Traffic Violations Defense

Many people assume that traffic violations are not worth fighting, that it is easier to just pay the ticket and move on. That assumption can be costly. In Michigan, even a seemingly minor traffic conviction adds points to your driving record, can trigger a license suspension, and causes your insurance premiums to increase, often for years. For drivers who already have points or prior violations, a single additional conviction can push them over the threshold for a suspension. An attorney who knows local traffic courts can often get charges reduced or dismissed in ways most drivers do not realize are possible.

Traffic Violations We Handle

• Speeding: civil infraction; points range from 2 (1-5 mph over) to 4 points (16+ mph over posted limit)
• Reckless Driving: MCL 257.626; misdemeanor; up to 93 days in jail; 6 points
• Careless Driving: MCL 257.626b; civil infraction; 3 points
• Running Red Lights / Stop Signs: civil infraction; 3 points
• Improper Passing / Lane Changes: civil infraction; 2-3 points
• Failure to Stop for a School Bus: misdemeanor; 6 points; up to $500 fine
• Driving While License Suspended (DWLS): MCL 257.904; misdemeanor; up to 93 days (first offense); 2 points
• No Insurance / Operating Without Valid Insurance: MCL 500.3102; misdemeanor; fines up to $500 and license suspension
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident: MCL 257.619; misdemeanor to felony depending on injury
• Street Racing: MCL 257.626b; serious misdemeanor; 6 points
• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Violations: violations on a CDL record carry enhanced consequences for professional drivers
• Point Accumulation / License Suspension Appeals: challenging automatic suspensions based on point totals

How Michigan’s Point System Works

Michigan assigns points to your driving record for moving violations. Points remain on your record for 2 years from the date of conviction. Accumulating 12 or more points within a 2-year period triggers a license suspension. Accumulating 8-11 points results in a warning letter and potentially a Driver Reexamination. Even if you are below the suspension threshold, each point adds up and affects your insurance rates, which are calculated based on your full violation history.

For most civil infractions, you have three options: pay the ticket (admitting responsibility and accepting the points), appear in court and contest the infraction, or negotiate for a reduced charge that carries fewer or no points. The third option, which most drivers do not pursue on their own, is often the most productive, particularly for drivers with clean records or for infractions where the circumstances are disputed.

Why Traffic Cases Are Worth Fighting

Michigan insurance companies review your driving record when you renew your policy. A single 4-point speeding conviction can increase your annual premium by hundreds of dollars, often for three or more years. For commercial drivers, traffic convictions can affect CDL eligibility and employment. For drivers already near the suspension threshold, one more conviction can mean losing your license entirely. The cost of hiring an attorney for a traffic matter is frequently less than the cumulative insurance increase a conviction would cause.

How Chris Approaches Traffic Cases

Chris handles traffic matters in the 15th District Court in Ann Arbor and courts throughout Washtenaw County and surrounding areas. He knows the local prosecutors and how these cases are handled procedurally, and he pursues reductions to non-moving violations where possible, which eliminates points and minimizes the insurance impact. For misdemeanor traffic offenses like reckless driving or DWLS, he provides the same thorough defense he brings to every criminal matter.