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TRAFFIC TICKETS

In the State of Missouri, if you plead guilty to a speeding ticket or other moving violation, points are assessed against your driving record. In turn, because the points are on the driving record, insurance rates generally rise; and if points accumulate, you can lose your Missouri driver's license.

However, by hiring the attorneys at TrafficLaw.com, we can represent you in court and help you avoid the points. In most cases, we can negotiate with the prosecutor to have your moving violation amended to a no point/non-moving violation. In return for the amendment and avoiding of points, you will still have to pay a fine on the no point violation, but points can be avoided.

Hiring the attorneys at TrafficLaw.com further avoids the need for you to appear in court, for our attorneys will appear on your behalf. Please give us a call if you have any questions.

DWI

In Missouri, there are two aspects to a Driving While Intoxicated charge. There is the criminal charge itself. In addition, there is the administrative portion of the process, which determines whether you are able to keep your driver's license. The law in Missouri provides that if you are charged with driving while intoxicated, an automatic 30-day suspension of your driver's license applies. If you simply allow that suspension to go into effect, your license will be suspended by the Missouri Department of Revenue with a notation that the suspension is alcohol related. As such, anyone checking your driving record will essentially know that you have been arrested in the past for an alcohol related driving offense.

For many, it is very important to not only avoid the criminal ramifications of a driving while intoxicated charge, but also to avoid a suspension of one's driving privileges, especially if one has employment which involves the driving of a motor vehicle.

In order to avoid potentially bad ramifications of both the underlying criminal charge as well as the driver's license suspension, it is important to immediately schedule an appointment to consult with one of our attorneys that we might obtain an optimal resolution on your behalf.

A consultation is always free and we welcome the opportunity to be of help.

THE POINT SYSTEM

In Missouri, if you simply plead guilty to a traffic violation, points are assessed against your driving record. If too many points are obtained over a limited period of time, your driver's license can be suspended or revoked. The following is a list of the points associated with each type of violation as listed on the Missouri Department of Revenue’s website: http://dor.mo.gov/forms/899.pdf.

Violations are listed separately by violation description as they would appear on the Missouri driver record. The points assessed for the violations vary, based on conviction under state law or county or municipal ordinance.

VIOLATIONS

 

POINTS ASSESSED

     
   

State Law

County Ordinance

Municipal Ordinance

 
           

AGGRAVAT ENDANGER HWY WORKER**

 

12

     
           

ASAULT VEHICLR INJURY-FELONY*

 

12

     
           

ASSIST/OBTAIN LIC BY MISREP**

 

12

12

12

 

CARELESS & IMPRUDENT**

 

2

2

2

 
           

CARELESS & IMPRUDENT 304.016**

 

4

     
           

CMV/CDL HOLDER FATAL**

 

0

0

0

 
           

DRIV UNDER INFLUENCE BAC .04*

 

2

2

2

 
           

DRIVE UNDER INFLUENCE DRUGS**

 

8 – 1st Offense

8 – 1st Offense

8 – 1st Offense

 
   

12 – Subsequent Offenses

12 – Subsequent Offenses

12 – Subsequent Offenses

 
           

DRIVE WHILE SUS/REV/DEN*

 

12

12

12

 
           

DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED

 

0

2

2

 
           

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED**

 

8 – 1st Offense

8 – 1st Offense

8 – 1st Offense

 
   

12 – Subsequent Offenses

12 – Subsequent Offenses

12 – Subsequent Offenses

 
           

ENDANGER HIGHWAY WORKER**

 

4

     
           

EXCESS BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT**

 

8 – 1st Offense

8 – 1st Offense

8 – 1st Offense

 
   

12 – Subsequent Offenses

12 – Subsequent Offenses

12 – Subsequent Offenses

 
           

EXCESSIVE SPEEDING**

 

3

2

2

 
           

FAIL TO PRODUCE INSURANCE ID

 

4

4

4

 
           

FAILURE TO REVEAL ID – ACC

(Out-of-State Conviction Only)

0

0

0

 
           

FAILURE TO STOP & RENDER AID

 

0

 

2

 
           

FELONY-DRUG TRANSPORT/MFG**

 

0

0

0

 
           
           

FELONY INVOLVING MOTOR VEH**

 

12

12

12

 
           

INVOL MANSLAUGHTR – DWI – FELONY*

 

12

     
           

LEAVING SCENE OF ACCIDENT**

 

12

6

6

 
           

MURDER 2ND VEH/INTOX

 

12

     
           

NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE – CMV*

 

12

12

12

 
           

NEGLIGENT OPERATE CMV – FATAL*

 

12

12

12

 
           
NO DRIVER LICENSE*  

2 – 1st Offense

2

2

 

 

 

4 – 2nd Offense

     
   

6 – 3rd or Subsequent Offense

     
           

NO MOTORCYCLE QUALIFICATION

 

2 – 1st Offense

2

2

 
   

4 – 2nd Offense

     
   

6 – 3rd or Subsequent Offense

     
           

PERMIT UNLICEN DRVR TO DRIVE

 

4

4

4

 
           

SPEEDING    (More than 5 MPH over the posted limit)

 

3

2

2

 
           

STOP SIGN

   2  2

1 – No Accident;

 
           
     

 

2 – With Accident

 
   

 

     

UNLAWFUL TOW TRUCK STOP

     

4

 
           

VEHICULAR HOMICIDE*

 

12

12

12

 
           

VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER*

 

12

12

12

 

All violations marked with an asterisk (*) that were committed while operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) or all violations marked with two asterisks (**) that were committed by a Commercial Driver License (CDL) holder while operating a CMV or non-CMV will be used toward CDL disqualification under §302.700 – 302.780, RSMo, and points are assessed against the base driving privilege under §302.302, RSMo.

 The following violation descriptions (as they will appear on the Missouri driver record) are assessed TWO POINTS, whether a state, county, or municipal violation. These violations will only have points assessed if the person was operating or deemed operating a motor vehicle at the time of the traffic offense. This form may not be inclusive of all violations. Any moving violation not listed will be assessed two points.

  • 15 1/2 OPERATE AT NIGHT ORD  (Municipal Only)
  • ACTIVATE RED LT NON-EMERGENCY
  • AGGRESSIVE DRIVING (Municipal Only)
  • ALT/COUNTERFEIT INS ID CARDS
  • ALTER DRIVER LICENSE
  • ASSAULT-3RD DEGREE INVOLVE MV
  • ATTEMPTED DWI (State Only)
  • ATTEMPTED LEAV SCENE OF ACC
  • COAST WITH GEARS DISENGAGED
  • COLLIDE W/VEHICLE/PROPERTY CRUISING (Municipal Only)
  • DISOBEY EMERGENCY VEH ORD (Municipal Only)
  • DISOBEY FUNERAL PROC ORDINA
  • DISOBEY TRAF DEVICE RAILROAD
  • DISOBEY TRAFFIC CONT DEVICE
  • DISOBEYED TRAFFIC OFFICER
  • DR W/CHILD ON LAP/MC TANK
  • DRIV OUT OF SERV–15 PASS/HAZ*
  • DRIV UNDER MIN SPEED LIMIT
  • DRIVE CMV W/O OBTAINING CDL*
  • DRIVE MTRCYCLE BETWEEN VEH'S
  • DRIVE MV W/O OWNERS CONSENT
  • DRIVE TOO FAST FOR CONDITION
  • DRIVE WHILE DISQUALIFIED*
  • DRIVE WHILE OUT OF SERVICE*
  • DRIVER'S VIEW OBSTRUCTED
  • DRIVING ACROSS FIRE HOSE
  • DRIVING ON SHOULDER (Municipal Only)
  • DRIVING OVER CURB
  • DRIVING OVER SIDEWALK
  • DRIVING THROUGH BARRICADE (Municipal Only)
  • DRIVING WRONG SIDE OF ROAD
  • ELUDING POLICE OFFICER
  • ENDANGER WELFARE OF CHILD (State Only)
  • ENGAGE IN SPEED COMPETITION
  • ERRATIC SPEED
  • EXCESS VEH NOISE–SQUEAL TIRE
  • EXCESSIVE PASSENGER VIOL
  • FAIL TO OBEY RR DEVICE/OFCR*
  • FAIL TO REMAIN IN MOVING VEH
  • FAIL TO REPORT AN ACCIDENT
  • FAIL TO SLOW AT RR CROSSING*
  • FAIL TO STOP AT RR CROSSING*
  • FAIL TO STOP FOR SCHOOL BUS
  • FAIL TO STP BEFORE RR CROSS*
  • FAIL TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY
  • FAIL TO YIELD/COLLIDE W/PED
  • FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED
  • FAILURE TO DIM LIGHTS
  • FAILURE TO KEEP RIGHT
  • FAILURE TO OBEY RR RESTR*
  • FAILURE TO SOUND HORN
  • FAILURE TO STAY ON PAVEMENT (Municipal Only)
  • FAILURE/IMPROPER SIGNAL
  • FICTITIO/CAN/SUS/REV/ALT LIC
  • FISHTAILING
  • FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE**
  • FOLLOW WITH INSUFFICIENT SPACE
  • GAVE FALSE INFO TO OFFICER
  • HOT-RODDING (Municipal Only)
  • IMP CLASS/END/VIOL RESTR*
  • IMP START FRM PRKD POSITION
  • IMPEDING TRAFFIC MOVEMENT
  • IMPROPER BACKING
  • IMPROPER EMERGING FROM DRIVE
  • IMPROPER LANE**
  • IMPROPER PASSING
  • IMPROPER TURN
  • INATTENT/NEGL/CARELESS DR
  • INCREASED SPEED WHEN PASSED
  • INSUFFCNT SPAC TO DR THRU RR*
  • INSUFFCNT CLEARANCE RR CRSS*
  • INTERFERE WITH OFCR/TRFC SYS
  • LEAV MAIN PORTION OF ROADWAY (Municipal Only)
  • MINOR IN POSSESSION (State Only)
  • MISC-CONVERT FROM PRIOR SYS (Miscellaneous Conviction)
  • MOTOR FUEL THEFT (State Only)
  • NO LIC-POSSESS OR ON DEMAND*
  • OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC
  • OP ATV/UTV UNDR INF ALC/DRUG
  • OP ATV/UTV WITH PASSENGER
  • OP OFF-HWY VEH ON ROADWAY
  • OP W/O DOUBLE/TRIPLE ENDORSE
  • OP W/O HAZARDOUS MAT ENDORSE
  • OP W/O PASSENGER ENDORSE
  • OP W/O TANK VEHICLE ENDORSE
  • OP WITHOUT SCHOOL BUS PERMIT
  • OPEN CAR DOOR INTO TRAFFIC
  • OPERATE MTRCYCLE 3 PASSNGERS
  • OPERATED ATV-UNDER AGE OF 16
  • OPERATING MV W/O HEADLIGHTS
  • OPERATING WHERE PROHIBITED
  • OS HIT & RUN**
  • OS HIT & RUN – FATAL**
  • OVERTAKE/STRIKE REAR OF VEH
  • PRESENT ANOTHER'S LIC AS OWN
  • PROHIBITED U TURN
  • RIDING SIDESADDLE–MOTORCYCLE (Municipal Only)
  • SB DR NOT PERMIT VEH TO PASS (State Only)
  • STRIKE A LEGALLY STOPPED CAR
  • TAMPER W/IGN INTERLOCK DEV
  • TAMPERING WITH MOTOR VEHICLE
  • TEXTING WHILE DRIVING
  • TRAFFIC TURN/SIGNAL VIOL
  • UNAUTHORIZED LANE USE
  • USE TSPS TO CONTROL TRAFFIC (State Only)
  • VIOL OF IGNITION INTERLOCK
  • VIOL OF INSTRUCTION PERMIT
  • VIOL OF RESTRICTED LICENSE
  • VIOLATED OPEN CONTAINER LAW (Municipal Only)
  • WARNING OF RADAR
  • WEAVING
  • WRONG DIRECTION–DIVIDED ST
  • WRONG DIRECTION–ONE WAY ST

All violations marked with an asterisk (*) that were committed while operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) or all violations marked with two asterisks (**) that were committed by a Commercial Driver License (CDL) holder while operating a CMV or non-CMV will be used toward CDL disqualification under §302.700 – 302.780, RSMo, and points are assessed against the base driving privilege under §302.302, RSMo. Suspended Imposition of Sentence (SIS) convictions received under §302.725, RSMo, are included on the driver record if the driver was a CDL holder or operating a commercial motor vehicle at the time of the stop.

I HAVE A CLEAN RECORD, DO I NEED TO AVOID THE POINTS?

People often indicate that they have a clean driving record and question whether it is worthwhile to have their ticket amended. The problem is that some municipalities and rural communities refuse to negotiate our plea bargain on speeding tickets. While one ticket against your driving record may not be of significant concern to your insurance carrier or employer, you would hate to not have the ticket taken care of, than receive a second one in a municipality or county which refuses to negotiate traffic tickets. Should that occur, you would then have two tickets against your record, potentially resulting in a substantial increase in insurance premiums and/or loss of employment, especially if your job involves driving on the company's behalf.

At TrafficLaw.com, we recommend that all tickets be amended, just for the peace of mind of knowing should one obtain a second ticket in an unfavorable location, your driving record is protected.