Manatee County Traffic Attorney

Traffic ticket Attorneys serving Bradenton, Florida

Manatee County Florida is located on the west coast of Florida below Tampa and Hillsborough County. Manatee county is in the twelfth judicial circuit which encompasses Sarasota, Manatee, and Desoto County. Manatee county has a brand new courthouse located at 1051 Manatee Avenue West downtown Bradenton, Florida.

The Manatee county sheriff is the largest police department in the county. The Florida Highway Patrol responds to the crashes in the county. Other law enforcement agencies include the Bradenton, Palmetto, and Longboat Key police departments. All law enforcement is proactive with traffic enforcement and often enforce speeding, red light running, careless driving, and failure to yield with an accident. Police use laser, radar, aircraft and speedometer paces to clock vehicles.

Interstate 75 passes through Manatee County and State Road 64 and State Road 70 makes it easy to travel across the State of Florida.

The Manatee county clerk of court is very progressive with technology and was one of the first offices in the state to create a website to view court images.

Manatee County is located in south Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Manatee County has 327,142 residents as of 2011. The largest city in Manatee County is the county seat of Bradenton. Major landmarks in Manatee County include the De Soto Memorial Speedway, Clearwater Lake, Gilly Lakes, Lake Manatee State Park and Rye Wilderness Park.

Law Enforcement and Circuit Courts in Manatee County

When you drive in Manatee County, you can be cited for city, county and state traffic violations. City law enforcement in Manatee County includes the Bradenton Police Department, Bradenton Beach Police Department, Holmes Beach Police Department and Palmetto Police Department. County traffic laws are managed by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. The Florida Highway Patrol is responsible for managing state traffic laws in Manatee County.

Manatee County is part of Florida’s Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court. The Manatee County courthouse, including traffic court, is located at 1115 Manatee Avenue West in Bradenton, Florida.

Manatee County has 13 circuit and county court judges. The judges are

* Judge George K. Brown, Jr. (County Civil/Criminal Division 4)

* Judge Scott M. Brownell (Juvenile/Dependency Section)

* Judge Peter A. Dubensky (Major Trail Division T)

* Judge Janette Dunnigan (Circuit Civil Division D)

* Judge Robert A. Farrance (County Civil/Criminal Division 1)

* Judge Marc B. Gilner (Circuit Family/Division 3)

* Judge K. Douglas Henderson (County Civil/Criminal Division 2)

* Judge Thomas Krug (Circuit Criminal Felony I)

* Judge John F. Lakin (Circuit Criminal Felony III)

* Judge Diana Moreland (Circuit Civil Division B)

* Judge Edward Nicholas (Circuit Criminal Felony V)

* Judge Mark Singer (County Civil/Criminal Division 3)

* Judge Gilbert Smith, Jr. (Circuit Family Division 4)

Many drivers choose to pay their tickets because the Manatee County court system is too complex to navigate. A Manatee County traffic lawyer works with the county court system every day. A traffic lawyer manages your case, and works to negotiate the best outcome for you.

Traffic Tickets in Manatee County

Law enforcement in Manatee County issues civil and criminal traffic tickets for moving and non-moving violations. Civil violations include

* Speeding

* Careless driving

* Toll violations

Criminal violations are more severe in nature, and include

* Driving under the influence

* Leaving the scene of an accident

* Reckless driving

A Manatee County traffic lawyer understands the city, county and state traffic laws. A traffic lawyer knows how to fight your Manatee County traffic ticket.

Options for Manatee County Traffic Tickets

If you receive a traffic ticket in Manatee County for a civil moving violation, you can pay the ticket, fight the ticket or attend traffic school. A traffic lawyer explains the pros and cons of each option so that you feel confident about the outcome.

When you pay your Manatee County traffic ticket, you admit that you are guilty of the offense. You are subject to fines and administrative fees. The offense is recorded on your driving record, including the applicable points.

Fighting your ticket alone in court can be an anxious and confusing experience. A traffic lawyer gathers evidence for your case, and works to find ways to prove your innocence.

If you receive a Manatee County traffic ticket for a criminal violation, you are required to go to court. Criminal charges carry significant consequences. A Manatee County traffic lawyer analyzes your case, and finds ways to win the case or reduce the charges.

A traffic lawyer works with the court to dismiss or lower your charges if you attend traffic school. By attending traffic school, you avoid having points added to your record, and your insurance premiums will not increase. In some cases, attending traffic school reduces your fines.

Florida’s Points System

If you are found guilty of a traffic violation in Manatee County, points are added to your driving record. When you have 12 or more points on your record, your driving privileges are suspended or revoked. Employers in Florida monitor the driving records of their employees, and you could lose your job. Insurance companies are allowed to raise the premiums of drivers who have too many points on their driving records. The increases can last up to three years.

A Manatee County traffic lawyer helps your protect your driving record.

If you have a Manatee County traffic ticket, call our law firm to discuss your case.