Under 21 and Received a Ticket?

Traffic tickets happen to the best of us. There are very few people who have not been stopped by a police officer, whether it be for Speeding, Failure to Yield, or even Following too Closely.  The consequences of receiving a traffic ticket in Georgia vary depending on the severity of the traffic offense, as well as on the motor vehicle history of the driver. Georgia law may assess points on your license that can cause insurance increases, and will even suspend your driver’s license depending on the offense. However, there is nobody who is affected more harshly with a traffic ticket than a young driver. Drivers under the age of 21 are treated differently than adult drivers, and drivers under the age of 18 are treated even more severely than that.  

Mandatory Suspensions

There are certain mandatory suspensions for drivers under 21 years of age:

• Hit and run or Leaving the scene of an accident
• Racing on highways or streets
• Speeding
• Fleeing or Attempting to Elude
• Reckless driving
• Improper passing
• Unlawful passing of a school bus
• Aggressive driving
• Driving Under the Influence

It can get worse

The suspensions for an under 21 driver are a minimum period of 6 months. In these scenarios, there is no limited permit for work or school available. If you get two or more of the more serious traffic tickets when you are under 21 years old, your license is suspended for a full 12 months. Thus, if you are a young driver charged with a traffic offense, it is imperative to have an attorney represent your interests in negotiating your case to a reduced charge that will not have the same affect on your driving privileges.

If you are a driver between the age of 15 and 17, Georgia law can be even more harsh. In addition to the above offenses that can suspend your license, even minor tickets can suspend your license when you are under 18 years old and still in high school. This is based on Georgia law that suspends young drivers’ licenses after only 4 points in a 12 month period. This can mean just 1 speeding ticket can suspend your license.

What’s next?

There are several options if you are a young driver in Georgia facing traffic offenses. Diversion programs allow young drivers to complete a driving course or community service in exchange for a dismissal of the ticket. Defense attorneys can negotiate with the prosecuting attorney to reduce the charge to fit within another charge that does not suspend your license or raise your insurance. If you or a young driver you know has been charged with a traffic ticket in Georgia, call us today for a free consultation. We have represented young drivers all over Metro Atlanta and Georgia with insurmountable success. 404-581-0999.