If you have been pulled over and given a traffic ticket in Forsyth County, Georgia, there are different ways to handle the ticket. You can and must always come to court on your arraignment date (the date written on the bottom of your ticket) unless you have already disposed of your case. Forsyth County does have a traffic violations bureau that allows certain traffic tickets to be paid and closed before court.
Judges in Forsyth require everyone to appear if you have been cited for the following offenses:
- all traffic accidents
- speeding 24+ MPH
- DUI or Driving Under the Influence
- Battery
- Driving with a suspended license
- Bad Checks
- Marijuana possession
- Criminal damage to property
- Obstruction
- Fleeing and attempting to elude
- Reckless driving
- MIP, or underage possession or consumption
- No driver's license
- Vehicular homicide
The following tickets can usually be paid before the court date and do not require an appearance in court:
- Minor traffic tickets
- Seatbelt
- Defective equipment
- Speeding 0-23 MPH over
- Parking violations
- DOT and some boating offenses
Remember, the only way you can close these cases through the traffic violations bureau is to pay the fine. It is a guilty plea to the charge, so you will still have points. For example, if you call and pay a 23 mph speeding ticket before court, Forsyth County will send DDS the plea and DDS will still put 3 points on your record. This, of course, could impact your insurance and driving record.
For more information or to pay a citation, you can call (770) 781-2120.If you would like information on your traffic citation, including possible defenses and an evaluation of its severity, call our law firm at (770) 887-3720 or email us at: evan@zwdefense.com