Tag: Hit & Run Ticket

“Leaving The Scene Of An Accident” is a serious traffic violation in Missouri. An experienced traffic law attorney can get it reduced from a 12-point violation to a 0-point infraction.

What Are The Chances You Will Get Caught Leaving The Scene Of An Accident?

In this day and age, security cameras are everywhere, so it’s very likely there will be video evidence showing you leaving the scene of an accident.

Also, any witnesses to the accident can easily take a photo of your license plate with their phone and share it with the police.

Police often track down the fleeing driver at their home or workplace fairly quickly after an accident. In some cases, police tow the driver’s vehicle to the impound lot for an “inventory search” (because it was involved in a crime), and the vehicle owner has to pay a high fine to get their car back.

What Does “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident” Mean?

You have committed the offense of Leaving The Scene Of An Accident if:

• You were involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in injury, death, or damage to property, and
• You were aware of the accident, and
• You left the scene without stopping to give your name, address, and license number to the driver of the vehicle you hit, or to a police officer

Click here for more information about what you are legally required to do when you are involved in an accident.

What Is The Punishment For Misdemeanor Leaving The Scene Of An Accident In Missouri

The maximum penalty for misdemeanor Leaving The Scene Of An Accident (or “Hit & Run”) in Missouri can include some or all of the following:

• 1 year in jail
• $1,000 fine
• 6 to 12 points added to your driving record
• 1-year revocation of driver’s license

A misdemeanor Leaving The Scene Of An Accident ticket issued by a state trooper is a 12-point ticket. If you plead guilty, 12 points will be added to your driving record, and your license will be revoked for 1 year. In addition, you won’t be eligible to get a Limited Driving Privilege (Hardship License) during the year that your license is revoked.

A misdemeanor Leaving The Scene Of An Accident ticket issued by a city or county police officer is a 6-point ticket.

What Is The Punishment For Felony Leaving The Scene Of An Accident In Missouri

The maximum penalty for felony Leaving The Scene Of An Accident is 4 years in prison and a $5,000 fine if the accident resulted in:

• Physical injury to another person, or
• Property damage over $1,000, or
• If defendant has a prior conviction for Leaving The Scene Of An Accident

What Happens If You Plead Guilty To Leaving The Scene Of An Accident

If you plead guilty to a ticket for Leaving The Scene Of An Accident, here’s what will happen:

• You will have to appear in court to plead guilty
• The judge will sentence you (this could include jail time)
• 6 to 12 points will be added to your driving record (depending on whether it’s municipal or state court)
• Your home state may revoke your driver’s license for 1 year
• You may not be able to get a hardship license while your license is revoked

Click here to read my previous post for more information about what happens if you plead guilty to Leaving The Scene of an Accident.

How Many Points Will Be Added To Your Driving Record For Leaving the Scene of An Accident

The number of points added to your Missouri driving record for Leaving The Scene Of An Accident depends on whether your ticket was issued by a state trooper or a city/county police officer:

• 12 points if a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer issued the ticket
• 6 points if a municipal or county police officer issued the ticket

Most people want to get their traffic tickets reduced to non-moving violations so they can avoid accumulating points on their driving record. If you accumulate too many points, your license will be suspended or revoked.

• Your driver’s license will be suspended for 30 days if you accumulate 8 points within 18 months (for a first-time suspension)
• Your driver’s license will be revoked for 1 year if you accumulate 12 points within 12 months

If you hire a traffic ticket lawyer to get your Leaving The Scene Of An Accident ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation, no points will be added to your driving record.

How Long Does A Ticket For Leaving the Scene of an Accident Stay On Your Driving Record?

If you plead guilty to Leaving the Scene of an Accident, the conviction stays on your Missouri driving record forever if the ticket was issued by a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer (as opposed to a city or county police officer).

What Happens If You Get A Ticket For Leaving The Scene Of An Accident And Your Car Is Not Insured

The State of Missouri can suspend the licenses of both the driver and the owner of the vehicle if you leave the scene of an accident and your vehicle was not insured at the time of the accident.

In addition, the State of Missouri can suspend your driver’s license if you (or your insurance company) fails to pay for the damage you caused to the victim’s vehicle.

What Can An Attorney Do About A Ticket For Leaving The Scene Of An Accident

If you have been charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident, you will need an experienced traffic law attorney to represent you. Your attorney can get your ticket reduced from a 6-point or 12-point ticket to a non-moving, no-point violation that won’t affect your driving record.

It is very likely that you won’t have to appear in court if you hire an attorney to represent you. You will have to pay a fine and court costs, and you might also be required to do community service and/or attend driving school.

The outcome of your Leaving The Scene Of An Accident case depends on the answers to the following questions:

• Did you turn yourself in to police, or did they have to track you down?
• Which court is your case being prosecuted in?
• How old are you?
• Do you have a bad driving record?
• Did you or your car insurance company pay for the damage you caused to the vehicle that you hit?

Most traffic ticket lawyers offer a free consultation and can give you a flat-fee price quote for how much they will charge to represent you. An experienced attorney can also give you an estimate of the outcome of your case, including the amount of the fines and court costs you will have to pay at the conclusion of your case.

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For a free consultation about your Leaving The Scene Of An Accident ticket, contact St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 or [email protected]om

After leaving the scene of an accident, hire an experienced attorney to help you deal with the police and get your “Leaving The Scene” or “Hit & Run” ticket reduced from a 6-point or 12-point ticket to a no-point, non-moving violation, such as “Illegal Parking.”

How Long Will It Take Police To Find You After You Leave The Scene Of An Accident?

Security cameras are everywhere, in parking lots and on public streets, so it doesn’t take long for police to track down the driver after they leave the scene of an accident. It is not unusual for the police to be waiting for you when you get home following a “Hit & Run” incident.

You have committed the offense of “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident” if:

• You were involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in injury, death, or damage to property, and
• You were aware of the accident, and
• You left the scene without stopping to give your name, address, and license number to the driver of the vehicle you hit or to a police officer

Click here to read more about what to do if you are in an accident.

You May Have To Meet With A Police Detective About Your “Hit & Run” Ticket

In some situations, the police officer will come to your home and speak with you there, then give you a ticket for “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident.” However, it is very likely that a police detective will contact you and ask you to come in to the precinct to meet with them and make a written statement about what happened.

If you had been drinking before you hit a parked car and drove away, you should not admit that to the police. If the accident happened several days ago, there is no way the police can prove you were driving drunk, so the worst they can do is give you a ticket for “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident.”

You can hire an attorney to represent you when you meet with the detective. However, in most cases, the detective just asks you to make a statement about what happened and then gives you a ticket for “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident.”

How Many Points Are Added To Your Driving Record For “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident” in Missouri?

If your ticket for “Hit & Run” or “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident” is being prosecuted in municipal court, 6 points will be added to your driving record if you plead guilty.

If your ticket was issued by a state trooper, that means it’s being prosecuted in state court and it’s a 12-point ticket. If you plead guilty, your driver’s license will be revoked for 1 year and you won’t be able to get a hardship license (Limited Driving Privilege). Also, a state court conviction for “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident” will stay on your driving record forever.

Your Driver’s License Can Be Suspended After Leaving The Scene Of An Accident

If your vehicle was not insured when you were involved in a “Hit & Run” accident, the State of Missouri can suspend your driver’s license.

Your license will not be reinstated until you show proof to the Missouri Department of Revenue that you have paid for the damages to the other party.

In addition, if you were driving someone else’s car that was not insured at the time of the accident, the State can suspend the driver’s licenses of both you and the owner of the vehicle.

Jail Time Is Possible If You Leave The Scene Of An Accident In Missouri

The maximum punishment for misdemeanor “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident” is a fine of $1,000 and 1 year in jail.

The maximum possible penalty for felony “Leaving the Scene of an Accident” is a fine of $5,000 and 4 years in prison. Your “Leaving the Scene” ticket can be charged as a felony if the following happened:

• Physical injury occurred,
• Property damage amounting to more than $1,000 or
• Defendant has a prior conviction for “Leaving the Scene”

An Attorney Can Get Your “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident” Ticket Reduced To A Non-Moving Violation

It is very common for someone to panic and drive away after accidentally hitting someone’s car in a parking lot. At that point, the worst choice you can make is to avoid the police and not respond if a detective tries to contact you. If you refuse to respond, the police can come to your home or workplace and arrest you.

You can consult an experienced attorney before you meet with the police. Then, after the police give you a ticket for “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident,” your attorney can represent you in court.

In many cases, an attorney can get a ticket for “Leaving The Scene” reduced from a 6-point or 12-point ticket to a non-moving, no-point violation. You will have to pay a fine and court costs, but it is very likely that you won’t have to appear in court.

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For a free consultation about your ticket, call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 or email Andrea at [email protected]

“Leaving the Scene of an Accident” (“Hit & Run”) is a class A misdemeanor in Missouri, with a maximum penalty of 1 year in jail and a fine of $1,000.

“Leaving the Scene of an Accident” can be considered a class D felony, punishable by up to 4 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, if the accident resulted in:

• • Physical injury to another party, or
  • Property damage in excess of $1,000, or
  • The defendant has previously pleaded guilty or been convicted of a violation of this law.

Missouri’s “Leaving the Scene of an Accident” law is RSMo 577.060.

How Will a “Hit & Run” Ticket Affect Your Driving Record?

If a Missouri state trooper issues a ticket to you for leaving the scene of an accident, 12 points will be added to your driving record, which will cause your license to be revoked for 1 year, and you will not be eligible for a hardship license (limited driving privilege).

If a municipal or county police officer issues a ticket to you for leaving the scene of an accident, 6 points (instead of 12) will be added to your driving record, and your eligibility for a hardship license will not be affected.

Your License Can be Suspended Following a “Hit & Run” Ticket

The State of Missouri can suspend the licenses of both the driver and the owner of the vehicle if you leave the scene of an accident and your vehicle was not insured at the time of the accident.

Your license will also be suspended if you leave the scene of an accident that you caused and you fail to pay for the damage to the other vehicle.

You Can Get Your “Hit & Run” Ticket Reduced to a Non-Moving, No-Point Violation

An experienced traffic law attorney can usually get a “Leaving the Scene of an Accident” ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation. The outcome depends on your driving history, the details of your particular case, and the court in which it is being prosecuted.

You will have to provide proof that your insurance company is handling the claim, or that you paid for the damage to the other vehicle. If there was no damage to the other driver’s car, your lawyer will have to obtain an affidavit signed by the other driver stating that there was no damage to the vehicle.

What to Do if You Are Involved in an Accident

As noted previously, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in Missouri. If you are involved in an accident, you are required by law to do the following:

• • Call the police immediately to report the accident.
  • Call an ambulance if anyone is injured.
  • Move your car to the side of the road if it’s in a position that might cause other drivers to crash into it.
  • If the accident happens at night, try to warn oncoming traffic by using flares, your car’s hazard lights, or a flashlight.
  • Exchange information with the other driver, including your name, address, vehicle identification, and car insurance information.
  • Don’t leave the scene of the accident until a police officer gives you permission to leave.

For more information about what to do when involved in an accident, consult the Missouri Department of Revenue website.