Daytona Beach Traffic & Criminal Traffic Defense

Daytona Beach Traffic Offenses Attorney

Paying a Florida ticket is a guilty plea. Before you mail it in, find out what it does to your points, your insurance, and your license.

  • Available 24 hours a day
  • Free, confidential consultation
  • Offices in Daytona Beach, Port Orange & DeLand

Before You Pay That Ticket

Florida treats payment of a uniform traffic citation as a conviction. The points post to your record, your insurance carrier is notified, and the case is closed. You generally cannot unpay a ticket once it has posted. Even a simple speeding ticket ends up costing far more than the number printed on the citation.

Our Daytona Beach traffic lawyers represent local drivers, seasonal visitors, and commercial drivers on every kind of citation, from speeding on I-95 and LPGA Boulevard to red light cameras and school zone violations. In most cases we can fight or negotiate the citation to keep points, and the long tail of consequences that follow them, off your record.

Some traffic charges are not tickets at all. Driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, racing, and leaving the scene of a crash are crimes that carry jail exposure and a criminal record, and a DUI is never just a ticket. Those cases need a criminal defense lawyer, not a ticket clinic.

Before You Pay That Ticket

Before you talk to anyone

What you need to know

01

Paid means guilty

Mailing in the citation closes the case as a conviction. The points stick, your insurer sees it, and the conviction stays on your Florida driving record for years. A contested hearing can end in dismissal, reduction, or a withhold of adjudication, but only if you do not pay first.

02

Points turn into suspensions fast

12 points within 12 months suspends your license for 30 days. 18 points within 18 months suspends it for three months. 24 points within 36 months suspends it for up to a year. Three convictions in five years for certain offenses makes you a habitual traffic offender with a five-year revocation, and driving on it is a felony.

03

Traffic school is not always available

Under Florida Statute 318.14, you can elect a basic driver improvement course once every 12 months, up to five times in a lifetime, and no points are assessed. It is not available for every violation, and CDL holders cannot use a withhold to mask a conviction under federal rules. We will tell you which option actually protects you.

Traffic offenses and matters we handle

  • Speeding, including 30 mph or more over the limit
  • Reckless driving
  • Driving while license suspended or revoked (DWLS)
  • No valid driver's license
  • Leaving the scene of a crash (hit and run)
  • Racing on highways
  • Red light and stop sign violations
  • Texting while driving
  • Passing a stopped school bus
  • Expired tags and registration
  • Habitual traffic offender (HTO) designation
  • License suspension, reinstatement, and hardship licenses
  • Commercial driver (CDL) violations
  • Out-of-state drivers cited in Volusia or Flagler County

Florida points by violation

ChargeWhat it requiresClassification
Leaving the scene of a crash Property damage over $50 6 points
Speeding causing a crash Any speed, crash results 6 points
Reckless driving Willful or wanton disregard for safety 4 points
Speeding 15 mph or more over the limit 4 points
Passing a stopped school bus Bus stopped with signals displayed 4 points
Speeding Less than 15 mph over the limit 3 points
Texting while driving Second offense within five years 3 points
Other moving violations Running a red light, improper lane change, and similar 3 points

Per Florida Statute 322.27. A first texting-while-driving offense is a nonmoving violation with no points. Confirm the points for your specific citation with your attorney.

Criminal Traffic Charges Are Different

Criminal Traffic Charges Are Different

Driving while license suspended, reckless driving, racing, and leaving the scene of a crash are criminal offenses in Florida. They are heard in county court in Daytona Beach or DeLand, they can carry jail time, and a conviction is a criminal record that shows up on background checks.

A third DWLS conviction, or three qualifying convictions within five years, triggers a five-year habitual traffic offender revocation. Driving on a revoked HTO license is a third-degree felony. These cases stack quickly, and the way to stop the stack is to fight the first one.

Our attorneys also handle license reinstatement and hardship license applications for drivers who have already lost their privileges. Do not face a judge alone. Call 386.222.6677 to schedule a free consultation with a Daytona Beach traffic attorney today.

Common questions

Traffic Offenses Attorney FAQs

Not before you know what it costs. Paying is a conviction with points, and your insurance carrier will see it. For many citations we can get the points withheld or the charge reduced or dismissed, which usually saves more in premiums than the attorney fee.
For many non-criminal moving violations, yes, once every 12 months and up to five times in your life. Electing the course means adjudication is withheld and no points are assessed. It is not available for every violation, and you must elect it before the citation is paid.
A driver with three qualifying convictions within five years, such as DWLS, DUI, or leaving the scene. The designation brings a five-year license revocation, and driving during that revocation is a felony. Fighting the underlying convictions is the only way to avoid it.
Yes. Driving while license suspended with knowledge is a criminal misdemeanor, and a third conviction is a felony. Many people do not realize their license was suspended, and lack of knowledge is a real defense. Talk to us before you plead to it.

Arrested in Daytona Beach? Call before you talk to anyone.

A first appearance can happen within 24 hours of an arrest. Getting a lawyer involved before then can mean going home instead of waiting in the Volusia County Branch Jail.