Eric Skager Law helps people that have been accused or charged with aggressive driving in High Point. With a skilled traffic ticket attorney on your side, you can face the process with confidence. If you’ve been issued an aggressive driving ticket or charge, contact our firm today for a free consultation to learn more about your options.
Should You Get a Lawyer?
You can certainly try to defend yourself against a charge of aggressive driving, and you can simply accept the punishment that comes along with such a charge. However, aggressive driving can lead to hefty fines, points on your license, and even increased insurance rates. If you’ve received one and want to challenge it, you should definitely think about working with our team. Here’s what we can do for you:
- Step-by-step guidance – We’ll walk you through the entire process, so you always know what to expect.
- Reviewing evidence – We analyze speed readings, dashcam footage, witness statements, and police reports to build the strongest defense.
- Strategic defense planning – We examine the circumstances of your ticket to determine the best approach, whether it’s disputing the charge, negotiating a reduced penalty, or seeking a dismissal.
From handling paperwork to representing you in court, we work to protect your record, minimize penalties, and reduce the stress of fighting an aggressive driving ticket.
What is Aggressive Driving in High Point?
Aggressive driving is a bit of a catch-all term, but it’s based on North Carolina state law. It defines aggressive driving as:
- Speeding or violating speed-related laws, and
- Driving recklessly in a way that puts others in danger.
Obviously, this covers a lot of different potential scenarios, like:
- Running a red light
- Running a stop sign
- Illegal passing
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating another vehicle
Aggressive driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and is more serious than a simple traffic ticket. This means that if you’re charged, you could be facing:
- Judicial discretion on a fine, meaning the judge gets to decide the amount.
- A maximum of 120 days in jail.
So, although it’s just a misdemeanor charge, aggressive driving could leave you losing money and perhaps even some jail time if it’s serious enough. At that point, it’s helpful to understand the process and what you can do to defend yourself.
What’s the Process With an Aggressive Driving Charge?
Obviously, High Point police and the community is going to look at aggressive driving a bit differently than a simple speeding ticket or some other offense. There’s no way around it: aggressive driving puts everyone else on the road in danger, including you. But if you’re pulled over and issued a ticket for aggressive driving, you still have rights. Here’s how the process usually plays out:
- Getting the ticket – If an officer pulls you over for aggressive driving, they will issue a citation (a ticket) or, in more severe cases, arrest you. The citation will list the specific violations you’re charged with and provide details about your court date.
- Paying the fine (if allowed) – This is the easiest way to resolve the charge, but it means accepting guilt, which could lead to more serious consequences like jail time or a suspension of your driver’s license.
- Fighting the charge in court – If you believe the charge is unfair or want to reduce penalties, contesting the charge is your best option.
- Going to court – To challenge the charge, you must notify the court and prepare your defense. You can present evidence during this part of the process, but Having my firm can improve your chances of reducing or dismissing the charge.
Every case is different, but this is the general process for handling an aggressive driving ticket or charge in High Point. You have options to resolve it, but if you choose to fight the charge, it’s important to understand what’s required to build a strong defense
What Makes a Strong Defense Against an Aggressive Driving Charge?
Even though you have the right to a defense against an aggressive driving charge, you have to know that it might not be possible to reduce your fine or jail time if the circumstances are right. Regardless of your level of guilt, though, there are certain actions and pieces of evidence that you can use to defend against an aggressive driving charge:
- Dispute the allegations – First things first, you can dispute the allegations by saying the police officer may have misjudged the situation or made an error in seeing your driving behavior. If you can prove that the officer didn’t observe what happened correctly, this can weaken the charge.
- Present extra evidence – If you have any recordings of the incident, like from dashcam or security footage, it can be valuable in proving your innocence or showing that the situation wasn’t as aggressive as it was made out to be.
- Witness testimony – If other drivers or pedestrians saw the incident and can support your side of the story, their statements can be crucial.
- Show your intention – Aggressive driving typically involves willfully ignoring the safety of others. If you can show that your actions were not reckless or intentional–perhaps due to emergency circumstances or an unavoidable situation–you may have a case for reducing or dismissing the charge.
- Challenge other violations – Aggressive driving charges often stem from a combination of violations, such as speeding, illegal passing, or tailgating. If you can challenge the speeding ticket or other related offenses (e.g., proving the speed limit wasn’t clearly posted), you may be able to reduce the overall charge.
- Find errors – If there’s an error in the ticket or the officer’s report–like incorrect details about the location, your speed, or the violation–you might be able to have the case dismissed or reduced.
By gathering evidence, understanding the law, and challenging key points of the case, you increase your chances of minimizing penalties or potentially having the charge dropped. Outside of that, though, having an experienced lawyer can make a big difference. My firm is familiar with High Point’s traffic laws and how the system works. We know how to negotiate with prosecutors, and can build a defense strategy based on the facts of your case.
Contact Eric Skager Law After Being Charged With Aggressive Driving in High Point
Getting charged with aggressive driving in High Point can have a long-term impact on your life, and could leave you without a driver’s license or even facing time in jail. It’s a situation nobody wants to be in, but you do have the ability to defend yourself. Our team at Eric Skager Law will be there to support you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
