Since there are eight photo-enforced intersections, many drivers are now asking should I hire a lawyer for a red-light ticket in Bakersfield, CA.
Every situation is different. You should consult a Bakersfield traffic ticket attorney about your situation before deciding to pay the fine.
You could risk an extreme rise in insurance premiums (nearly $1,800 over the next three years), accept Traffic Violator School (TVS), or hire a lawyer to dispute the ticket in court.
What Does a Rise in Insurance Premiums Mean for My Family Budget?
Since the average Californian will pay about $2,975 for full coverage auto insurance in 2025, according to Bankrate.com, $2,795 annually or $233 monthly in Bakersfield, a loss of their “20% good driver’s discount” would mean an additional $559 annually for Bakersfield families.
What’s more, your insurance provider will likely add another 10 to 12% for residual risk associated with running a red light to your premium.
This could make your premium at renewal around $3,410 or about $284 monthly.
Your lost discount will likely remain for the three years your paid fine/conviction will stay on your motor vehicle driving record (MVR).
However, the price will likely continue to go up as it does every year.
Should I Use TVS to Avoid an Insurance Premium Increase?
Once again, your best option is to consult a Bakersfield traffic ticket attorney. Several stipulations could make attending TVS impossible or more expensive with no gain.
First, you must be eligible. Eligibility is normally restricted to those with a valid CA driver’s license who were ticketed for a minor infraction in their personal vehicle (it is not authorized for commercial vehicles).
You cannot have used it to mask a traffic conviction within the previous 18 months.
Then, you must plead guilty and pay the full fine, and Kern County administrative fee before the county clerk or traffic court judge allows you to take the course online or in person.
That could mean an initial outlay of nearly $600. Then, you must pay the tuition and complete the course before the court-ordered date of completion.
If you miss the completion date, the conviction will be entered on your record with full public access, including your insurance provider.
If you are a Class A driver then the conviction will not be confidential even with traffic school. If you have a good defense on this ticket and don’t fight it, you may not have a non point or traffic school available for next time around.
Should I Hire a Lawyer for a Red-Light Ticket in Bakersfield, CA?
If you’re not eligible for TVS, a traffic lawyer advises it, and you don’t want to pay the $490 fine and the additional auto insurance premiums without a fight, you should.
Sure, there are no guarantees. You could pay the lawyer’s fee and have to pay the fine, too. But most people who use a traffic attorney to dispute a photo-enforced red-light ticket have a much better chance of getting it dismissed or downgraded.
Especially when the photo is blurred, or the owner of the vehicle was not driving—then your odds go way up with legal representation.
With legal representation, you won’t have to take the fifth when the judge asks who was driving. If the driver was someone on your insurance policy and you have to name them, you will pay the increased insurance.
Ask Bigger & Harman, Should I Hire a Lawyer for a Red-Light Ticket in Bakersfield, CA
If you need resolution of a red-light ticket in Bakersfield Courthouse in Kern County, contact the Bakersfield traffic ticket attorneys, Bigger & Harman, APC.
Give us a call at (661) 349-9300. Se habla Español 349-9755.
Please email us attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com or use our convenient contact form to schedule a consultation.
References:
Average cost of car insurance in CA for 2025—Bankrate.com.