When someone under the age of 17 receives a traffic ticket, the Juvenile Court in the county where the offense occurred carries jurisdiction to handle it. Traffic tickets given to children under the age of 17 are classified in one of two ways. 1) Juvenile Traffic or 2) Delinquency case. Some of the most common Juvenile Traffic cases are:

·       Speeding

·       Following too Closely

·       Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device

·       Use of a Cell Phone

·       Failure to Yield

·       Failure to Maintain Lane

Certain offenses, however, are handled strictly as Delinquency cases. These offenses are treated much more serious within Juvenile Court. The following offenses are treated as Delinquency cases in Georgia:

·       Aggressive driving

·       Reckless driving

·       DUI Alcohol or Drugs

·       A speeding offense punishable by four or more points

·       Homicide by vehicle

·       Manslaughter resulting from the operation of a vehicle

·       Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used

·       Racing

·       Fleeing or attempting to elude an officer

·       Fraudulent or fictitious use of a driver’s license

·       Hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident

·       Any offense committed by an unlicensed driver under 16 years of age

On these more serious delinquency matters, the child could be ordered into temporary custody of DFCS, or if the child has prior juvenile history, or commits a felony, then he or she can be placed in an institution, camp, or other facility for delinquent children. There are several less severe ways a Judge can handle the case that do not involve the sanctions mentioned above. For example, the following dispositions are also available in Juvenile court:

·       Reprimand or order (only available for less serious tickets)

·       License suspension

·       Traffic school, Community Service, and/or a Fine

·       Substance abuse program

·       Probation

Even better, in most Juvenile Traffic cases, an informal disposition is available in most Georgia counties’ Juvenile Court. This sometimes is called Diversion or Abeyance. This means the Court does not transmit the disposition to the Department of Driver’s Services, or to the State at all. After a brief supervision period or perhaps a traffic class or community service, the child’s case is dismissed and the juvenile record can be completely sealed. 

It is important to note that the Department of Driver Services will suspend juvenile license privileges once a ticket is paid in some situations, including WITH certain speeding offenses. It is not wise to handle a juvenile traffic case without a lawyer for this reason amongst the other consequences possible within Juvenile Courts in Georgia.

If you or a loved one has received a traffic ticket and are under the age of 17, call us today for a FREE CONSULTATION on how to best proceed with your case. 404-581-0999.