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Ticketed while passing through
Plenty of the drivers I help were only passing through: on the way to the Hills, a rally, a hunting trip, or home from one. The ticket follows you home. Here’s how to keep it from costing more than it should.
Gunnar Wahlquist, DUI and traffic lawyer5 min read
Before you drive on
Read the ticket for three things: the charge, the court, and the date. Take a photo of both sides. If the officer said you could pay it by mail, that is still a guilty plea.
It will reach your home state
Most states share driving records with each other. A conviction here can add points or other consequences on your license at home, under your home state’s rules.
What a local lawyer can do
- Appear for you at many hearings, so you don’t have to drive back
- Talk with the prosecutor about the charge
- Tell you what the conviction would mean before you pay
- Keep you posted by phone or email
When you do need to come back
Some charges, like reckless driving or DUI, may need you in court at some point. If so, you’ll know the dates well ahead, and we’ll keep the trips to as few as the case allows.