Searching For Rochester Michigan's Best Traffic Ticket Lawyer?
There are 2 types of traffic tickets in Michigan for which a traffic defense lawyer is recommended: civil infractions and misdemeanors. For Rochester Michigan civil infractions and misdemeanors, the cases are filed and heard at the 52-3rd District Court which is located at 700 Barclay Circle in the city of Rochester Hills, Michigan 48307.
Civil infractions are issued for alleged driving violations such as Speeding, Disobeying a Traffic Control Device, Improper Lane Usage, Careless Driving, Improper Turn, etc., which are non-criminal in nature and you have the option of resolving it by making a timely payment of the scheduled fine. The problem with simply paying a traffic ticket is that points are usually assessed to your driving record, and the traffic violation in most cases becomes permanently affixed to your driving history even though the points go away with time. Having traffic tickets in your driving history can lead to much higher insurance rates, the loss of driving privileges (if you acquire too many points), employment related issues (if your job relates to transportation), and the reduction of the chances of a police officer cutting you a break in the future for a traffic stop.
Misdemeanors are lower level criminal offenses alleged conduct such as Drunk Driving (OWI, DWI, OUIL, DWI, etc.), Driving While License Suspended (DWLS), Open Intoxicants in a Motor Vehicle, Failure to Stop at a Property Damage Accident, etc., which mandate an appearance in Court before a Judge to address the allegation. Traffic related misdemeanors can result in bad personal consequences such as having a permanent (non-expungable) criminal record, potential jail, probation with conditions, driver's license sanctions (for some offenses), and damage to your reputation.
There are several felony charges that are traffic related such as OUIL Causing Serious Injury or Death, OUIL 3rd Offense, Fleeing and Eluding the Police, Unlawful Driving Away an Automobile (UDAA), Receiving and Concealing a Stolen Motor Vehicle, etc., which are charged in most cases with the filing of a complaint by a prosecutor's office (after a swear to occurs before a Judge) and not by a ticket. Traffic misdemeanors can result in bad consequences such as having a permanent (non-expungable) criminal record, potential jail or prison, probation with conditions, driver's license sanctions, and damage to your reputation. Needless to say, all felony offenses require impactful representation from an aggressive, dedicated, and zealous felony defense lawyer. Felony cases that allegedly occur in Rochester Michigan are initially scheduled at the 52-3rd District Court, and are transferred to the 6th Circuit Court if a probable cause determination is made by a Judge at a preliminary examination or a waiver or the same.
With any civil infraction, misdemeanor charge, or felony prosecution you have the right to hire the attorney of your choice to fight it. For civil infractions you have the right to a contested hearing to challenge whether or not it was established by the prosecution/police by a preponderance of the evidence that the charged offense occurred (if the request for hearing is timely made). The hearing scheduled concerning the civil infraction is either an "informal hearing" (which takes place in front of a magistrate, and does not involve lawyers) or a "formal hearing" (where lawyers are involved to litigate or negotiate the ticket, and in many cases a better result is available when you have your own lawyer helping you).
For misdemeanor and felony traffic accusations, you have Constitutional protections, rights, and guarantees such as the right to a trial by jury or by Judge (if the prosecution and Judge agree to a bench trial). The worst possible decision a person could ever make when it comes to a misdemeanor or felony traffic offense is to elect go to court without a lawyer and self represent. Someone who self represents are held to the same standard as a lawyer, and they are opposed by a prosecutor or city attorney who is highly trained in the Michigan rules of evidence, Michigan criminal procedure, Michigan law, direct and cross examination of witnesses, and conducting a trial. You can request a public defender if you are without sufficient funds to hire a lawyer, and hope that the public defender is experienced and dedicated enough to fight to help you, or you can choose to hire a trusted and experienced lawyer, like attorney Daniel Hilf, who truly has your best interests at heart.
For any civil infraction, misdemeanor, or felony traffic offense for Rochester Michigan ticket or charge, the recommended attorney is Daniel Hilf, because he has many years of extensive experience practicing before the 3 Judges and magistrates of the 52-3rd District Court. Attorney Daniel Hilf is a well known partner in the law firm of Hilf & Hilf, PLC, which is located at 1775 W. Big Beaver Road in the city of Troy, Michigan 48084 (between Crooks Road and Coolidge Highway, approximately a quarter mile east of Somerset Mall), who is available to represent you if hired.