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How to Remove Points From Your Driving Record

To remove points from your driving record, you can hire a speeding ticket lawyer to get your ticket fixed, or you can attend traffic school.

Hire a Traffic Ticket Lawyer to Remove Points From Your Driving Record

When you get a speeding ticket or other traffic violation in Missouri, you can hire a traffic ticket lawyer to get your ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point infraction. Some people call this “getting a speeding ticket fixed.”

Or you can just plead guilty and pay the fine. However, when you plead guilty to a speeding ticket, points are added to your driving record and your insurance company may increase your car insurance rates.

Your Driver’s License Will be Suspended if You Have Too Many Points On Your Driving Record

Some drivers don’t hire a traffic ticket lawyer until after they have accumulated so many points on their driving record that their license is in danger of being suspended.

  • If you accumulate 8 points within 18 months, your Missouri driver’s license will be suspended for 30 days, if it’s your first suspension.
  • Your driver’s license will be revoked for 1 year if you accumulate 12 points within 12 months.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Speeding Ticket Lawyer to Get Your Ticket Reduced?

A speeding ticket lawyer’s price to fix your ticket depends on the following factors:

  • How fast were you driving?
  • How many other speeding convictions are on your driving record?
  • Which court is your case being prosecuted in? (The court name and address are listed on your ticket.)

Most speeding ticket lawyers charge a one-time flat-fee price to get your ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point infraction such as “Illegal Parking.”

An experienced traffic law attorney can give you a price quote over the phone, along with an estimate of the fine and court costs. The fine (after getting your ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point infraction) will be slightly higher than the original fine.

You won’t have to appear in court, and the court will give you at least 30 days to pay the fine and court costs.

A Speeding Ticket Lawyer Can Lift the Suspension of Your Driver’s License

If you have already pleaded guilty to a ticket that caused your license to be suspended or revoked, a traffic law attorney can withdraw your guilty plea and get your old ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation. Removing the old ticket will reduce the number of points on your driving record, which will lift the suspension of your driver’s license.

You can call the Missouri Department of Revenue in Jefferson City, Missouri at (573) 751-4475 to ask if your license is suspended and find out how many points you have on your driving record.

How to Withdraw Your Guilty Plea For an Old Speeding Ticket

If you have an old speeding ticket that you pleaded guilty to without consulting an attorney beforehand, you can hire an attorney to withdraw your guilty plea and get the ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation.

Withdrawing your plea and getting the ticket reduced will remove points from your driving record, which will lift the suspension of your driver’s license if you have accumulated too many points on your driving record.

PLEASE NOTE:  It is more difficult to withdraw a guilty plea if too much time has passed since you pleaded guilty, or if you were represented by an attorney when you pleaded guilty.

You Can Take the Missouri Driver Improvement Program To Remove Points From Your Driving Record

Another way to remove points from your driving record is to take the Missouri Driver Improvement Program (DIP) traffic school.

The Missouri DIP traffic school removes points from your driving record after you have pleaded guilty to a speeding ticket or other traffic violation.

Most people hire a traffic ticket lawyer before the court date to get their speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation. But if that is not an option because your ticket was issued in a county that does not allow tickets to be reduced, or because you got a ticket for a very high speed (or other traffic violation) that the court refuses to reduce, the Missouri DIP class may be an option.

What You Need to Know Before Taking the Driver Improvement Program

Before taking the Missouri DIP class, you must get the judge’s permission. Some courts automatically grant permission, while other courts require the defendant to appear in person to ask the judge for permission to take the DIP class.

You must complete the DIP class within 60 days after pleading guilty to your speeding ticket.

After you complete the DIP class, fax proof of completion to the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) in Jefferson City, Missouri and they will remove the points from your driving record. The DOR may not accept proof of completion of the DIP class if you don’t get the judge’s permission prior to taking the class.

Here are some other important tips you should know before taking the DIP class:

  • You are not eligible to take the DIP class if you have taken it within the past 3 years.
  • You are not eligible to take the DIP class if you have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
  • You are not eligible to take the DIP class if the traffic violation was committed while driving a commercial motor vehicle.
  • Taking the DIP class removes points from your driving record but your insurance company will still be able to see the speeding ticket on your driving record, so they may use that as an excuse to increase your car insurance rates.

 

For more information about removing points from your Missouri driving record, read my previous blog post “How to Get a Speeding Ticket Reduced to a Non-Moving Violation in Missouri.” 

If you have a Missouri speeding ticket that you want to get reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation, call Missouri traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 for a price quote and an estimate of your fine and court costs. Or email Andrea at [email protected]

 

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Get Your St. Louis Speeding Ticket Reduced to a Non-Moving Violation

A traffic ticket lawyer can get your St. Louis speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation to avoid points being added to your driving record and an increase in your car insurance rates.

Don’t Plead Guilty to Speeding in St. Louis

If you plead guilty to speeding in St. Louis, points will be added to your driving record, and your car insurance rates may increase.

Instead of pleading guilty, you can hire a traffic law attorney to represent you. Your attorney will negotiate a plea bargain deal with the Prosecutor to get your ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation such as “Illegal Parking.” The Prosecutor will require you to pay fine that is slightly higher than the original fine, plus court costs. You won’t have to appear in court, and the court will give you at least 30 days to pay the fine and court costs.

As soon as the court receives your payment, your ticket will be reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation. This means no points will be added to your driving record, and your insurance company will never know you got the ticket.

Too Many Points on Your Driving Record Will Cause Your License to be Suspended

When you receive a speeding ticket, it is tempting to just pay the fine and forget about it. However, if you pay the fine, that means you are pleading guilty to speeding. That guilty plea will cause points to be added to your driving record and may also cause your car insurance rates to increase.

For a typical speeding ticket issued by a Missouri State Trooper, 3 points are added to your driving record. For “Driving Without Insurance,” 4 points are added. Standard traffic violations such as running a stop sign or improperly changing lanes are typically 2-point violations.

If you accumulate 8 points on your Missouri driving record within 18 months, your driver’s license will be suspended for 30 days (if it’s your first suspension). Your license will be revoked for 1 year if you accumulate 12 points within 12 months.

You Can Change Your Mind After Pleading Guilty to a St. Louis Speeding Ticket

Many people plead guilty and pay the fine for a speeding ticket and later wish they could change their mind. An experienced traffic law attorney can help you by withdrawing your guilty plea and getting your ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation that won’t affect your driving record or car insurance rates.

It is much easier to withdraw your guilty plea if you 1) did not have an attorney representing you when you pleaded guilty, and 2) not much time has passed since your guilty plea.

If you have pleaded guilty and want to withdraw your plea, consult an experienced attorney to get a price quote for legal representation and an estimate of the fines and court costs you will pay.

How to Remove Points From Your Driving Record After Pleading Guilty to a Speeding Ticket

If your ticket was issued in a county where the Prosecutor won’t reduce your ticket to a non-moving, no-point violation, you may be able to take the Missouri Driver Improvement Program (DIP) to remove the points from your driving record.

You are eligible to take the DIP class if you have not taken it within the past 3 years. You are not eligible to take the DIP class if you have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or if the traffic violation was committed while driving a commercial motor vehicle. You must obtain the judge’s permission to take the DIP class, and you must complete the DIP class within 60 days after pleading guilty.

Read my previous blog post “Missouri Driving School Removes Points From Record” for more information about the Missouri DIP class.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you complete the DIP class, points will be removed from your Missouri driving record, but the speeding conviction will still show up on your driving record, and your insurance company may increase your rates.

For more information, read my previous blog post “How to Get a Speeding Ticket Reduced to a Non-Moving Violation in Missouri.”

To get your St. Louis speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation that won’t affect your driving record or insurance rates, call traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 for a price quote and estimate of your fine and court costs. Or email Andrea at [email protected]

 

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How To Get a Speeding Ticket Reduced To a Non-Moving Violation In Missouri

Get your Missouri speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving violation if you want to avoid points being added to your driving record.

An experienced traffic ticket lawyer can get your Missouri ticket amended to a non-moving, no-point violation that won’t affect your driving record or car insurance rates. Some people call this getting a ticket “fixed.”

How Much Does it Cost to Get a Speeding Ticket Reduced to a Non-Moving Violation?

Traffic law attorneys charge a one-time flat fee to represent you for your speeding ticket or other traffic violation. Most traffic ticket lawyers charge reasonable rates. You can call around to compare prices.

After you hire an attorney to represent you and get your ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation such as “Illegal Parking,” you will have to pay a fine and court costs to the court. The fine after getting your ticket fixed will be slightly higher than what the original fine would have been if you had decided to plead guilty to the original charge.

You Won’t Have to Appear in Court For Your Speeding Ticket If You Hire a Lawyer

In most cases, you won’t have to appear in court if you hire an attorney to represent you for your speeding ticket. This is true even for more serious traffic violations such as “Leaving the Scene of an Accident,” “Careless & Imprudent Driving,” or “Driving While Suspended.”

The court usually gives defendants at least 30 days to pay the fine and court costs.

In most traffic ticket cases, everything can be taken care of by email, mail, or fax.  

Get Your Ticket Reduced to a Non-Moving Violation to Avoid Points Being Added to Your Driving Record

Pleading guilty to a speeding ticket or other traffic violation will cause points to be added to your Missouri driving record, and your insurance company may use the conviction as an excuse to increase your car insurance rates.

If you hire an attorney to get your traffic ticket amended to a non-moving violation, no points will be added to your driving record. Your insurance company will never know about the ticket, so they will have no reason to increase your car insurance rates.

How Many Points Can You Get Before Your License is Suspended?

Certain types of tickets cause points to be added to your Missouri driving record. For example:

  • Speeding ticket (city violation) = 2 points
  • Speeding ticket (state violation) = 3 points
  • Driving Without a License = 2 points (for first offense)
  • Driving While Suspended = 12 points
  • Driving With No Insurance = 4 points
  • Driving While Intoxicated = 8 points (for first offense)
  • Careless & Imprudent Driving = 2 to 4 points
  • Leaving the Scene of an Accident = 6 to 12 points (12 points if state violation; 6 points if county or municipal violation)

If you accumulate 8 points within 18 months, Missouri will suspend your driver’s license for 30 days (if it’s your first suspension).

Your license will be revoked for 1 year if you accumulate 12 points within 12 months, 18 points within 24 months, or 24 points within 36 months.

How to Find Out How Many Points Are Added to Your Driving Record For All Traffic Violations

Click here for a full list of Missouri traffic violation points.

How to Find Out How Many Points Are On Your Missouri Driving Record

To find out how many points you have on your driving record, call the Missouri Department of Revenue (Driver’s License Bureau) in Jefferson City, Missouri at (573) 526-2407.

You Can Change Your Mind Even If You Have Already Pleaded Guilty to a Speeding Ticket

In many cases, you can change your mind after pleading guilty to a speeding ticket or other traffic violation. It depends on how much time has passed since you pleaded guilty, but your attorney may be able to get the judge to withdraw your guilty plea and get your ticket amended to a non-moving, no-point violation.

For more information about changing your plea, see my previous blog post about How to Withdraw Your Guilty Plea.

Call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 or email Andrea at [email protected] to get a price quote to have your Missouri speeding ticket or other traffic violation amended to a non-moving, no-point violation.

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Construction Zone Speeding Ticket Fines Increase in St. Louis

St. Louis courts are now charging higher fines for construction zone speeding tickets. When you get caught speeding in a construction zone in Missouri, an experienced traffic law attorney can get your ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation that won’t cause points to be added to your driving record or an increase in your car insurance rates.

A Traffic Law Attorney Can Get Your Construction Zone Speeding Ticket “Fixed”

Hiring an attorney to get your speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving violation is sometimes called getting a ticket “fixed.” It is perfectly legal, but it does cost the driver more because courts charge higher fines when they agree to amend speeding tickets to non-moving violations.

How Much is the Fine for a Missouri Construction Zone Speeding Ticket?

Courts charge higher fines than usual when the ticket is issued in a construction zone. If workers are present in the construction zone, it may be more difficult to get your ticket reduced to a non-moving violation, and the fine may be higher than if no workers were present.

For example, if you are caught speeding 10-15 miles over the speed limit in a construction zone (no workers present) in the City of St. Louis, a traffic ticket lawyer can get your ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation. In exchange for getting this ticket reduced to a non-moving violation, you would normally have to pay a fine of $150 plus $50.50 court costs. As of May 2016, the fine for speeding 10-15 miles over the speed limit in a construction zone in St. Louis City is now $300 plus $50.50 court costs.

Why Should You Get Your Speeding Ticket Reduced to a Non-Moving Violation?

Pleading guilty to a speeding ticket will cause points to be added to your driving record and it may also cause your car insurance rates to increase.

If you accumulate 8 points within 18 months, your Missouri driver’s license will be suspended for 30 days (if it’s your first suspension). If you accumulate 12 points within 12 months, your driver’s license will be revoked for 1 year.

Speeding Tickets Follow You Home

If you are an out-of-state driver and you plead guilty to a Missouri speeding ticket, Missouri will report the speeding conviction to your home state. Then your home state will add the speeding conviction (or other traffic ticket conviction) to your driving record.

Getting an out-of-state speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving violation will prevent any negative effects on your home state driving record.

How Much Does It Cost To Get a Missouri Construction Zone Speeding Ticket Reduced to a Non-Moving Violation?

To get your Missouri speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation, you will pay a fee to a traffic law attorney to represent you. You will not have to appear in court, and the court will probably give you at least 30 days to pay the fine and court costs.

The fine after your ticket is reduced to a non-moving violation will be slightly higher than the original fine you would have paid if you had chosen to plead guilty and accept the points on your driving record (and possible increase in your car insurance rates).

What if There Are No Signs Warning You About the Construction Zone?

In many areas, there may be orange cones along the highway as you approach a construction zone but no actual signs specifically warning you of an upcoming construction zone. You can receive a construction zone speeding ticket in these construction/work zones even if there are no warning signs and no construction workers present.

If you see orange cones on the highway, slow down! Workers have been killed by drivers in construction work zones in Missouri, so courts take them very seriously.

To get your Missouri construction zone speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation that won’t affect your driving record or insurance rates, call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 or email her at [email protected] for a price quote and estimate of your fine.

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Double Fine Speeding Tickets in Missouri “Travel Safe Zones”

Speeding ticket fines will double in the “Travel Safe Zone” on I-70 between Route A and Wentzville Parkway starting Monday, April 4, 2016. This Travel Safe Zone will remain in effect for 1 year and then will be re-evaluated.

What is a Travel Safe Zone?

A Travel Safe Zone is a special speed zone established in a high-accident area to enforce safe driving and reduce traffic fatalities. On this particular section of I-70 near Wentzville, Missouri, there have been 4 traffic deaths within the past 5 years and 160 accidents in the past year alone.

The Wentzville Travel Safe Zone is similar to the “ARC Zone” (Accident Reduction Corridor) that was in effect for over 3 years from 2011 to 2014 on a 7-mile stretch of I-70 in north St. Louis County near the airport.

Where is the Wentzville Travel Safe Zone?

The Wentzville Travel Safe Zone is a 4-mile section of I-70 in St. Charles County, west of St. Louis, Missouri between Route A and Wentzville Parkway. The Travel Safe Zone applies to traffic moving in both directions on the highway.

Some signs have been posted to warn drivers that speeding ticket fines will be double the usual amount in the Travel Safe Zone.

Both Missouri State Highway Patrol and Wentzville Municipal Police will patrol this section of I-70.

How Much Are the Travel Safe Zone Speeding Ticket Fines?

Travel Safe Zone ticket fines will be double the usual amount for all speeding tickets and other moving violations issued in the Travel Safe Zone. So, if the fine for a speeding ticket was $150, the new fine will be $300 for committing any moving violation in the Wentzville Travel Safe Zone.

Locations of Other Travel Safe Zones in the St. Louis Area

Other Travel Safe Zones in the St. Louis area include:

  • I-70 from Cypress Road in St. Louis County to the St. Louis City border
  • Highway 94 between Defiance and Highway D in St. Charles County
  • Highway 61 between Highway A in Wentzville and Dietrich Road in northern St. Charles County.
  • I-55 in Jefferson County between Highway Z in Pevely and Highway 67 in Crystal City
Click here for more information about Missouri Travel Safe Zones.

Hire a Traffic Ticket Lawyer to Fix Your Travel Safe Zone Speeding Ticket

An experienced traffic law attorney can get your Travel Safe Zone ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation that won’t affect your driving record or insurance rates. Some people call this getting a speeding ticket “fixed.”

Your attorney will negotiate a plea bargain deal with the court and you will pay a fine and court costs, but you will not have to appear in court.

If you want to get your Missouri Travel Safe Zone ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation, call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 or email her at [email protected] to get a price quote for legal representation.

 

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How to Look Up Your Traffic Ticket & Court Case Online

Missouri now has a website called MuniCourt.net that lets defendants look up their traffic ticket, court date, case number, and other case information online. This is a free service.

The information contained on the municourt.net website is limited to information submitted by municipal courts that use the Regional Justice Information Service (REJIS).

If you received a speeding ticket or other traffic violation from a Missouri State Trooper (Missouri State Highway Patrol), your case information can be found online at case.net. In addition, case.net also contains information submitted by a limited number of Missouri municipal courts.

PLEASE NOTE:  The municourt.net website only contains information from 50 municipal courts, mostly in the St. Louis area, plus a few courts located in other areas of Missouri.

To get your speeding ticket or other traffic violation reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation, call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 for a flat-fee price quote for legal representation. Or email Andrea at [email protected]

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How to Find a Lawyer to Fight Your Speeding Ticket

You can find an experienced traffic law attorney to fight your Missouri speeding ticket by 1) asking for referrals from friends, 2) Googling attorneys online, or 3) searching legal websites such as AVVO, where you can read client reviews of attorneys and see attorneys’ answers to legal questions.

How Much Does it Cost to Get a Speeding Ticket Fixed?

The price to get your speeding ticket amended to a non-moving, no-point violation (sometimes called getting a ticket “fixed”) depends on many factors, including:

  1. What type of traffic violation you committed.
  2. Which court your case is being prosecuted in.

A speeding ticket prosecuted in a municipal court usually requires an attorney to spend less time and effort than if the ticket is for a more serious traffic violation prosecuted in circuit court.

For example, a speeding ticket lawyer will charge more to represent you for a “Driving While Suspended” ticket in St. Louis County Circuit Court than for a speeding ticket in Florissant Municipal Court or St. Louis County Municipal Court.

Traffic Law Attorneys Have More Experience With Speeding Tickets Than Other Types of Attorneys

This seems obvious, but many people are surprised that the attorney who drafted their will or handled their divorce doesn’t know much about traffic law.

As an added bonus, speeding ticket lawyers usually charge less than other types of attorneys to represent someone in court for speeding tickets.

A traffic law attorney who has handled thousands of tickets will offer the following services for free:

  1. Flat-fee price quote over the phone for legal representation.
  2. Free consultation and estimate of the outcome of your case. For example, they can tell you whether they can get your speeding ticket amended to “Illegal Parking” and whether you will have to attend traffic school (sometimes required for drivers under age 21).
  3. Estimate of the fine and court costs you will have to pay to the court.

For more information, click here to read my previous blog post about How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in Missouri.

To fight your Missouri speeding ticket or other traffic violation, call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 to get a price quote for legal representation. Or email Andrea at [email protected]

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How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in Missouri

Call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers today at (314) 724-5059 if you want to fight your Missouri speeding ticket or other traffic violation.

Getting a Speeding Ticket “Fixed” Keeps Points Off Your License

You can hire a speeding ticket lawyer to get your Missouri ticket amended to a non-moving, no-point violation that won’t affect your driving record or insurance rates. This is sometimes called getting a ticket “fixed.”

If you decide to plead guilty instead of getting your ticket fixed, points will be added to your driving record and your insurance rates may increase.

How Many Points Are Added to Your Driving Record for Traffic Tickets?

Here are some examples of typical moving violations in Missouri and the number of points added to your driving record for each:

  • Speeding ticket (municipal violation) = 2 points
  • Speeding ticket (state violation) = 3 points
  • Driving Without a License = 2 points (for first offense)
  • Driving While Suspended = 12 points
  • Driving With No Insurance = 4 points
  • Driving While Intoxicated = 8 points (for first offense)
  • Leaving the Scene of an Accident = 12 points (state violation; 6 points if county or municipal)

Your driver’s license will be suspended for 30 days (if it’s your first suspension) if you accumulate 8 points within 18 months. Your license will be revoked for 1 year if you accumulate 12 points within 12 months.

Click here for a full list of Missouri traffic violation points.

Getting a Speeding Ticket “Fixed” Prevents Car Insurance Rates From Increasing

Pleading guilty to a moving violation causes points to be added to your driving record. In addition to increasing the risk that your license will be suspended or revoked, points may cause your car insurance rates to increase.

Your insurance company reviews your driving record every time your car insurance policy is up for renewal, or when you buy a new car. At that point, your insurance company may increase your rates if they see any moving violations on your driving record.

How Much Does it Cost to Fight a Speeding Ticket?

The cost to hire a speeding ticket lawyer will depend on what specific traffic violation you have been charged with and which court your case is being prosecuted in.

In general, you may find that traffic ticket lawyers charge less than other types of attorneys to represent someone in court for speeding tickets.

An experienced traffic law attorney will do the following:

  1. Give you a price quote over the phone,
  2. Tell you whether they can get your speeding ticket amended to “Illegal Parking,” and
  3. Give you an estimate of the fine and court costs you will have to pay to the court.

Getting a Speeding Ticket Fixed is More Expensive Than Pleading Guilty

Almost all Missouri courts charge a fine that is higher than the original fine, plus court costs, in exchange for amending speeding tickets to non-moving violations. So, you will pay more to get a speeding ticket amended to a non-moving, no-point violation, but your driving record and car insurance rates won’t be affected.

No Court Appearance Required for Most Speeding Tickets

If you hire an attorney to fight your speeding ticket, you won’t have to appear in court. Your attorney will send you the court paperwork stating what your ticket has been amended to (such as “Illegal Parking”), the amount of the fine and court costs, and your payment due date.

You will then be responsible for paying the fine and court costs to the court by the due date. Most courts give defendants at least 30 days to pay the fine and court costs.

How to Find a Lawyer to Fight Your Speeding Ticket

Hire an experienced traffic law attorney to fight your speeding ticket. You can find an attorney online by Googling “Speeding Ticket Lawyer” or “Traffic Law Attorney” and include the name of the city or county in which you received the ticket, such as “St. Louis Traffic Law Attorney” or “St. Ann Speeding Ticket Lawyer.”

You can also search for a speeding ticket lawyer on legal websites such as AVVO, where you can read client reviews of attorneys and see attorneys’ answers to legal questions.

What to Do If You Already Pleaded Guilty & Want to Change Your Plea

If you have already pleaded guilty to a speeding ticket, it may not be too late to change your plea and get your ticket amended to a non-moving violation. See my previous blog post about How to Withdraw Your Guilty Plea.

To get your Missouri speeding ticket or other traffic violation amended to a non-moving, no-point violation, call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 to get a price quote for legal representation. Or email Andrea at [email protected]

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St. Louis Wants to Bring Back Red Light Cameras & Add Speed Cameras

St. Louis City wants to bring back red light cameras and add speed cameras to pay for hiring more police officers.

In late 2014, St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay announced his plan to increase the annual police budget by $8.7 million to hire 160 more police officers to fight increased crime in the City.

The proposed bills for the budget increase were unsuccessful in 2014, but the Mayor’s office announced this week that they plan to try again to obtain the funding to hire more police officers.

In addition to money from red light camera ticket fines and speed camera ticket fines, other proposed sources of funding include an increase in the city’s vehicle license tax and a tax on parking garages.

Click here to read the full St. Louis Post-Dispatch article about red light cameras and speed cameras in St. Louis City.

If you have received a speeding ticket or other traffic violation in Missouri, call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 to get a price quote for legal representation. Or email Andrea at [email protected]

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St. Louis Red Light Camera Tickets Dismissed

All unpaid St. Louis City red light camera tickets will be dismissed, and the City will issue a refund if you paid a red light camera ticket fine within the past 18 months.

This is a result of yesterday’s Missouri Supreme Court ruling that St. Louis City’s red light camera ordinance created an unconstitutional presumption of guilt for a vehicle owner, meaning it improperly placed the burden on the vehicle owner to prove they were not driving the vehicle when the car was caught running a red light.

The Missouri Supreme Court did not rule on the legality of red light cameras, so cameras could be used in the future if St. Louis City revises its red light camera ordinance to comply with the law. This could involve adding more cameras to capture a photo of the driver’s face (in addition to a photo of the license plate) and enacting a new ordinance in which a red light camera ticket is considered a moving violation that adds points to your driving record.

According to a recent St. Louis Post-Dispatch article about the Missouri Supreme Court’s ruling in the St. Louis City red light camera court case, St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay’s administration is “moving forward with an ordinance that will comply with the court’s rulings.”

If you have a speeding ticket or other traffic violation that you want to get reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation, call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 to get a price quote for legal representation and an estimate of your fine & court costs. Or email Andrea at [email protected]