Traffic Ticket Lawyers In Sarasota County, Florida
Fight your Sarasota traffic citation with a Florida Traffic Lawyer
Sarasota County, located in beautiful southwest Florida, has two courthouses. Sarasota is located in the twelfth judicial
circuit which comprises Sarasota, Manatee and Desoto Counties. The north county courthouse is located in Sarasota at 2002 Ringling Boulevard in downtown Sarasota. There is also a courthouse located in Venice at 4000 South Tamiami Trail. The law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction in Sarasota county include the Sarasota Airport Police, New College Police, University of South Florida, City of Sarasota Police, Longboat Key Police, Sarasota County Sheriffs Office, Venice police department, Florida Highway Patrol, North Port Police Department, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The police use airplanes, laser, radar, and speedometer pace to issue tickets.
Sarasota County is located in south Florida next to the Gulf of Mexico. According to the 2011 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, Sarasota County has a population of 382,213 people. The major cities in the county include North Port, Sarasota and Venice. Sarasota County is home to the Crowley Museum and Nature Center, The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art and historic Spanish Point. Natural and outdoors areas include the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota Jungle Gardens and Legacy Trail/Waterway Trail Park.
Sarasota County Law Enforcement and Circuit Courts
Law enforcement in Sarasota County is managed by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and several municipal police departments, including
* Longboat Key Police Department
* North Port Police Department
* Sarasota Police Department
* Venice Police Department
Sarasota County is part of Florida’s Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court. The county courthouse is located at 2000 Main Street in Sarasota, Florida. Traffic violations are handled by the Traffic Violation Bureau in Room 102 of the county courthouse.
Sarasota County has 16 county and circuit judges.
* Judge Donna Berlin (Circuit Criminal Felony VI)
* Judge Maryann Boehm (County Criminal/Civil – Venice/South County)
* Judge Kimberly Bonner (County Civil/Criminal Division A/Collections Court)
* Judge Rochelle Curley (Circuit Family Division 1)
* Judge Rick DeFuria (Circuit Civil Division C)
* Judge David Denkin (County Civil/Criminal Division B/DUI Court)
* Judge Deno Economou (Probate/Guardianship)
* Judge Phyllis Galen (County Civil/Criminal Division C)
* Judge Judy Goldman (County Civil/Criminal Division D)
* Judge Lee E. Haworth (Juvenile/Dependency Section)
* Judge Robert W. McDonald, Jr. (Family Division – South County)
* Judge Frederick P. Mercurio (Circuit Criminal Felony IV)
* Judge Andrew D. Owens, Jr. (Chief Judge/Drug Court)
* Judge Debra Johnes Riva (Circuit Family Division 2)
* Judge Charles E. Roberts (Circuit Criminal Felony II)
* Judge Charles E. Williams (Circuit Civil Division A)
Traffic Tickets in Sarasota County
Sarasota County traffic tickets are for moving and non-moving violations. Moving violations include
* Driving too slow, or speeding
* Failing to stop at a red light
* Operating your vehicle without using your seatbelt
* Driving under the influence
Non-moving violations include
* Operating a vehicle without proper registration
* Operating a vehicle with expired or missing license plates
* Parking your vehicle in a handicap space without a permit
A traffic lawyer helps you understand your traffic ticket and violation.
Your Options for Taking Care of Your Sarasota County Traffic Ticket
When you receive a traffic ticket in Sarasota County, you have three choices about how to handle the traffic ticket. You can
* Pay the ticket
* Attend an authorized driver improvement course
* Fight the ticket in court
Paying a fine seems like the easiest way to take care of your traffic ticket. But a traffic lawyer will explain how paying the ticket is viewed by the court system as an admission of guilt that negatively affects your driving record, and your insurance premiums.
The Point System in Florida
Traffic lawyers know how each traffic violation in Sarasota County affects your driving record. Each traffic violation adds points to your record. For example, you receive
* Three (3) points for driving 15 mph or less above the speed limit.
* Six (6) points for speeding that results in an accident.
* Four (4) points for reckless driving
When you have 12 points on your driving record, your license is suspended for 30 days. If you have 18 points added to your driving record within 18 months, your license is suspended for 90 days. Your license is suspended for 12 months when you accumulate 24 points within three years.
If you have points on your driving record, a traffic lawyer can help you find ways to remove points from your record.
With your driving privileges at risk, you should consult with a traffic lawyer before paying the fine for your Sarasota County traffic ticket. A traffic lawyer also helps you keep your insurance premiums from rising due to traffic tickets.
If you have received a traffic ticket in Sarasota County, contact our law firm to discuss your case.
