Speeding, Accidents, Driving under Suspension and Other Non OVI Suspension

If you have a traffic offense and don’t know what penalties you are facing or what can be done about the case, you should schedule a traffic consultation. For the fee of $75, We will spend up to 30 minutes covering the following topics with you via phone or skype.

1. Review of ticket
2. Discussion with Client regarding penalties possible from pending traffic charge, possible defenses available to Client, Client goals in dealing with ticket and realistic outcomes of case.
3. Review of Client’s driving record, if provided
4. Advice for Client on how to represent self in court for the traffic offense.

This service is available for clients facing charges of speeding, driving under suspension, charges resulting from an accident or other moving violations. If you know you want an attorney to go to traffic court with you or decide after a consultation that you don’t want to go alone, we can provide in court representation without a trial for a fee (this price is for cases in Lima Municipal Court and nearby courts, prices may vary for cases requiring significant travel). If you have already paid for a consultation, your payment will be credited towards the cost of in court representation. If you hire Andrea Henning Law LLC for in court representation at court, you will get the following services:

1. Consultation (as outlined above)
2. Entry of Appearance in Court on Client’s behalf
3. Conduct discovery and review Prosecutor’s response to discovery request.
4. Attend pre-trial on behalf of client
5. Enter plea on behalf of client, if necessary
6. Trial, if necessary
7. Provide Client with summary of outcome of court case. Summary includes court costs and fines and other court penalties imposed and due dates and actions necessary at BMV (Ohio residents only).

For many traffic offenses, like speed, you can just pay the ticket or the “waiver” amount by the court date listed at the bottom of the ticket. If you pay the ticket, you will be convicted of the offense and receive points on your license if points apply to the case. If you want to contest the ticket, then you will have to appear at the arraignment date or hire an attorney to enter an appearance in the case.The arraignment is the first step fighting the ticket. This is when you must appear and either enter a plea of guilty, no contest, or not guilty. You may also request a continuance to hire an attorney if you are not able to do so before the court date.

If you hire Andrea Henning Law LLC to handle the case, I will enter an appearance in the case and request a pretrial/trial date. You will not have to appear at the arraignment for a simple traffic case.

At the pretrial, the prosecutor and I will discuss your case and what plea options are available. For example, I will determine if we can negotiate a dismissal or a reduction of a case to a non moving violation.If I can negotiate a result that you are happy with, then we will conclude the case at the pretrial. If you are there at court for a pretrial, you can enter a plea that day if necessary or we can submit a written plea after you and I have had a chance to discuss the case. If I can’t reach an agreement you like, then the case will be set for trial at a later date. Most courts will allow me to handle this step without you being present.

Note: some courts skip this step and set minor traffic tickets directly for trial.

If I can’t reach an agreement with the prosecutor that you are happy with then your case will go to trial.If that is the case, I will aggressively defend your rights at trial. At trial, the prosecutor will first present the evidence against you. I will make sure that the prosecutor follows the rules of evidence and question the witnesses (usually the police officer or other driver if it is an accident) about how they determined you were speeding (or whatever the case may be) and attack their credibility and accuracy. If you would like to testify and tell your side of the story, you may, but you don’t have to. The judge will then decide if the prosecution has met their burden to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.