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Indiana Traffic Laws

Indiana traffic laws cover how drivers are required to behave on the road.

Though state laws define traffic offenses, the various Indiana counties have the ability to determine what the violation penalties will be. It is there crucial to consult with a traffic attorney in Indianapolis that has experience with your county’s specific traffic court.

Many individuals who receive traffic violations never bother to dispute them. They simply pay the fines and move on with their lives.

However, some traffic violations are serious and carry extremely severe consequences with them, such as high fines or suspension of driver’s license.

Individuals may feel inclined to represent themselves and fight these charges on their own, but they are unfamiliar with the court system, the law, and what legal arguments to make. While it may seem too expensive to hire an attorney to represent you in a traffic matter, you’d be surprised how much you can save by using an Indiana traffic lawyer.

In addition, your chances of reduced penalties or a completely dismissed ticket are much higher with a lawyer for traffic tickets in Indianapolis, IN.

When choosing an attorney to handle your Indiana traffic violation, you need to find the correct Indiana traffic lawyer who is adept in the courtroom and has a considerable traffic ticket defense practice.

Eskew Law represents clients in Indianapolis and Central Indiana with fighting local traffic tickets.

We will review the circumstances of your infraction, explain the law to you, discuss the potential consequences of pleading guilty to the violation, and analyze your options.

From there, we can sit down together and draft a game plan for your case.

The state of Indiana requires that all drivers on public thoroughfares, such as highways, interstates, and local streets, possess a valid driver’s license, insurance, and vehicle registration.

By deciding to drive, you accept the responsibility of following the various state traffic laws.

Even if there is a law you were unaware of or unfamiliar with, you can still be held responsible for obeying it. If you violate a traffic law, local police or state troopers have the authority to stop your car, question you, and issue a traffic ticket.

Police officers are permitted by the U.S. Constitution to stop you if they have probable cause to believe that you committed a traffic infraction.

Understanding Traffic Violations in Indiana

Even though traffic laws are civil laws with administrative penalties and not criminal offenses, you are not allowed to drive away from an officer who is attempting to pull you over. This can result in additional charges.

When you pull your vehicle over to the side of the road, the officer will tell you why he pulled you over and may ask you some questions. He will also ask for your license, registration, and insurance paperwork.

To avoid a confrontation, have these documents out already before the officer approaches your window. If you are not ready with them, notify the officer that you are going to reach into your glove compartment or wallet to grab them.

A typical Indiana traffic violation will list the exact offense you committed, such as speeding, and may include some details about the incident.

The ticket will also include the officer’s name and a court date and location, as well as a deadline if you wish to concede the infraction and pay a fine.

Speeding tickets can be tricky so, consulting with a speeding ticket lawyer at our firm can greatly help reduce or eliminate your fine.

If you decide to pay a fine or accept another administrative penalty such as traffic school, the ticket will provide instructions.

However, if you wish to contest the ticket and plead not guilty, you must appear in court on the scheduled date. Prior to this hearing, you should consult with a skilled Indianapolis traffic court attorney.

Some traffic violation penalties are severe and may even include jail time. While most traffic infractions are civil administrative violations, some are criminal in nature, such as driving under the influence.

Administrative violations do not appear on your criminal record. Rather, they appear on your driving record.

However, each traffic conviction carries points that will be assessed with your license, as well as other harsh administrative penalties. These penalties may restrict your ability to drive to work or even your freedom.

Habitual Traffic Violator

A habitual traffic violator (HTV) is an individual who commits an obscene number of traffic violations during a ten-year period. The penalty varies depending on the violations.

• Two major traffic offenses that caused injury or death = 10-year driver’s license suspension
  • Example: Vehicular manslaughter or reckless homicide caused by a hit-and-run

• Three major traffic offenses = 10-year driver’s license suspension
  • Example: DUI

• Nine traffic infractions and one major traffic offense = five-year driver’s license suspension
  • Example: Speeding

Driving While Suspended

If an HTV drives on a suspended license, the court has the power to set an additional period of suspension.

A variety of other infractions can lead to driver’s license suspension as well. For instance, accumulating a large number of points on your license or failure to carry car insurance can result in suspension.

Driving while suspended carries a $10,000 fine. If this is your second arrest in the past ten years, you can be convicted of a Class A misdemeanor.

Reckless Driving

If you operate a vehicle in a reckless manner, you can be charged with reckless driving, a Class B misdemeanor. The charge can be bumped up to a Class A misdemeanor if injury results. Reckless driving includes:

• Speeding or driving unreasonably slow in such a manner that causes danger or blocks traffic
• Cutting off other cars when visibility is low
• Swerving around other cars or passing cars when no passing lane is available
• Prohibiting another driver from passing you
• Driving past a school bus with the stop sign extended

Leaving the Scene of an Accident

If you are involved in a car accident and leave the scene, you have violated the law. You are required by Indiana law to evaluate the scene, determine if medical assistance is needed, and reasonably help anyone who needs assistance. You must then wait for authorities to arrive or summon the authorities to the scene.

When the police arrive, you are required to give them your information, including name, address, and insurance information. Leaving the scene of an accident can result in traffic tickets and even criminal charges if serious injury or death results.

CDL Licenses

The state of Indiana requires that trucks drivers with CDL licenses report any traffic violations to their employers within 30 days. In addition, their driving privileges can be restricted for up to a year if convicted of certain traffic infractions, such as driving under the influence or leaving the scene of an accident. These penalties can stop you from working and supporting your family.

Contest Traffic Violations with Indianapolis’ Premier Traffic Defense Law Firm

If you received a traffic ticket in Indiana, contact Eskew Law regardless of how major or minor the violation was. Our Indianapolis traffic court attorneys will discuss ways to reduce fines or administrative penalties or fight false charges.

We take this privilege and responsibility seriously for all of our clients throughout Indianapolis and Central Indiana. To schedule an appointment, call our Indiana traffic lawyers in Indianapolis at (317) 793-2325.