When it comes to traffic violations in Fort Collins, our defense attorneys recommend calling an experienced law firm shortly after rolling the window down. By some estimates, even a 2-point speeding ticket in Colorado will increase your car insurance premiums from 20 to 100 percent.
In many cases, a Fort Collins defense attorney can win dismissal or reduction of traffic charges for not much more than paying the associated fines and court costs. This keeps the conviction off your record, prevents or reduces an increase in insurance premiums, and in some cases protects a driver from enhanced penalties for a subsequent violation.
Colorado Traffic Violations
Colorado law separates traffic violations into a number of classes and categories, the most common of which include:
- Class A infraction: Changing Lanes When Unsafe, Speeding from One to Twenty-Four Miles Above the Speed Limit, and Failing to Obey a Traffic Control Signal.
- Class B infraction: These are less frequently issued, and only for the most minor traffic infractions. They do not come with points on your license. Driving with an expired license is an example.
- Class 1 Traffic Offenses: Punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine, in addition to points on your license. Too many points can result in a suspended license. Offenses include speeding (25 mph over the limit in a construction, maintenance or repair zone), drag racing, careless driving. Driving Under Suspension, Driving Under Revocation, Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, and Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol or Drugs.
- Class 2 Traffic Offenses: Up to 90 days in jail and a $300 fine, as well as points on your license. Examples include speeding (25 mph over limit), driving without a license, failure to notify police of an accident, attempting to elude police, leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage.
- Felony Traffic Offenses: Failing to Remain at the Scene of an Accident Involving Serious Injury, Driving Revoked as a Habitual Traffic Offender with Aggravating Circumstances, Eluding a Police Officer with Substantial Risk of Bodily Injury, Operating a Vehicle in a Reckless Manner, or Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, Resulting in Death of Another Person.
A traffic point or assessment is a figure that is assigned to a traffic violation. The more aggravated the violation, the greater number of points it is assigned. Some examples of violations with points include:
- Leaving scene of an accident – 12 points
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs – 12 points
- Driving while ability is impaired by alcohol – 8 points
- Speed contests – 12 points
- Eluding or attempting to elude a police officer – 12 points
- Reckless driving – 8 points
- Careless driving – 4 points
- Failure to yield right-of-way – 3 points
- Speeding over posted limit 5–9 m.p.h. – 1 point
- Speeding over posted limit 10–19 m.p.h. – 4 points
- Speeding over posted limit 20–39 m.p.h. – 6 points
- Speeding over posted limit 40–or more m.p.h. – 12 points
- Failure to stop for a school bus 6 points
- Driving on the wrong side of road – 4 points
- Failure to maintain or show proof of insurance – 4 points
- Improper passing – 4 points
- Failure to observe traffic sign or signal – 4 points
- Improper turn – 3 points
- Driving through safety zone – 3 points
- Driving in wrong lane or direction on one-way street – 3 points
- Failure to signal or improper signal – 2 points
- Failure to yield to emergency vehicle – 4 points
- Improper backing – 2 points
- Failure to dim or turn on lights – 2 points
- Operating an unsafe vehicle – 2 points
Traffic Ticket Defense in Fort Collins
The Haltzman Law Firm represents motorists facing all types of traffic citations, including:
- Speeding
- Driving on a suspended or revoked license
- Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI)
- Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID)
- Driving while ability impaired (DWAI)
- Driving after revocation prohibited (DARP)
- Commercial Driver’s License Defense
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Failure to obey traffic control device
- Reckless Driving
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Careless driving causing bodily injury
- Careless driving causing death
- Vehicular homicide or vehicular assault
- Fleeing or eluding police
- Drag Racing
Our experienced Fort Collins traffic defense lawyers represent clients throughout the area, including Fort Collins, Longmont, Loveland, Larimer County, Weld County, Berthoud, Estes Park, Johnstown, Red Feather Lakes, Timnath, Wellington, Windsor, LaPorte, Bellevue, Greeley, Ault, Eaton, Severance, Nunn, Firestone, Dacono, Boulder, Winter Park, Granby, Hot Sulphur Springs, and Fraser. We represent clients in Larimer County, Boulder County, Weld County, Grand County and beyond.
Call Matthew Haltzman at the Haltzman Law Firm today at (970) 692-3440 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
