Palm Beach Criminal Lawyer on Criminal Traffic Offenses

Broward criminal lawyer William Moore has learned over the years that many of his clients, prior to their arrests, believed that traffic offenses are always just tickets – never a criminal matter. While most traffic issues are civil offenses, punished by fines and points on your driver’s license, there are also criminal traffic offenses. Civil traffic offenses are violations like minor speeding tickets. If you are convicted of a criminal traffic offense, it will appear on your criminal record and you could even face jail time. Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney Moore represents all kinds of criminal traffic violation and can advise you regarding the particulars of your situation.

One lesser known criminal offense that relates to traffic is the motor vehicle noise law. In Florida, it is illegal to alter the exhaust pipe on your car to make it very loud. In fact, you are not allowed to alter it so that it is louder than it was when the vehicle was originally manufactured. Doing so is a crime punishable by up to one full year in jail. You might think it sounds great, but the police – and your neighbors – will likely disagree.

Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is a more common criminal traffic offense. A DUI conviction can result in significant time in jail, substantial fines, and the loss of your driver’s license. The state’s public safety interest in protecting passengers is so great and the potential for serious car accidents is so high that driving while you are impaired by alcohol can be charged as a felony if you are a repeat offender. The state of Florida takes DUI crimes seriously.

Driving with a suspended license is another problem. Your driver’s license may have been suspended for one too many speeding tickets, your involvement in an accident, or due to a previous DUI arrest. If your driver’s license is not valid but the police find you driving nonetheless, you can face criminal prosecution.

Likewise, highway racing carries up to one year in jail, although it does not even have to occur on a highway. Broward criminal defense attorney Moore reminds drivers that racing or showing off your speed in a parking lot can also result in an arrest for highway racing, another criminal traffic offense that can result in the loss of your driving privileges. Highway racing can also include drag racing or racing other vehicles down a highway, especially if there are spectators.

These are not the only criminal traffic offenses, but they are among the most common. Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer William Moore advises Florida drivers to take care to follow local traffic laws in order to avoid traffic tickets, or worse, an arrest. A criminal record, even for a criminal traffic offense, should be taken seriously. If your driver’s license has been suspended, take care not to drive until it is reinstated.

Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer William Moore has experience in all kinds of criminal defense, including sex crimes and DUI. A conviction for a felony or misdemeanor can have consequences on your freedom, your employment, and your personal life. If you have been charged with a crime in Florida, contact William Moore, P.A., which is an experienced Fort Lauderdale criminal law firm with offices in Fort Lauderdale-Dade, Broward, and Fort Lauderdale Counties.

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This article should be used for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice nor as implied representation of any person.

Article contributed by Mallory Shipman, Esq.