Song0330
12-03-2010, 11:36 PM
I'm very surprised that this thread hasn't already been created. As a "spirited driver" myself, I have been accused of committing traffic infractions by various law enforcement officers throughout the area, and most of them have issued citations against me (the only warnings I have ever gotten were whenever I was driving to/from work in a prior life as a security officer).
As a young, male driver, the insurance industry is already working against me, and I don't need infractions on my record raising my premiums. I'm not naive enough to believe I can defend myself against a traffic ticket from reading a DIY book, and I've always hired a traffic lawyer to defend me. Here are my experiences, and I invite you to add your own.
Mitch Greene (last used 2003)
http://www.speedinginseattle.com 206-760-9822
$300 speeding ticket, $450 for negligent driving second degree
Hired Mitch twice. He didn't personally show for the hearings but had other attorneys in attendance. Mostly successful - the only ticket not dismissed was a 90+ in a 60 due to a RELENTLESS prosecuting attorney. It was reduced to 61 in a 60 with a small fine.
Theodore (Doug) Silva (last used 2004)
no website, 206-772-2225
$xx ?
Hired Doug once for myself and once for my mother. Charges dismissed. The cases weren't quite as memorable, but I suppose that's a good thing!
Christopher Small (CMS Law Firm) (last used 2010)
http://www.fightyourseattletrafficticket.com 206-651-4245
$250 speeding ticket, $350 negligent driving second degree, +$50 each additional infraction
Chris seems to be new on the scene, as I was not able to find any reviews or mentions about him in other car forums' traffic lawyer threads. Wasn't too excited about hiring someone with no reputation on the scene and a generic-looking website, but I took a leap of faith to give a new guy a chance (and because he was the cheapest). Very professional younger guy, called me personally after I submitted a consultation form on the website. This was the first hearing that I did not attend as I slept through it (not required - any of these lawyers are actually surprised if you show up). Charges dismissed! And coincidentally on the same day, I received a handwritten holiday card from him in the mail. Excellent client service - hope this review helps him show up in those Google searches!
In all of the traffic court hearings I've sat through, I've only ever witnessed ONE person successfully defend him/herself - the other DIYers went down in flames. I highly recommend you always hire an attorney - failing that, go for a deferment. At the start of every contested hearing, the judge will ask if anyone wants to take a deferment and save themselves from the hearing - DO IT. You only have this one chance to take the deferment, if you don't accept it at that time then it is too late.
As a young, male driver, the insurance industry is already working against me, and I don't need infractions on my record raising my premiums. I'm not naive enough to believe I can defend myself against a traffic ticket from reading a DIY book, and I've always hired a traffic lawyer to defend me. Here are my experiences, and I invite you to add your own.
Mitch Greene (last used 2003)
http://www.speedinginseattle.com 206-760-9822
$300 speeding ticket, $450 for negligent driving second degree
Hired Mitch twice. He didn't personally show for the hearings but had other attorneys in attendance. Mostly successful - the only ticket not dismissed was a 90+ in a 60 due to a RELENTLESS prosecuting attorney. It was reduced to 61 in a 60 with a small fine.
Theodore (Doug) Silva (last used 2004)
no website, 206-772-2225
$xx ?
Hired Doug once for myself and once for my mother. Charges dismissed. The cases weren't quite as memorable, but I suppose that's a good thing!
Christopher Small (CMS Law Firm) (last used 2010)
http://www.fightyourseattletrafficticket.com 206-651-4245
$250 speeding ticket, $350 negligent driving second degree, +$50 each additional infraction
Chris seems to be new on the scene, as I was not able to find any reviews or mentions about him in other car forums' traffic lawyer threads. Wasn't too excited about hiring someone with no reputation on the scene and a generic-looking website, but I took a leap of faith to give a new guy a chance (and because he was the cheapest). Very professional younger guy, called me personally after I submitted a consultation form on the website. This was the first hearing that I did not attend as I slept through it (not required - any of these lawyers are actually surprised if you show up). Charges dismissed! And coincidentally on the same day, I received a handwritten holiday card from him in the mail. Excellent client service - hope this review helps him show up in those Google searches!
In all of the traffic court hearings I've sat through, I've only ever witnessed ONE person successfully defend him/herself - the other DIYers went down in flames. I highly recommend you always hire an attorney - failing that, go for a deferment. At the start of every contested hearing, the judge will ask if anyone wants to take a deferment and save themselves from the hearing - DO IT. You only have this one chance to take the deferment, if you don't accept it at that time then it is too late.