When people get tickets, one of the most common questions they inevitably ask is ‘Do you need a lawyer to fight a ticket?’ The consequences of traffic tickets can be serious and include demerit points, heavy fines, increases in insurance premiums, and even suspended licenses, so you want to give yourself the best chance to fight a ticket and win. Does that include a lawyer, though?
The answer depends on what you were ticketed for and whether any criminal charges were filed. In most cases, though, the answer is no; lawyers can be prohibitively expensive, and they may not have actually studied the specifics that relate to your ticket in law school.
You’re probably better off working with traffic ticket experts like the team at We Defend. Let’s break down when you do and don’t need a lawyer to fight a ticket.
Key Takeaways
- If serious criminal charges are involved, it’s best to hire a lawyer.
- For traffic charges that don’t involve criminal charges, you have better, less expensive options than a lawyer.
- Traffic court experts give you the best chance to avoid the fines, demerit points, and increases in insurance premiums that come with tickets.
How Do Tickets Work in Alberta?
Most traffic tickets in Alberta start with a violation ticket that provides details on how you can either plead guilty, pay the fine, and accept the demerit points, or fight it. Some tickets, though, will specify that a court appearance is mandatory and give you a court date.
When you choose to fight a ticket, you’ll have to go to Traffic Court, plead guilty, and present your case. You have the option of representing yourself, but you can also get a lawyer to represent you or a traffic ticket expert like the team at We Defend.
When Do You Need a Lawyer to Fight a Ticket in Alberta?
The reality is, there’s no one answer to the question ‘Do you need a lawyer to fight a ticket?’ because different violations come with different charges.
A ticket for impaired driving, for example, can come with criminal charges, and you’ll have to go to criminal court. A speeding ticket, on the other hand, comes with demerit points, a hefty fine, and an increase in your insurance premiums. Those are still serious, but your court date will be at traffic court.
There are a few key situations where you will want to hire a lawyer:
- If there are criminal charges involved for something like driving under the influence. These are serious violations that could affect your employment, ability to travel out of the country, and criminal record.
- Any accident where somebody is killed or seriously injured. These are situations where there will also almost certainly be criminal charges, and you will want a trial lawyer on your side.
When You Don’t Need a Lawyer to Fight a Ticket in Alberta
So, do you need a lawyer to fight a ticket? In most situations, the answer is no. It can actually be more helpful to hire experts who have worked at traffic courts for years and know the ins and outs of the system.
Most trial lawyers won’t have the familiarity with how specific traffic violations are handled at traffic court and what evidence can help you beat a traffic ticket, and they can be considerably more expensive, too.
Experts like the team at We Defend can help answer questions like ‘Can a traffic ticket be dismissed in Alberta?’ and ‘How do I plead not guilty to a traffic ticket in Alberta? ’ while helping you reduce or avoid the penalties that come with your tickets.
You don’t need a lawyer to fight any of these common tickets in Alberta:
- Speeding tickets
- Suspended license tickets
- Stunting and careless driving tickets
- Driving without insurance tickets
- Hit and run tickets
- Failure to obey a stop sign or red light
- Failure to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk
The Advantages of Hiring Traffic Court Experts Instead of a Lawyer
Not hiring a lawyer doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fight traffic tickets. In fact, it’s almost always advisable that you fight tickets. Pleading guilty means you have to pay an expensive fine and accept demerit points that can add up quickly and lead to a suspended license. Just as importantly, pleading guilty to a traffic ticket almost always leads to increases in insurance premiums, which can be significantly more expensive in the long term than the initial fine.
So while the answer to the question ‘Do you need a lawyer to fight a ticket?’ is generally no in most cases, you should still fight a traffic ticket, and hiring experts like the team at We Defend gives you the best chance of reducing the charges you face or seeing them dismissed entirely.
Hiring a traffic court expert is always advisable for a few key reasons:
- They’re experienced with how Alberta’s legal system works and can identify inconsistencies on your ticket.
- They’ve worked with people facing similar charges to yours for years and have a deep understanding of the traffic court system, as well as a rapport with the people involved in it. That helps them fight your case.
- The cost of hiring professional help is way less than the cost of pleading guilty, paying your fine, and then dealing with higher insurance premiums.
Hire We Defend to Fight Your Next Traffic Ticket
Do you need a lawyer to fight a traffic ticket? No, but hiring professional traffic court experts like the team at We Defend gives you the best possible chance of beating a traffic ticket and avoiding its costly consequences. Every day, we’re helping Albertans like you reduce or avoid the repercussions of traffic tickets that can disrupt your life and cost you a lot of money.
Get a free consultation today.