This article assists the decision of whether to just pay a Greenwood, Missouri traffic ticket versus hiring a Greenwood traffic lawyer to “fix” the ticket. It analyzes the pros and cons. This article cites to sources for specific numbers and references.
The Advantages of Just Paying a Greenwood Traffic Ticket
People often choose to just pay speeding tickets in Greenwood Municipal Court. Paying the traffic ticket is less expensive in the short term. It is less effort than finding a Greenwood traffic attorney, calling, talking with them, and arranging to fix the ticket. Just paying a traffic ticket is faster. You won’t have to wait for a court date for the attorney to amend the citation. You won’t have to wait for confirmation that the ticket is resolved.
The Disadvantages of Just Paying a Greenwood Speeding Ticket
Paying a ticket is the same as pleading guilty in open court. This is a conviction that will permanently appear on driving record. It is a conviction that will permanently appear on your criminal record. Points will be assessed against your license. The number of points will depend upon the type of police officer that gave you your speeding ticket in Greenwood, Missouri. Expect for your insurance premium costs to rise. Employers looking to hire increasingly look at driving records. Employers look at criminal records. Landlords, banks, and loan officers also look to these records. The cleaner your record is; the better off you will be.
What a Greenwood Traffic Lawyer can do for you
A Greenwood traffic ticket lawyer can amend your speeding ticket to a non-moving violation. This will not be a guilty plea to any crime. Points will not be assessed against your driver’s license. No notation will be made on your criminal record. You will pay more.
What kind of police officer gave you your speeding ticket MATTERS
Four types of law enforcement officers give speeding tickets in and around Greenwood, Missouri.
First, the Missouri State Highway Patrol drives along the highways, namely 150 Highway, and its adjoining roads. Highway Patrol traffic tickets go to the Circuit Court of Jackson County at Independence.
The second type of police officer that gives traffic tickets in Greenwood is a Jackson County Missouri Sheriff’s Deputy. Deputies patrol anywhere in Greenwood inside the city limits or outside, north of the Cass County border. Jackson County Sheriff tickets go to Jackson County Municipal Court in Independence.
The third type of law enforcement officer who gives Greenwood traffic tickets is a Cass County Missouri Sheriff’s deputy. Part of Greenwood lies within Cass County. These citations go to the Circuit Court of Cass County at Harrisonville. However, note, the Sheriff’s traffic tickets do not go to the State Prosecutor’s Office, but rather the County Prosecutor (not elected, but hired). It is unusual to have either a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper or a County Sheriff give Greenwood speeding tickets.
The vast majority of speeding tickets out of Greenwood Missouri are handed out by the fourth type of police officer, that being the Municipal Police Department of Greenwood. Those citations go to Greenwood Municipal Court.
How Much are Greenwood Municipal Court Fines and Court Costs?
Speeding ticket costs in Greenwood are as follows:
1 to 10 miles per hour over the posted speed equals $103.00
11 miles per hour over the posted speed equals $109.00
12 miles per hour over the posted speed equals $115.00
13 miles per hour over the posted speed equals $121.00
14 miles per hour over the posted speed equals $127.00
15 miles per hour over the posted speed equals $133.00
16 miles per hour over the posted speed equals $139.00
17 miles per hour over the posted speed equals $145.00
18 miles per hour over the posted speed equals $151.00
19 miles per hour over the posted speed equals $157.00
These fines will change if you hire a Greenwood traffic attorney to amend your citation down to a non-moving charge. Your court costs of $26.50 should remain equal whether an attorney handles it or whether you pay it yourself. However, expect to pay $225.00 for your fine to have a Greenwood traffic lawyer amend your citation down.
Do I have to Personally Go to Greenwood Municipal Court?
Court is held on Tuesday evenings. You will not need to show up for court if you hire a lawyer. You must show up for court if you do not hire a lawyer.
How Many Points will I Lose Off My License if I just Pay my Greenwood Speeding Ticket?
A Greenwood Municipal Court speeding violation will assess two points against your license if you merely pay it and do not hire a Greenwood traffic lawyer. Speeding tickets from a Sheriff’s Deputy are assessed two points off one’s driver’s license. A speeding ticket from a Missouri State Highway Patrol Officer is three points off one’s driver’s license.
Hiring a Greenwood lawyer will help keep your insurance premiums low.
A number of studies have been done by the insurance industry and government to determine whether pleading guilty and getting convicted of a traffic ticket, like a Greenwood speeding ticket, will raise your insurance rates. It was traditionally the view that this may or may not raise rates. The studies have shown that a conviction of even a municipal speeding ticket always raises insurance premium costs.
This insurance cost rise is typically as follows.
- 11% rise in insurance prices for 1 to 14 miles per hour over speeding
2. 12% rise in insurance prices for 15 to 20 miles per hour over speeding
- 15% rise in insurance prices for speeding tickets over 30 miles per hour over the limit.
How Much will I Pay if I Hire a Greenwood Traffic Lawyer?
Amending a speeding ticket down in municipal court should cost between $325.00 and $400.00, depending upon the circumstances. This is attorney’s fees, court costs, and fines, combined.
How does the Cost of a Traffic Ticket With an Attorney Compare to the Cost Without an Attorney?
Short Term: With the added cost of the lawyer’s fee, plus the higher fine from the court, plus court costs, to amend a speeding ticket in Greenwood should cost you between $110.00 and $200.00 more than just paying and getting convicted.
Long Term: Now, look to how much you pay your auto insurance and compare your insurance cost over time with a regular rate rise of 11% to 15%. This is the money savings from hiring the lawyer.
Money Wise: is it always better to Hire a Traffic Lawyer?
If you pay to carry auto insurance, it is always in your best interest to amend the speeding ticket down. This is before the added punishments of losing a clean driving record, losing a clean criminal record, and potentially suspending your driver’s license.
Who is the Best Traffic Lawyer for a Greenwood Ticket?
The closest lawyers to Greenwood Municipal court are Hamilton and Associates of Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Their telephone number is 816-540-4040. Their website is law-kc.com. They are located at 216 North Highway 7, Pleasant Hill, MO 64080.
Matt Hamilton, their chief traffic lawyer, regularly practices in Greenwood, Missouri and can amend speeding tickets more efficiently than other lawyers. Mr. Hamilton can also answer questions when multiple tickets are received or more serious violations have occurred.
Trial lawyer Matt Hamilton graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 1995 with Science degrees in Logistics, Marketing, and Business Administration.
Matthew J. Hamilton
Juris Doctor & Crypto Lawyer
