I am only looking at a fine, do I still need to hire a lawyer?

I am only looking at a fine, do I need to hire a lawyer?

Hiring a lawyer to fight a fine might sound silly. A fine is far better than jail time. But what you might not realize is that many fines come with strings attached. Regardless of why you’re being fined, it’s important that you understand the implications behind paying or not paying the fine. For example, you might get a ticket and be fined for it but paying it could still result in points on your license and sky-high insurance rates down the road. Finding an attorney with experience in reducing fines is critical to ensuring you’re getting fair representation.

At Cohen & Winters we have decades of experience helping our clients navigate the legal system and bringing closure and a favorable outcome to their case. We understand how trying the legal process can be and are committed to making the experience run as smoothly as possible.

Can you help reduce fines?

We work with clients from all walks of life. And regardless of whether your fine is $100 or $10,000, you work hard for your money. We’ve seen on many occasions that we can help fight fines and get them reduced for our clients. In fact, when we fight for a client, we make their financial situation clear to the judge to help paint a picture of what the fine would mean to your bottom line. This is similar to how a bond is set. It’s almost like a sliding scale to allow for fairness.

We cannot guarantee a fee reduction, but our free consultation can help determine how we can get the most favorable outcome for you. We’ll want to learn about your case and, based on our experience, we can then advise on how we anticipate a judge or prosecutor altering their decision.

Can my lawyer control the maximum cost of a fine?

The minimum and maximum fines are set by state law. With that in mind, fines are tiered and based on whether something is a misdemeanor or felony and what level they might fall under. At Cohen & Winters, we have the experience needed to understand what the limits are on the fines you’re facing and how to best negotiate outside of those. Typically, a misdemeanor will carry a lower fee than a felony. Some of the cases we handle that come with high fines include DWI, possession of a controlled substance, and driving on a suspended license.

What else can come with being fined?

In addition to being fined, there are often additional privileges that a person may have revoked or additional punishment. For example, if you are faced with a fine for a driving infraction, you might also be facing points on your license or even having your license suspended. Individuals who hold professional licenses (like attorneys or doctors) may also face the loss of their professional license. Furthermore, there are punishment components like being forced to attend drug counseling classes, an anger management program, and prevention screening courses. Sometimes these are in conjunction with a fine, while other times your attorney might be able to negotiate no fines and instead you have to take a class or perform community service.

When we negotiate with a judge or prosecutor, we take into account what you want and what you can do (for example, some may not have time to work community service), and what is most likely to happen during negotiations.

If posed with the question, do I need to hire a lawyer? Its always a good idea to speak with an attorney. Regardless of your case, it’s important to have representation and fully understand the implications of what may or may not come from paying a fee. Our experienced traffic lawyers in New Hampshire can help you understand the allegations against you, what your fee payment entails, and what that might mean to you in the long run. Contact Us Today!