It’s easy to get a ticket for careless driving in New Orleans and Louisiana. It’s a vague law that results in a ticket for a myriad of reasons.
La. R.S. 32:58 defines careless operation as “Any person operating a motor vehicle on the public roads of this state shall drive in a careful and prudent manner, so as not to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person. Failure to drive in such a manner shall constitute careless operation.”
Text the Traffic Ticket Lady at 504-233-8529 for a free consultation on your ticket and she will happily help you sort out your options and work to get that ticket reduced and keep your record clean.
It’s easy to mix up careless driving and reckless driving, however similar the results may be. Careless driving suggests you as the driver are unaware of the potential danger you are causing on the road. Reckless driving suggests the driver is fully aware of creating an unsafe situation on the road.
So how does one get a citation for careless driving?
Switching lanes too fast on the I-10 is an easy way to get a careless driving ticket in New Orleans. You may get a careless driving citation for speeding 15 mph over the speed limit trying to get to a Saint’s game. If you are in an accident, you may also be cited with careless driving if you are at fault. These citations can be issued regardless of getting into a collision with another driver. However you get a careless driving citation, you are highly encouraged to fight the ticket.
Costs and Consequences
You should always fight careless driving tickets because of the financial and professional implications. Just getting the ticket can cost you $300 and up for the court fees and fines. Then your auto insurance company will find out you have a careless driving citation and regardless of the context, your insurance premium will likely go up in cost. Finally, this ticket will go on your driving record. Multiple tickets on your record can result in a suspension of your license and any ticket on your record can be seen by employers who may need you to drive for work. The snowball effect of one ticket leading to additional tickets, suspended licenses, fees and fines, is real and if you pay your citation, you are pleading guilty to the charge.
So what do I do with this citation?
You can absolutely go into court yourself, appear in front of the judge, and if it’s your first offense and you are professional at the appearance, you may get the ticket reduced to a non-moving violation which will not be reported on your record. However, if this is not your first ticket or if you can’t get to court on the date you are to appear, hiring a traffic attorney is a great strategy to reduce the violation, keep it off your record, and keep your insurance premiums where they are. The court needs proof from the police officer that you were driving carelessly and a traffic attorney can speak the language of the court to pull that citation into question and get your ticket reduced. The math here is paying the fine for even one ticket can result in a higher cost now and in the future than hiring the traffic attorney today.
Get a five star rated traffic attorney in New Orleans to help you with your traffic ticket. Text the Traffic Ticket Lady at 504-233-8529 for a free consultation on your ticket and she will happily help you sort out your options and work to get that ticket reduced and keep your record clean.