When you are charged with a traffic/criminal offense, you will eventually be required to go go Court to “answer” the charge(s) at Arraignment. In “answering” the charge, you are generally allowed two (2) options: Guilty or Not Guilty. If you plead Guilty, then the Judge will determine your punishment; in the case of minor traffic offenses, a fine will generally be imposed, and you will be required to pay the fine right there in Court. As with all other offenses, if you plead Not Guilty and the matter is not resolved with either a change of plea or a dismissal of some sort, then the matter will proceed to a trial.
However, when dealing with traffic offenses, you may also be allowed to “forfeit a bond,” which is called a Bond Forfeiture and which is usually how many Traffic Offenses are handled when a person pays his/her “fine” prior to Court.
If you pay the “fine” prior to Court, if you plead Guilty in Court, or if you are found Guilty at a trial, then points may be assessed against your Georgia license if the offense is an offense that causes points to be assessed.
However, depending upon your history and the nature of the offense, a plea of Nolo Contendere (Latin for “No Contest”) may assist you in avoiding points being assessed against your Georgia license. In addition, attendance at a Defensive Driving Course may assist in that regard as well.
Therefore, if you are concerned regarding the possibility of points being assessed against your Georgia license as a result of a Traffic Citation issued to you in Statesboro, Bulloch County, Georgia or the surrounding Counties in Southeast Georgia, you should consider consulting with an experienced Attorney who is knowledgeable of the Traffic Laws and the Court Systems in the area where you received your Traffic Citation. Joey Cowart has that experience and knowledge.
