Traffic Ticket Lawyers In Sumter County, Florida
Fight your Bushnell traffic citation with a Florida Traffic Lawyer
Sumter County is a huge county, comprising over 580 square miles. The county seat is located in Bushnell and that is where the courthouse is located. Sumter County is located within the 10th Judicial circuit. Other cities in Sumter County include Center Hill, Coleman, Webster, and Wildwood.
The Sumter County Sheriffs office is the primary law enforcement agency. In addition the Florida Highway Patrol issues citations for unlawful speed, careless driving, no valid drivers license, driving under the influence, and driving while license suspended (322.34). Interstate 75 passes through Sumter County.
The Sumter County clerk of court has a website that allows you to check your case online.
Sumter County is located in Central Florida. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of this county was 97,756 in 2011. This is a substantial gain over the 2010 Census, when the population was estimated at 93,420. There are around 547 square miles of land area with a population density of 171 persons per square mile.
People often visit Sumter County because of its agritourism. There are also plenty of parks and historical points of interest located here. A few include the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, the Florida National Cemetery and the Florida Bass Conservation Center.
Government and Courts
Sumter’s county seat is found in the city of Bushnell, and other cities of interest include Wildwood and The Villages. This county lies in Florida’s 5th Judicial Circuit. Circuit and traffic courts are located in Bushnell, which is also where the clerk of courts is located. Those who receive a traffic citation can pay at this office using check, money order, cashier’s check or a major credit card. Payments can also be made online or over the phone.
Traffic Offenses in Sumter County
Speeding results in many drivers receiving a traffic citation. When the amount of speed is 15 miles per hour or less above the posted limit, three points will be assessed against one’s driving record. That increases to four points for those who travel 16 miles per hour or more above the limit. When speeding results in an accident, it involves a six-point penalty regardless of how fast a driver was going.
Points System
The points system in Florida is significant because when drivers accumulate a certain number of points within a period of time their license will be suspended. Tickets begin being tracked with the first citation and remain on one’s driving record for a period of three years. The point thresholds that will trigger a suspension are:
*12 points within a 12-month period-License suspended for 30 days
*18 points within an 18-month period-License suspended for three months
*24 points within a 36-month period-License suspended for one year
Driver Improvement Training
There is some relief for drivers who receive traffic citations, as motorists can elect to take a driver improvement course once per year. When doing so, no points will be assessed against a driving record and the fine is reduced by about 18%. Insurance companies are also restricted from raising insurance premiums for these violations.
Limitations
Florida drivers are only allowed to take driver improvement training five times in their lifetime. Those who hold a commercial driver’s license cannot elect to take this training in lieu of accumulating points. These individuals may need to speak to a Sumter county traffic attorney to help them with their situation.
Traffic tickets can wreak havoc on an individual’s life and livelihood, especially when they result in a suspended license. Drivers who are in danger of having a suspended license should consider talking with a Brushnell traffic ticket lawyer. In some cases, these allegations can be successfully defended so that drivers will not face a suspended license or increased insurance premiums.
