There are two basic types of traffic tickets that are issued by Detroit police and Michigan State troopers in Detroit, Michigan: civil infractions and misdemeanors. For Detroit Michigan civil infractions and misdemeanor traffic offenses, the cases are resolved at the 36th District Court which is located at 421 Madison Street, Detroit, Michigan 48226.
Civil infractions are issued by police officers and Michigan State troopers for alleged violations of traffic laws such as: Limited Access Speed, Speeding, making an Improper Turn, Disobeying a Traffic Control Device (running a red light), etc., which are non-criminal in nature and you have the option of resolving by making a timely payment of the scheduled fine. The problem with not fighting the ticket and just paying the fine to the Court before the deadline is that points are usually assessed for the traffic violation (depending upon the nature of the ticket), and the violation in most cases becomes permanently entered onto your driving record even though the points go away with time. Having traffic violations entered onto your driving history can lead to an increase in the cost of your car insurance, losing driving privileges altogether for a period of time (if you obtain too many points), employment/job issues (if your job requires driving), and the reduction of the possibility that a police officer will give you a break in the future for traffic stops.
Traffic misdemeanors are low level criminal offenses for alleged conduct such as Reckless Driving, Drinking and Driving (OUI, DUI, OWI, DWI, Super Drunk, Zero Tolerance Violation), Open Intoxicants in a Motor Vehicle, Driving While License Suspended (DWLS), Failure to Stop at a Property Damage Accident, etc., which require an appearance in Court before a Judge to address the specified misdemeanor. Traffic misdemeanors can result in problematic consequences such as receiving a jail sentence, being placed on probation with conditions, driver’s license sanctions (for some offenses), damage to your reputation, and having a permanent criminal record that in many cases cannot ever be expunged.
There are several felony related traffic matters for offenses such as Unlawfully Driving Away an Automobile (UDAA), OUIL 3rd Offense, Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, OUIL Causing Serious Injury or Death, and Fleeing and Eluding Police, etc., which are charged in most cases with the filing of a complaint by the prosecutor’s office with jurisdiction over the case (after a swear to occurs before a Judge) and not by the issuance of a traffic ticket. Traffic felonies can result in many problematic consequences such as serving a jail or prison sentence, being placed on probation with conditions, driver’s license sanctions, damage to your reputation, and having a conviction that cannot be expunged in the future. Because s felony traffic accusation requires experienced representation from a talented, aggressive, and dedicated felony traffic defense attorney, the smart decision is to hire a lawyer to represent you. Felony related traffic charges that allegedly occur in Detroit Michigan are initially scheduled at the 36th District Court, and are transferred (“bound over”) to the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice if a probable cause determination is made at a preliminary examination or a waiver or the same.
If you receive any traffic violation (civil infraction, misdemeanor, or felony) you have the right and opportunity to hire the lawyer of your choice to contest it. If you make a timely demand for your civil infraction (before a “default” is entered), you have the right to a contested hearing in Court to challenge whether or not it was established by a preponderance of the evidence that the alleged civil infraction occurred. The hearing scheduled is either an “informal hearing” (which does not involve lawyers – only yourself, the police officer/Michigan State trooper, and the Court magistrate or Judge) or a “formal hearing” (where lawyers are involved to either litigate or negotiate (attempt to plea bargain) the ticket in Court). In many Detroit Michigan cases an excellent result can be reached through having a lawyer appear on your behalf.
For all misdemeanor and felony charges, you have fundamental Constitutional rights that cannot be denied, such as the right to a trial where the prosecution has the sole burden of proving his or her case at trial beyond a reasonable doubt with competent evidence. An extremely bad choice when it comes to any misdemeanor or felony traffic allegation is to represent yourself in Court without legal counsel. Someone who chooses not to have an experienced attorney is at a complete disadvantage because the Court will hold them to the same standards as an attorney, and they are opposed by an assistant prosecutor or city attorney who has many years of training and experience in the Michigan rules of evidence, Michigan criminal procedure, Michigan case and statutory law, direct and cross examination of witnesses, and the methods and ways of conducting a trial. You can request a court appointed lawyer (if you are too poor to retain your own legal counsel), when you get to Court and hope that court appointed counsel is passionate, and dedicated enough to fight for the right result, or choose to hire a highly referred and preferred lawyer, like attorney Daniel Hilf, who truly has your best interests at heart.
For any civil infraction, misdemeanor, or felony traffic offense for a Detroit Michigan ticket or criminal charge, the recommended attorney to retain is Daniel Hilf, because he has the necessary experience practicing before Judges and magistrates of the 36th District Court to demand justice and/or a great result. You can contact attorney Daniel Hilf to discuss your ticket or criminal case today to acquire the legal representation that you need.