Your Rights in Court

If you have been pulled over and ticketed for a moving violation in Dutchess County, NY, you shouldn’t assume you are guilty and pay the ticket. Cops make mistakes and skilled, experienced traffic ticket defense lawyers have various defense strategies they can use to get your ticket downgraded and penalties reduced. In some cases, Jonathan D. Katz, Esq., a savvy traffic ticket defense lawyer who knows Dutchess County well, will be able to get your ticket dismissed completely.

• Do not give up your day in court.
• Do not just pay the ticket and plead guilty.
• Do not ignore the ticket.

When you are in trouble, you owe it to yourself to hire the right professional to help you. When you are facing a traffic ticket that could lead to significant fines, points and loss of driving privileges, do not take a chance on just any lawyer. Choose a traffic ticket defense lawyer who has been working in and around the Dutchess County municipal courts for more than 36 years.

Mr. Katz knows the prosecutors, judges and court staffs throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley in New York. He understands which prosecutors are more willing to negotiate and which ones are less willing to make a deal. He will use his experience and knowledge of the courts and traffic laws to fight your ticket and save you time and money.

You have the right to defend yourself in a court of law: You may think it’s easier to pay the ticket and move on. Paying the ticket is the equivalent of a guilty plea. That means you pay the fines, get the points and be subjected to the massive insurance premium hikes. It doesn’t have to be that way. You have a right to your day in a Dutchess County court to defend yourself. You can tell your story to the judge and you can rely on Mr. Katz to negotiate with the prosecutor to get your charges reduced (no points) or dismissed, when possible. Rest assured, Mr. Katz will challenge everything the police officer in your case says, if the case goes to trial. He will leave no stone unturned in fighting for you.

You have the right to an attorney: Just because the Dutchess County police officer stopped you and said you were speeding or weaving or driving carelessly does not mean you are guilty. It means you are being charged with that offense. You have every right to your day in court. Your best chance of success when fighting a traffic violation is to hire the best lawyer you can for the job. Jonathan Katz has been doing this type of defense work for 36 years. He knows the court staffs – including the judges and prosecutors – in the town where you got your ticket. This will give you a great advantage. He can stand up for you in court, in most cases, so you don’t have to take time off work to fight your charges.

You have a right to a solid defense strategy: The law says you have a right to your day in court. This means you must be allowed to view all the evidence the police officers have against you. If you choose to have a trial before a Dutchess County, NY judge, you have a right to cross-examine the police officer who pulled you over and charged you. Mr. Katz will look for any opportunity to poke holes in the evidence against you. He knows cops are people and they make mistakes, too. He’ll put his experience to work for you in the courtroom.

You have the right to negotiate your charges: Many people don’t realize they can hire a lawyer to negotiate with any prosecutor in Dutchess County, NY, in an effort to get charges reduced to non-moving violations (with no points). Additionally, it’s entirely possible for Mr. Katz to convince the prosecutor that there were a mistake made and that the charges aren’t credible. He will put all of his legal know-how and experience to work for you during these negotiations.

One of the most important rights you have is that in every court in the United States, you are innocent until proven guilty. Just because you were pulled over and got a traffic ticket does not mean you are automatically guilty. Don’t give up and pay the ticket and take your penalty. Fight!

Make the call to the law office of Jonathan D. Katz, Esq. Request your consultation today to learn your rights and to find out how Mr. Katz can prepare a defense strategy to protect your driving record ad save you time and money.