Should I pay a speeding ticket or get a lawyer?
Pay the ticket when points, insurance impact, and suspension risk are acceptable and court time is not a problem.
Get a lawyer when avoiding points, protecting insurance rates, or minimizing a suspension risk is the priority, or when court attendance is difficult. In New York City TVB cases, plea bargaining generally is not available, so strategy depends on the evidence, the driving record, and the potential penalties. Attorney fees often approximate the fine but can prevent long-term insurance costs.
Key Things to Know:
- Get a lawyer when avoiding points, protecting insurance rates, or minimizing a suspension risk is the priority, or when court attendance is difficult
- In New York City TVB cases, plea bargaining generally is not available, so strategy depends on the evidence, the driving record, and the potential penalties
- Attorney fees often approximate the fine but can prevent long-term insurance costs
Whether hiring counsel makes sense usually comes down to the cost of the fee versus the cost of points, higher insurance, and the burden of handling the case alone.