There are 2 types of traffic tickets for which legal counsel is recommended: civil infractions and misdemeanors. For Auburn Hills civil infractions and misdemeanors, the cases are handled 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, improper lane usage, improper turn, etc., which are non-criminal and you have the option of resolving by making a timely payment of the scheduled fine. The problem with simply paying a fine is that points are usually assessed, and the violation in most cases becomes permanently affixed to your driving history even though the points go away with time. Having traffic offenses on your driving history can lead to higher insurance rates, losing driving privileges (if you acquire too many points), potential employment issues (if your job relates to transportation), and the reduction of the chances of a police officer cutting you a break for traffic stops that occur in the future.
Misdemeanors are lower level criminal offenses alleged conduct such as Drinking and Driving (DUI, OUI), Driving While License Suspended (DWLS), Open Intoxicants, Failure to Stop at a Property Damage Accident, etc., which mandate an appearance in court to address the allegation. Traffic related misdemeanors can result in negative consequences such as having a criminal record, jail, probation with conditions, driver’s license sanctions (for some offenses), and damage to your reputation.
There are several felony related traffic matters for offenses such as OUIL Causing Serious Injury or Death, OUIL 3rd Offense, 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 related felonies can result in negative consequences such as having a criminal record, jail or prison, probation with conditions, driver’s license sanctions, and damage to your reputation. Needless to say, a felony traffic offense requires representation from an experienced, aggressive, and zealous felony traffic defense lawyer. Felony related traffic matters that allegedly occur in Auburn Hills are initially scheduled at the 52-3rd District Court, and are transferred to the 6th Circuit Court if a probable cause determination is made at a preliminary examination or a waiver or the same.
With any civil infraction, misdemeanor, or felony traffic offense you have the right to retain the lawyer 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. The hearing scheduled 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 the ticket, and in many cases a better result is available).
For misdemeanor and felony traffic offenses, you have Constitutional protections 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 when it comes to any misdemeanor or felony traffic offense is to elect to have no legal counsel and to self represent. Someone who self represents is at a tremendous disadvantage because they are held to the same standard as a lawyer, and they are opposed by a prosecutor or city attorney who is trained in the rules of evidence, criminal procedure, Michigan law, direct and cross examination of witnesses, and conducting a trial. You can request a public defender if you are too poor to hire a lawyer, and hope that they are experienced and dedicated enough to fight for the right result, or choose to hire a trusted lawyer, like attorney Daniel Hilf, who truly has your best interests at heart.
For any civil infraction, misdemeanor, or felony traffic offense for an Auburn Hills matter, the recommended attorney is Daniel Hilf, because he has extensive experience practicing before the 3 Judges and magistrates of the 52-3rd District Court. Attorney Daniel Hilf is a partner in the law firm of Hilf & Hilf, PLC with a local office location at 3155 W Big Beaver Rd #123 in the city of Troy, Michigan 48084 (between Crooks Road and Coolidge Highway, approximately a quarter mile east of Somerset Mall).