it said.
Traffic School Programs
In some cases, going to a traffic school that has state sponsorship or approval can help clear your driving record. A judge may even make this a requirement after you’re found guilty of egregious speeding or a DUI. While this will involve some out-of-pocket costs, it can be worth the time and investment.
Grand Rapids drivers can avoid impacting their insurance rates with a Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDIC). The Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) will notify Grand Rapids drivers who are eligible for the BDIC. Upon successful BDIC completion, the SOS will not make the points or ticket information available to the insurance company. The fee for the course varies by provider but must not exceed $100 under current law. The SOS provides a list of approved online and classroom courses in Grand Rapids.
Work with an Experienced Grand Rapids, Michigan Traffic Law Lawyer
Facing law enforcement officers in court can feel overwhelming, especially if the judge appears more likely to side with them—particularly if you have prior traffic violations that could cast your driving record in a negative light.
While no outcome in court is guaranteed, hiring an experienced traffic law attorney can bring objectivity to your case. They can evaluate the evidence, challenge the charges, and work to secure the fair outcome you deserve.
Are you ready to reach out to a traffic lawyer to get help with your case? We can even help you connect with an attorney across Michigan state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to speak with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
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