Traffic infractions ought to be addressed seriously at all times. Even still, many of us do not treat some driving offenses as seriously as others. Driving with an expired registration is one such small traffic violation that many drivers overlook. If you have received a ticket for operating a car without valid registration or tags, you might believe paying the fine is the best route. But before you pay your ticket and enter a guilty plea, consult an expired registration lawyer about your legal options.
Pleading guilty could have unanticipated effects, but it might be easier than you think to avoid a conviction and maintain a spotless driving record. An expired registration attorney from Shepherd & Hayes, PLLC, may be able to assist you if you are dealing with the fines and penalties associated with driving a car that has an expired registration in Nashua. A local expired registration lawyer will be familiar with the trial procedure and the judges’ sentencing inclinations. They may aid in your ticket defense and provide assurance throughout the procedure.
New Hampshire Laws on Driving an Expired Registration Vehicle
A New Hampshire car registration is documentation that permits residents to operate their vehicles on New Hampshire roads lawfully. To lawfully drive on state roadways in New Hampshire, all residents must register their vehicle with the New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
New Hampshire has a two-step process for registering a vehicle. All motor vehicles, aside from mopeds, must start the registration process with the town or city clerk at the place where they are registered. The state transaction is the second step in the procedure.
Vehicle registration certificates should be carried in cars and available for inspection by law enforcement personnel, magistrates, and motor vehicle inspectors. Owners must pay registration costs and renew their registrations as needed because an expired registration is no longer legally valid.
How to Defend Against Driving On an Expired Registration Charge
While paying the penalty may appear the simplest option, it is critical to grasp the importance of challenging your traffic ticket. The following are some of the repercussions of pleading guilty:
- Increased insurance premiums
- Points deducted from your driver’s license
- A court appearance
- Commercial drivers face professional ramifications
Because of the penalties outlined above and because any subsequent offense carries much heavier penalties, it is in your best interests to keep your registration up to date. Whether you missed the payment because you forgot to pay your vehicle registration or for another reason, it is wise to speak with a expired registration lawyer to review your legal alternatives. We at Shepherd & Hayes, PLLC have extensive expertise representing clients in issues involving all aspects of motor vehicle law, including driving a car with an expired registration. We also represent people accused of driving with a suspended license.
The Consequences of Driving With an Expired Registration
It is your duty to pay your tags on time to prevent getting stopped and receiving a fine. But if you don’t, here is what you can expect:
Warnings and Tickets
Police officers frequently encounter tags that are somewhat out of date. If the infringement is small and your tags have just recently expired, you may merely receive a verbal warning. However, the officer has the authority to issue you a ticket for having expired tags. The severity of this citation is typically determined by how long your tags have been out of date.
Your Vehicle Is Towed or Impounded
Your car may be detained or towed rather than letting you continue driving it if it doesn’t appear capable of passing inspection or if you don’t swiftly fix your registration.
Penalties for Expired Tags
The longer your car has been unregistered, the higher the penalties will most likely be.
Jail Time
In the worst-case scenarios, drivers with expired registrations may be sentenced to up to 15 days in jail if there are numerous infractions and the vehicle has been without a valid registration for an extended time.
Court Hearing
Even if you handle the registration, you may be obliged to appear in court for a day. This isn’t optional, and you must attend. Your court appearance could be an opportunity to get the ticket dismissed.
How a Nashua Traffic Offenses Lawyer Can Help
When a driver is accused of breaking the rules regarding car registration, a Nashua attorney can offer legal support. Depending on the circumstances, including how long the car has been unregistered, a driver may have a variety of alternatives for responding to these allegations. If a driver has been charged with operating an unregistered vehicle, they must strategically decide their best action plan.
Shepherd & Hayes, PLLC has significant experience representing drivers arrested for driving unregistered vehicles on Nashua roadways. Our legal team can thoroughly investigate the facts underlying your failure to register the vehicle. Additionally, the circumstances of the traffic check or other encounters with law enforcement personnel during which it was discovered that your car was not registered will be taken into account.
We can outline your alternatives for seeking to refute the charges or defend yourself against the assertions that have been made. We can also help you look into measures to mitigate the potential repercussions of driving an unregistered vehicle. When it comes to a crime that could result in jail time, such as driving an unregistered vehicle, making informed decisions in responding to charges becomes even more vital.
Shepherd & Hayes, PLLC Law Can Represent You in Your Expired Registration Case
If you are facing a criminal accusation for having an expired registration, commonly known as an expired tag, you must appear in court to defend yourself. Due to your constitutional right to legal representation, you can typically hire a qualified expired registration attorney to represent you in court.
Contact the Nashua expired registration attorneys at Shepherd & Hayes, PLLC. Our knowledgeable and expert attorneys will vigorously work to defend you against any claimed traffic offense. You will be given a full explanation of all your options for a resolution or trial. Do not let an expired registration ticket lead you to miss a whole day of work due to excessive queues at the courts. Contact us by filling out our online contact form or by calling (603) 233-1626 to schedule a free consultation.