No commercial driver likes to sit in a courtroom waiting for their name to be called to resolve a traffic ticket.
While avoiding the legal consequences is more important, a “top” reason to hire a commercial traffic attorney is often avoiding court time. Turning down a load to attend the arraignment and trial could harm your family budget and outrage your fleet manager.
However, a seasoned commercial driver knows how fast one ticket can change everything.
When your CDL and livelihood are at risk, it’s crucial to hire a commercial traffic attorney who understands how to protect both.
A conviction for even a minor moving violation can mean higher insurance costs, DOT FMCSA penalties, and lost opportunities with employers.
Reason #1—To Protect Your CDL and Driving Career
Your commercial license represents years of hard work and dedication. Losing it isn’t just inconvenient—it threatens your ability to support yourself and your family.
In Woodland, CA, and along I-5, CHP officers frequently monitor speed and lane compliance for commercial vehicles.
An experienced and knowledgeable traffic attorney can help preserve your CDL by identifying legal options that reduce risk or get the case dismissed.
Did you know there are more than 350 misdemeanor offenses when hauling hazardous materials? These can trigger serious FMCSA consequences and jeopardize not only your career but your reputation and criminal record.
Our firm knows how to challenge these charges to keep drivers on the road.
Reason #2— To Avoid Costly Fleet Insurance Rate Increases
A ticket on your record can lead to skyrocketing fleet premiums.
Carriers review your driving history closely through the CA DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) Program and the FMCSA PSP, and one conviction can jeopardize your driving position.
When you hire a commercial traffic attorney, they can contest the commercial traffic ticket in Woodland Courthouse and minimize long-term financial damage.
Your clean record means job security and stable insurance costs — both worth defending.
Reason #3—Save Time and Money
Truckers can’t afford to sit in court all day. An attorney can appear in court for you, saving lost income and travel time.
Legal representation also means you won’t need to navigate the system alone. We can often reduce charges to a no-point conviction or penalties while you continue your route through Woodland on I-5 or down State Route 113, which intersects with Interstate 80 near Davis.
Reason #4—A Commercial Traffic Attorney Understands Complex Traffic Laws
California holds CDL drivers to higher standards. Our attorneys handle a wide range of commercial violations, including:
- Overweight truck tickets
- Speeding in a CMV
- Logbook and Hours-of-Service issues
- Vehicle safety and maintenance citations
- Commercial vehicle lane restrictions on I-5, US 101, SR-99, and SR-113
Understanding these rules can make or break a driver’s future. When you hire a commercial traffic attorney, you get someone who knows the details — and how to use them to your advantage.
Reason #5—Challenge the Evidence in Court
Many drivers assume it’s impossible to win in a dispute with a CA law enforcement officer in court. That’s not true.
Officers and radar devices can make mistakes. An experienced attorney can examine every detail — from calibration records to procedural errors — and build reasonable doubt in court to gain an acquittal on your behalf.
We aim to secure dismissals whenever possible and protect your CDL from avoidable points or FMCSA reporting.
Although these are numbered one to five, there’s no real answer to which is the most or least important for the commercial driver.
For one driver, the most important might be to avoid court and stay on the road; for another, it might be keeping a clean driving record and enjoying the ability to negotiate better pay and benefits from a position of strength.
Ask Bigger & Harman, APC, to Hire a Commercial Traffic Attorney for Woodland, CA
If you’re a CDL holder facing a ticket in Woodland, don’t take chances.
A conviction can follow you for years through DOT databases and background checks. Let us review your case, explain your legal options, and work to resolve your traffic ticket in court on your behalf.
We regularly represent commercial drivers in the Woodland Courthouse in Yolo County and across California to assist drivers with tickets. Call Bigger & Harman at (661) 349-9300 or 349-9755 (para Español). You can also email attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com or use our automated contact form.
We’ve helped thousands of commercial drivers across California keep their records clean and stay on the road.
Download our e-book, Protecting Your Commercial Driver License.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Section
Q: Can a commercial traffic attorney handle a misdemeanor offense?
A: At Bigger & Harman, we regularly defend CDL drivers accused of misdemeanor speeding and other commercial trucking violations.
Q: Are speed traps legal in California?
A: No, unjustified speed traps are illegal in California, but most common speed enforcement methods are legal. An illegal speed trap encompasses several different types including measuring a vehicle's speed by calculating the time it takes to travel between two points on a specific section of highway that has been marked for this purpose. However, using a RADAR/LIDAR gun to monitor traffic is legal.
Q: Is it true that if the law enforcement officer (LEO) who ticketed me doesn’t show up in court, my ticket will be thrown out?
A: That’s partially true. The LEO who issued you a ticket is required to be at your trial, but not at the arraignment. While the absence at trial often results in a dismissal, the judge has the final decision and could choose to reschedule the case, especially if there was a valid reason for the officer's absence. Sometimes the case is rescheduled because the proper objection was not raised. That’s one of the reasons it's vital to have a knowledgeable attorney represent you.