Rhode Island Traffic Ticket Defense Lawyer
THE GOAL IN ANY TRAFFIC COURT CASE IS TO HAVE ALL OF THE CHARGES DISMISSED
The law offices of Michael J. Zarrella handles traffic offenses thoughout the State of Rhode Island. Attorney Zarrella has strong knowledge of traffic laws, and in particular how to help you get your traffic tickets dismissed or reduced. The traffic laws in Rhode Island have gotten harsher and more people are losing their license.
Collin Foote Act
Recently, the state of Rhode Island has enacted the Collin Foote Law. This legislation creates a habitual offender violation in the Rhode Island traffic tribunal, where the court may suspend or revoke a person's license, for up to two years, of any individual convicted of four separate and distinct, specifically-defined moving violations within an 18-month period. In addition, the driver would also face a fine of up to $1,000 and be ordered to attend 60 hours of driving retraining and perform 60 hours of public community restitution. This makes every ticket that much more important. Since passage of this law, the court has taken a hard line stance on applying this law and has routinely suspended/or revoked people's licenses for 1 to 2 years. You need an experienced traffic ticket Attorney who will fight for you.
Why Hire An Experienced Rhode Island Traffic Ticket Attorney?
Most people are not familiar with the language and routines involved in Rhode Island traffic court proceedings. This puts people at a distinct disadvantage as they are likely to be opposing a police officer who has been to traffic court on numerous occasions. Attorney Michael J. Zarrella can drastically increase your chances of winning your case. He is highly experienced with Rhode Island Traffic law as well as court rules and procedures. Let him put his succesess and courtroom experience to work for you.
It is almost always worth your while in the long run to consult a Rhode Island traffic ticket Attorney about your case. A good attorney will use his or her knowledge of the law and legal processes, as well as his good working relationship with local judges and law enforcement, in attempt to get traffic tickets reduced or dismissed.
Sometimes it may not be possible to obtain a complete dismissal of all driving charges. As a result, a good traffic ticket lawyer will often have the defendant plead to a lesser offense or have many of the charges dismissed in return for a plea.
By pleading to a lesser offense, a driver can often obtain:
- Shorter or no license suspensions;
- Save money in fines, costs and assessments;
- Save money on insurance premiums; and/or
- Avoid further suspension.
Pawtucket River Bridge and Sakonnet River Bridge
Rhode Island State and local police have recently begun fining truck drivers and/or trucking companies for violating the Pawtucket River Bridge and Sakonnet River Bridge axle restriction and weight limit. The State of Rhode Island has brought in millions of dollars on the backs of truck divers and trucking companies in order to pay the bill to build new bridges. The fine for this violation is $3,000 for the first offense and up to $5,000 for each additional offense. If you find yourself or your trucking company with one of these tickets, call attorney Michael J. Zarrella immediately. Attorney Zarrella will fight to try to get your ticket dismissed or have your fine reduced, saving you hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Traffic Ticket Defense Service throughout Rhode Island
Rhode Island Traffic Ticket Attorney Michael J. Zarrella defends those charged with traffic offenses in addition to DUI/DWI and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test throughout the State of Rhode Island, including all cities and towns in all four counties:
Providece/Bristol Counties:
- Bristol
- Burrillville
- Central Falls
- Cranston
- Cumberland
- East Providence
- Foster
- Glocester
- Johnston
- Lincoln
- North Providence
- North Smithfield
- North Scituate
- Pawtucket
- Providence
- Scituate
- Smithfield
- Warren
- Woonsocket
Kent County
- Coventry
- East Greenwich
- Warwick
- West Greenwich
- West Warwick
Washington County/South County
- Block Island
- Charlestown
- Exeter
- Hopkinton
- Narragansett
- New Shoreham
- North Kingstown
- Richmond
- South Kingstown
- Westerly
Newport County
- Jamestown
- Little Compton
- Middletown
- Newport
- Portsmouth
- Tiverton
The Colin B. Foote Act
Motor and Other vehicles
CHAPTER 31-27
Motor Vehicle Offenses
SECTION 31-27-24
§ 31-27-24 Multiple moving offenses. – (a) Every person convicted of moving violations on four (4) separate and distinct occasions within an eighteen (18) month period may be fined up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), and shall be ordered to attend sixty (60) hours of driver retraining, shall be ordered to perform sixty (60) hours of public community service, and the person's operator license in this state may be suspended up to one year or revoked by the court for a period of up to two (2) years. Prior to the suspension or revocation of a person's license to operate within the state, the court shall make specific findings of fact and determine if the person's continued operation of a motor vehicle would pose a substantial traffic safety hazard.
(b) At the expiration of the time of revocation as set by the court pursuant to subsection (a) above, the person may petition that court for restoration of his or her privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state. The license privilege shall not thereafter be reinstated until evidence satisfactory to the court, following a hearing, establishes that no grounds exist which would authorize refusal to issue a license and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.
(c) For the purposes of this section only, the term "moving violations" shall mean any violation of the following sections of the general laws:
(1) 31-13-4. Obedience to devices.
(2) 31-14-1. Reasonable and prudent speeds.
(3) 31-14-2. Prima facie limits.
(4) 31-14-3. Conditions requiring reduced speeds.
(5) 31-15-5. Overtaking on the right.
(6) 31-15-11. Laned roadways.
(7) 31-15-12. Interval between vehicles.
(8) 31-15-16. Use of emergency break-down lane for travel.
(9) 31-17-4. Vehicle entering stop or yield intersection.
(10) 31-20-9. Obedience to stop signs.
(11) 31-27.1-3. "Aggressive driving" defined.
RHODE ISLAND LAW ON THE AXLE RESTRICTIONS
TITLE 31
Motor and Other vehicles
CHAPTER 31-25
Size, Weight, and Load Limits
SECTION 31-25-30
Sec. 31-25-30 Axle restriction on the Pawtucket River Bridge or the Sakonnet River Bridge[Repealed effective June 12, 2011.]. – (a) It shall be unlawful to transport or operate over or upon the Pawtucket River Bridge or the Sakonnet River Bridge, any single vehicle equipped with more than two (2) axles or any combination vehicle equipped with more than two (2) axles per unit except those listed in this section.
(b) The director of the department of transportation is directed to post signs to limit access as prescribed in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The following vehicles shall be exempt from the provisions of this section: any and all emergency vehicles, state vehicles, municipal vehicles, truck tractors as defined in § 31-1-4 and Rhode Island public transit authority vehicles.
(d) For the purposes of this section, "carrier" means and includes any company or person who furthers their commercial or private enterprise by use of the vehicle.
(e) Any carrier operating a vehicle or combination of vehicles in violation of this section shall be fined three thousand dollars ($3,000) for the first offense, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each and every subsequent offense.
(f) Nothing in this provision shall waive or modify existing weight restrictions on the bridges as defined in § 31-25-27.
The protection of you license begins by contacting Attorney Michael J. Zarrella today!