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Got a Speeding Ticket? ­ Defend Yourself

We’ve all done it. Speed. Sometimes you’re in a hurry, another times you just aren’t paying attention to how fast you’re going. And sometimes, it just feels good to go fast. Whatever the reason, most of us have been stopped at one time or another for speeding. While speeding certainly isn’t a felony, if you’re charged and it sticks, you could be in for a lot of trouble. Depending on where you get the citation and how many speeding citations you’ve received, there could be significant fines, driving school, and a considerable hike in your car insurance.

Worst Case Scenario

In Rhode Island, your license can be suspended for speeding. Rhode Island law gives Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal Magistrates wide discretion regarding the punishment of drivers who speed. A suspended license can have a major impact on your livelihood and the well-being of your family. If you encounter a “hanging” judge, you may very well find yourself unable to drive for quite some time.

Fines for Speeding in Rhode Island

• First Offense. Speeding 1-10 mph over the speed limit: $95 fine. Speeding 11+ mph over the speed limit: an additional fine of $10 per every mile over and a minimum $205 fine. 
• Second Offense. Speeding 1-10 mph over the speed limit: $10 per mile for each mile over the speed limit. Speeding 11+ mph over the speed limit: $15 per every mile over, if within twelve (12) months of the first offense.
• Third Offense. Speeding 1-10 mph over the speed limit: $15 per mile for each mile over the speed limit and a potential 30-day license suspension. Speeding 11+ mph over the speed limit: $20 per mile for each mile over the speed limit and a potential 60-day license suspension.
• Fourth Offense. If you receive a fourth offense of speeding within 18 months, you are facing up to a 2-year license revocation and 1-year license suspension. Penalties also include up to $1,000 in fines, 60 hours of community service, and 60 hours of a driving training course.

Your Best Defense

Given the penalties, it is always in your best interests to challenge speeding tickets. Hiring a lawyer versed in the rules and penalty exceptions can significantly reduce penalties and charges. Accept charges without counsel, and you might be opening yourself up to some serious fines and other penalties. Using exceptions, including your good driving record, a good attorney can get a reduction in penalties and often a dismissal of charges.

The Calvino Law Associates Promise

If you’ve decided to contest a speeding ticket, or just need someone to advise you whether or not you should proceed, the attorneys at Calvino Law Associates are here to help. We have an impressive record in defending clients charged with speeding violations. If you’ve received a citation, don’t take it lying down. Let us fight for you. Call us at (401) 205-3733 or use our online contact form.

We serve Providence, North Kingstown, and the surrounding areas in Rhode Island.

Calvino Law Associates

373 Elmwood Ave.

Providence, RI 02907

(401) 205-3733

Criminal Defense in Rhode Island: You Want the Best Lawyer

You’re caught going a few miles over the speed limit. Getting involved with the law for minor infractions is one thing but being charged with a criminal offense is a big deal. It means being in for a lot more than an annoying court appearance and fine. Criminal charges are serious. They can be life-changing and stay on your record for years. Without proper representation, you may find yourself facing serious jail time. If you are charged with a serious crime, the first thing you need to do is hire a good criminal attorney.

Duties and Role of a Defense Attorney

The term is self-explanatory. As the name implies, it is the defense attorney’s job to defend you from the charges and see that your rights are preserved along the way. You are entitled by law to an attorney whose role includes a variety of actions, including:

• Conducting research and analyzing a case to determine a probable outcome while devising an effective strategy to defend your clients in court 
• Representing clients at arraignments, hearings, and court trials 
• Interpreting laws for clients and helping them to understand their legal options
• Presenting evidence to a judge and jury should the case go to trial 
• Developing strategies to resolve cases as favorably and cost-effectively as possible for clients 
• Constructing arguments and representing clients in all criminal proceedings 

What to Look for in an Attorney

A good attorney constantly keeps abreast of new developments in the legal field. In many instances, they attend professional meetings and seminars to keep up with the latest changes in legislation concerning the defense of clients charged with criminal offenses.

• Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree 
• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school 
• State bar admission
• Legal Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 
• Strong research and public speaking skills 
• Superior decision-making and problem-solving skills 
• Ability to work autonomously or with a team of attorneys to develop case strategies 
• Adaptable, with strong attention to detail 
• Aims to resolve cases as quickly and favorably as possible 
• Prepares and drafts legal documents, including legal briefs and appeals 
• Negotiates plea deals, punishments, and settlements 

Court Appointed Attorneys

You may not have the financial means to afford a private attorney. If that’s the case, the court will appoint one. Contrary to popular assumptions, court-appointed lawyers meet all the essential legal requirements. However, it is to your benefit to seek out the best representation possible.

What Do Defense Attorneys Charge?

The average cost for a felony defense is between $10,000 and $20,000. In Rhode Island, charges run between $150 and $450 an hour. Given what is at stake, good representation can mean the difference between long jail terms and, in some cases, suspended or abridged sentences and the best outcome of all, acquittal.

We Thrive on Criminal Defense

If you live in Rhode Island or Southern Massachusetts and are accused of a crime, don’t panic—Calvino Law Associates are here to help. Our expert criminal law attorneys will thoroughly review the details of your case and fight for the justice you deserve. Call us at (401) 205-3733 or use our online contact form. We serve Providence, North Kingstown, and the surrounding areas in Rhode Island.

Calvino Law Associates

373 Elmwood Ave.

Providence, RI 02907

(401) 205-3733

Speeding Ticket Violations in North Kingstown: The Key to Avoiding a Conviction

Whether rushing to an appointment, to the doctor, or to the emergency room; when you are pulled over by a cop, you will still get a speeding ticket.  In most situations, admitting guilt by paying the ticket is the most convenient option to move on with your life.  But what if you already have a record and with this moving violation you are facing several hundred if not thousands of dollars in lost income, or even incarceration?

In those cases, you need a speeding violations attorney that will support you and fight your case.

Speeding ticket violations are considered offenses not because of the driving itself but the implicit harm it may cause to others. Speeding twenty miles over the speed limit, running a red light, hitting a pedestrian, and killing that pedestrian is the scenario that courts imagine when looking at the speeding ticket violation. With this in mind, courts justify penalties such as license suspension, license cancellation, reinstatement fees, DMV fines, and increased insurance rates. North Kingstown, as well as the rest of Rhode Island, doesn’t use a point system when keeping track of speeding ticket violations.

Instead, they keep track of every violation and, with each passing violation, give increasingly harsher penalties. First-time offenders can have a $50 fine with their driver’s license suspended. Even the minimal punishment can have a significant effect on the way you live.

The key to avoiding a conviction is to understand, with the help of an attorney, the laws that surround speeding ticket violations. If you have been charged with a first-time offense, your attorney may be able to negotiate a “good driving statute,” meaning that the judge will drop the speeding charges because of your record of good behavior.

With this, there are steps you can take when facing a speeding ticket violations charge. By understanding the possible repercussions as well as the law will enable you and your attorney to navigate the complexities of your trial.

Tips to Prevent a Motor Vehicle Violation Conviction in Providence

Tickets are a major inconvenience. We might grumble, but in most cases, if the ticket is for a low dollar amount we find it easier just to pay and move on.

But what if the ticket was for several hundred or even thousands of dollars? Also, being charged for a motor vehicle violation can result in more than just the initial monetary loss. Penalties can include license suspension, community service, driving courses, incarceration, and an increase in auto insurance rates. Accepting these charges and paying the fine may not always be the best course of action.

So how do you go about contesting these charges in Providence, RI? Two things: immediately schedule a hearing and gather the necessary evidence.

After you receive a notification of the motor vehicle charge, you must plead “not guilty” and schedule a hearing where you can be physically present. There have been cases where individuals have scheduled hearings without looking at the address and found out at the last minute that they cannot make it to that location in time.  After they are a no-show to the hearing they themselves scheduled, they may possibly end up with a warrant out for their arrest– make sure that you do not end up like this!

Also, because courts may be booked for weeks or months in advance and rescheduling is not only difficult but may be used against you, make sure you can make it to the hearing.  Before the hearing even begins, you and a Providence motor vehicle violation attorney need to go through your case to show that your actions did not warrant the charge. Evidence can include but is not limited to photographic evidence, witness statements, and documentation that indicates mitigating circumstances. Photographic evidence could possibly show that there weren’t proper signs to indicate that you would be breaking the law by parking in a certain area or stopping at an intersection. This kind of scrutiny needs to be applied in most motor vehicle violation cases – the key is to remain vigilant.

Basically, the more evidence you have to support your case the better chance you have of getting the charges dropped. Keeping these facts in mind, you won’t have to accept the consequences of a motor vehicle violation.

What You Need to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense in Providence

“Crime doesn’t pay” is an adage often used to prevent crimes from being committed. Yet, it is an adage that plays with an assumption – that the people who commit crimes are doing so for selfish reasons that ultimately do not pan out. Often, crimes stem from a spur of the moment mistake. Or, perhaps, a situation in which the person felt that they didn’t have a choice. An experienced criminal attorney understands the mistake in this narrow perception of crime and does everything in his or her power to protect people from a lifetime of consequences.

The severity of the crime, misdemeanor or felony, will greatly influence the type of penalties you could face. Common criminal offenses are DUIs, domestic violence charges, drug offenses, shoplifting, assault, theft, arson, bribery, kidnapping, and murder. How do the courts determine which crimes warrant a felony or misdemeanor? In Providence, there are no “classes” of crimes that distinguish the severity of different crimes, but a simple rule: any crime that is punishable by more than one-year incarceration or a thousand-dollar fine is considered a felony. For many, this clear cut definition results in a felony on their criminal record.

For individuals who feel that they may be found guilty – “nolo contendre” filings are the best opportunity to prevent that. “Nolo contendre” translates to “no contest,” meaning that an individual can accept the punishment without a guilty plea on their record. With this, a defendant would only need to follow the conditions of the no contest filing in order to avoid a guilty verdict. However, keep in mind that this option is only available for first-time offenders or for misdemeanors. If the individual has been charged repeatedly, it may prove to be difficult to negotiate the “no contendre.”

With a strategic Providence criminal attorney, an individual charged with a crime can face their trial with the right tools to minimize the penalties if convicted.

What a criminal attorney can do for you

When anyone is charged with a crime, it is strongly recommended that the next move should be to hire a criminal attorney. There are tremendous benefits that come with having an experienced attorney to represent you.

First, your attorney will dispel any myths you might have about your current situation. Every criminal offense is different, and there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. Your lawyer will tell you exactly where you stand as well as offer best and worst case scenarios.

The moment you hire a criminal defense attorney, you already have an advantage. When it is time to go to court, the prosecuting attorney is less inclined to negotiate a favorable deal with a defendant who is representing himself. This holds true even in cases involving less serious criminal charges. Your attorney will give you an edge in the negotiating process, which could mean a much lighter sentence.

There are even instances when your criminal charges could be dropped altogether with the help of an attorney. Proving a lack of evidence or improper procedure could get your case thrown out. One way to get your charges dropped would be to show that the arresting officer did not have probable cause.

Familiarity with the local court system is also important. Certain prosecutors are known to have certain tendencies. Having knowledge of how they negotiate is important to your case. There are always unwritten rules in courtrooms, rules that defendants do not know about.

A qualified Providence criminal lawyer can also be of great help in the information gathering process. That includes collecting potential witnesses, hiring investigators, conducting research and inspecting documents.

If a charge winds up leading to a sentence, criminal defense attorneys can tailor sentences that are more beneficial to clients. Sentences can mean a lot to your future in terms of employment, possible expunges and more. And if there is very little chance of being found not guilty, a defense attorney could use plea bargain to get you a reduced sentence.

Criminal charges can be very serious, and you will only compound your problems by attempting to represent yourself. When charges are filed, your next move should be to find an experienced criminal attorney.

Calvino Law Associates can provide you with an attorney who will perform all the important duties required of a criminal lawyer. Our lawyers know the local court systems, including the Providence and North Kingston areas as we give you an advantage from the moment you retain our services.