FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When you’re pulled over for a traffic violation, whether guilty or not, you have two options—fight or comply with the consequences of the charge. However, before making the decision, it’s important to know what to expect either way.

When you choose to fight the ticket (or arrest), you’ll need to prove your innocence in court. This means that you’ll need the help of an experienced traffic defense attorney. Thankfully, that help is easy to find in the Easley Law Firm. Darwyn Easley has the knowledge and drive to help you build a strong defense, no matter the charge. He’ll make sure that the court doesn’t take advantage of you or force you to adhere to exaggerated penalties.

On the other hand, when you choose to accept the consequences of the violation, you may be subject to more than you bargained for.

Satisfying a Court Requirement

In most cases, when you are given a citation or ticket for a minor traffic violation (speeding, running a stop sign, broken headlight, etc.), you’ll be required to pay a fine. However, if the charge is more serious (vehicular endangerment, DUI, incompetence, etc.) your penalty will be more severe. One such penalty that the court may delegate is requiring you to take a driving safety course.

If a safety course is ordered, you’ll need to do the following in order to successfully satisfy the requirement:

• At your hearing, make your wishes known as to whether you’ll be fulfilling the course online or at a driving center. *Note: even though you can take the course online, you must take your final exam at an approved testing center.
• Choose the most convenient facility near you, within the state of Virginia.
• Schedule an appointment to take your final exam.
• Enroll in an accredited course and complete the entirety of the driver improvement program.
• Once the online portion of the course is completed, go to your chosen approved testing facility and prepare to take your final exam.
• At the testing center, log in to your course profile and take your exam.
• You have the option of retaking your exam as many times as you need in order to pass. However, if you’re unable to pass on your first try, you must wait until the next day to retake it.
• Once you have successfully completed the course AND passed the final exam, you’ll receive your completion certificate.
• It is then your responsibility to send a verified copy of the certificate to the court by the deadline the court provided at your hearing.
• Contact the court a few days after sending in your certificate to make sure that your document was received and that your obligations are fulfilled to satisfy the violation charges.

If you are facing a serious traffic violation charge and are unsure as to how to proceed, contact our office for more information. We're here to help!

Related Links: What happens when an undocumented immigrant is caught driving without a license? What are some possible defenses for fleeing the scene of an accident? Penalties for Leaving the Scene of an Accident

1. Always be calm and cool.  Always control your words, tone of voice and body language.
2. You have the right to remain silent.  This is arguably one of your most important rights and often the least exercised.  Do not talk.
3. You have the right to refuse searches.
4. You do not have to let police into your home without a search warrant.
5. Police can lie to you.  Do not be tricked or intimidated into waiving your rights.
6. Determine if you are being detained by police or if you are free to leave.
7. Do not expose yourself to police by being a public nuisance.
8. Do not run from police.
9. State your rights, but never touch police or physically resist.
10. Report police misconduct.

These rules are taken from www.flexyourrights.org.  They have an excellent 40-minute DVD entitled 10 Rules for Dealing with Police that can be viewed on YouTube.  They also have a similar DVD entitled BUSTED: The Citizens Guide to surviving Police Encounters.