Traffic Ticket Lawyers In Pinellas County, Florida

Fight your Clearwater and St. Petersburg traffic citation with a Florida Traffic Lawyer

Pinellas County is located in the Tampa Bay Area directly next to Hillsborough County. The county seat is Clearwater and is the location for the criminal justice center. With a total population of almost 1 million people, Pinellas County has a total area of 608 square miles. Pinellas County has several miles of beaches that make up the terrain of the western portion of the county. There are various police departments and municipalities located with the county. They include Belleair, Bellair Beach, Bellair Bluffs, Bellair Shores, Clearwater, Dunedin, Gulfport, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Kenneth City, Largo, Madeira Beach, North Redington Beach, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, Redington Beach, Redington Shores, Safety Harbor, Seminole, South Pasadena, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, and Treasure Island.

Primarliy patrolled by the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office, Pinellas County has a very proactive law enforcement community. The State Attorney’s office in Pinellas County is notorious for being difficult to deal with. Any reduction of any criminal charge needs to be approved through a supervisor. The Sheriffs office has their own traffic enforcement unit called the STEP or special traffic enforcement program. They issue speeding ticket, careless driving citations, and make hundreds of DUI arrests. The Florida Highway Patrol is incredibly understaffed in Pinellas County. In 2008 there are less troopers patrolling the highways then there were back in the 1970s.

There are three courthouses that handle criminal and traffic matters. The first one is located in the southern portion of the county in St. Petersburg. It is referred to as the Tyrone Branch office and is located at 1800 66th Street North in St. Petersburg, FL 33710. The north county branch is located at 29582 US 19 North in Clearwater, FL 33761. The main judicial complex address is 14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762.

The largest cities in Pinellas County are St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Largo. Landmarks in Pinellas County include Fort DeSoto Park, St. Petersburg Pier, Sunken Gardens and Heritage Park Museum.

Law Enforcement in Pinellas County

A Pinellas County traffic lawyer helps you with traffic tickets that are issued by law enforcement in Pinellas County, including

* Florida Highway Patrol

* Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

* Belleair Police Department

* Belleair Beach Police Department

* Clearwater Police Department

* Gulfport Police Department

* Indian Shores Police Department

* Kenneth City Police Department

* Largo Police Department

* Pinellas Park Police Department

* St. Pete Beach Police Department

* St. Petersburg Police Department

* Tarpon Springs Police Department

* Treasure Island Police Department

A traffic lawyer understands the civil and criminal city, county and state traffic laws issued by these agencies, and explains the violation cited on your traffic ticket, such as

* Speeding

* Driving under the influence

* Reckless driving

* Failing to obey traffic signals, such as red lights

* Improper lane changes

Speak to a Traffic Lawyer Before You Pay Your Ticket

Many drivers pay their Pinellas County traffic tickets without understanding the long-term consequences. When you pay your traffic ticket without fighting it through the legal system, you enter a guilty plea with the court. As a result, you risk

* Incurring points on your driving record

* Paying higher insurance premiums

* Having your insurance policy canceled

* Losing your driving privileges

A traffic lawyer explains all of your options, including

* Paying your ticket

* Fighting the ticket through the legal system

* Completing traffic school

Work with a Traffic Lawyer to Protect Your Driving Record

The state of Florida uses a points system to track your traffic violations. Each violation adds a specific number of points to your record. If you have more than 12 points on your record, as few as four traffic convictions, your driving privileges may be suspended or revoked by the state. Additionally, your insurance company has the right to raise your premiums for up to three years if you have any points on your record.

A traffic lawyer works with you to find a solution that protects your driving record. In some cases, a Pinellas County traffic lawyer works with the prosecutor to lower, or even dismiss, the charges.

Navigating the Pinellas County Court System

A Pinellas County traffic lawyer works in the county’s court system every day. This knowledge and expertise ensures that your case is managed in a timely and effective manner. Courts often give priority to cases with legal representation, so your traffic lawyer can get your case in front of the judge sooner than you can by working without representation.

Fighting your traffic ticket without a traffic lawyer requires you to make several trips to the court house. The Pinellas County court house is located at 315 Court Street in Clearwater, Florida. Traffic court hearings are held at the following branch locations

* North County Branch (29582 U.S. 19 North in Clearwater)

* Clerk’s Tyrone Branch (1800 66th Street North in St. Petersburg)

* Criminal Justice Center (14250 49th Street North in Clearwater)

You will also need to know which judge is overseeing your case. Pinellas County is part of Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit Court. Traffic court hearings are managed by county judges. The Pinellas County judges are

* Judge Susan Bedinghaus

* Judge Patrick K. Caddell

* Judge John Carballo

* Judge Robert Dittmer

* Judge Paul Firmani

* Judge Thomas B. Freeman

* Judge Walt Fullerton

* Judge Frank Grey

* Judge Kathleen T. Hessinger

* Judge Donald E. Horrox

* Judge Edwin Jagger

* Judge Cathy McKyton

* Judge Myra Scott McNary

* Judge William H. Overton

* Judge James Pierce

* Judge Debra Roberts

* Judge Marc A. Salton

* Judge William G. Sestak

* Judge Dorothy Vaccaro

* Judge Candy VanDercar

* Judge Anne Wansboro

If you fail to appear in court during your scheduled time, the court automatically finds you guilty of your traffic violation. A traffic lawyer navigates the Pinellas County court system for you, and appears in court with you to present your case to the judge.

Call our law firm today, and find out how we can help you fight your Pinellas County traffic ticket.