When you receive a speeding ticket or other Texas traffic ticket, the police officer will “helpfully” tell you when, where, and how to pay your fine, as though you have already been tried and convicted! If you mail in the payment or pay the ticket at the courthouse as the officer suggests, the clerk at the payment window will happily take your money, tell you that your obligation is satisfied, and leave you with the impression that that is the end of the story.

What the officer and the clerk will probably not tell you is that payment of the ticket will result in a criminal conviction on your record that will generate costly “points” on your drivers license, which can lead to annual surcharges and other consequences, such as suspension of your driver’s license and hikes in your insurance rates.

Nor will the police officer or the clerk tell you that you are presumed innocent, that you have a right to a trial by jury, and that an attorney can probably help you avoid a costly conviction, even if you really are guilty.

The Herrington Law Office can in many cases help you avoid a costly conviction, through what is called “deferred adjudication,” which is something like probation, without your having to go to court at all. With deferred adjudication, you will have to pay a fine and some court costs, but you will not suffer any costly points on your driver’s license or the consequences they entail.

It may be, of course, that you are not guilty at all. The police have “their side of the story.” Your side may be different. In that case, why not fight your case at trial with the help of an experienced Dallas Traffic ticket attorney? Contact the Herrington Law Office at (972) 364–9050 to discuss your case in greater detail.

We recommend that you contact us as soon as possible after the ticket is issued.