There are 2 different types of traffic tickets for which obtaining legal counsel is strongly recommended: civil infractions and misdemeanors. For Birmingham Michigan civil infractions and misdemeanors, the cases are handled at the 48th District Court which is located at 4280 Telegraph Road in the city of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302.
Civil infractions are issued by police officers for alleged driving violations such as improper lane usage, running a red light, speeding, 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 resolving the ticket by simply paying a fine is that points are usually assessed (depending upon the nature of the ticket), and the violation in most cases becomes permanently affixed to your driving history even though the points go away with time. Having traffic violations on your driving record can lead to much higher insurance rates, losing driving privileges (if you acquire too many points), potential employment issues (if your job requires driving), 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 Open Intoxicants, Drinking and Driving (DUI, OUI), Driving While License Suspended (DWLS), Reckless Driving, Failure to Stop at a Property Damage Accident, etc., which mandate an appearance in court to address the charge. Traffic misdemeanor convictions can result in negative consequences such as having a criminal record, jail, probation with strict 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 3rd Offense, OUIL Causing Serious Injury or Death, Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, 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 issuing a ticket. Traffic felony convictions can result in negative consequences such as having a criminal record, a jail or prison sentence, probation with conditions, driver’s license sanctions, and damage to your reputation. It goes without saying that a felony traffic offense requires top notch representation from an experienced, aggressive, and zealous felony traffic defense lawyer. Felony related traffic matters that allegedly occur in Birmingham are initially scheduled at the 48th District Court in Bloomfield Hills, and are transferred to the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac if a probable cause determination is made at a preliminary examination or a waiver or the same.
With any traffic violation – civil infraction, misdemeanor, or felony – you have the absolute right to retain the lawyer of your choice to fight it. For civil infractions you have the right to a contested hearing in Court to challenge whether or not it was established by the prosecution/police by a preponderance of the evidence that the charged civil infraction 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 either negotiate or litigate the ticket, and in many cases a better result can be reached).
For misdemeanor and felony traffic accusations, you have Constitutional rights and 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 criminal offense is to decide to have no legal counsel and to represent yourself. Someone who self represents is at an unbelievable disadvantage because they are held to the same standards as a lawyer, and they are opposed by a prosecutor or city attorney who has years of training and experience in the rules of evidence, criminal procedure, Michigan law, direct and cross examination of witnesses, and conducting a trial. You can request a court appointed lawyer for all criminal accusations if you are too poor to hire a lawyer, and hope that they are experienced, zealous, 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 a Birmingham Michigan matter, the recommended traffic attorney is Daniel Hilf, because he has extensive experience practicing before the 3 Judges and magistrates of the 48th District Court. Attorney Daniel Hilf is a partner in the respected law firm of Hilf & Hilf, PLC with a conveniently located office 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), who you can contact to discuss your traffic ticket.