Probation is a common alternative to jail time following certain crimes. During probation, there are many requirements that must be met. One of the most common is that you’re not allowed to commit any additional crimes during your time on probation. Violating probation can lead to serious repercussions, including additional fines and jail time.
Broward Traffic Citations and Probation Violation
One of the most common questions people ask after being put on probation is whether or not traffic tickets are a serious enough of a crime to cause a violation of probation.
Technically, traffic citations are given because you did something wrong, which means you violated a law. Many probation officers require that you must inform them any time you come into contact with an officer for any legal troubles.
“Ok, so is it a violation or not? What can I expect?”
Following receiving a traffic citation, the first thing you need to do is inform your probation officer. They will want to know what happened (why you received the ticket, who you were with, how it happened, etc.) and will likely want to see the ticket as proof, so bring that with you.
Following informing your probation officer, you will be happy to know that a traffic citation will not count as a violation of probation in the vast majority of cases.
When it comes to all criminal activity, traffic citations are seen as minor infractions; more specifically, civil violations in most places.
Now, that’s not saying that the actions leading to traffic tickets aren’t dangerous, illegal, and disruptive, as they are. However, compared to many of the crimes people refer to when talking about probation violations, they are not nearly as severe.
It’s important to note that some traffic citations are considered criminal violations, instead of civil violations. Depending on where you are and what the violation was for, you could face a violation of probation.
For example, some states consider speeding tickets criminal violations once they exceed 20 mph over the speed limit.
Hager & Schwartz Can Help
While there are certain situations where a traffic citation can lead to a violation of probation, those situations are fairly uncommon. While it’s important to avoid receiving a traffic citation while you’re on probation, doing so won’t completely change your future if handled properly.
If you have concerns regarding your probation, our team at Hager & Schwartz can help today. Call our team (954) 840-8713 to learn more over a confidential consultation.