Key Information at a Glance
Charged with a Speeding Ticket, Reckless Driving, or DUI? We Defend Drivers and Protect Your License. A traffic charge is more than an inconvenience; it’s a legal challenge that can threaten your license, your financial stability, and even your freedom. At Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., we are not a general practice firm. We are a dedicated criminal traffic defense firm focused exclusively on defending drivers. For over two decades, I and my team have stood beside thousands of clients in courtrooms across Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New York, and New Jersey. We understand the nuances of each state’s laws and the specific procedures of their traffic court systems.
Whether you’re an out-of-state driver caught speeding through Virginia, a CDL holder facing a career-ending ticket in New Jersey, or a resident dealing with a first-offense DUI in Maryland, our purpose is to provide a robust, knowledgeable defense. We only represent the accused. Our entire practice is built around challenging the state’s case against you and working tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome, whether that’s a reduction of the charge, a dismissal, or an acquittal at trial. Your driving record is a valuable asset, and we are here to help you protect it.
A traffic conviction is not merely about paying a fine. It can trigger a cascade of negative consequences, including DMV demerit points, dramatic insurance premium hikes, license suspension or revocation, and in cases of serious offenses like DUI or reckless driving, substantial fines and even jail time.
Many drivers mistakenly believe that a traffic violation is a minor issue they can handle by simply paying the ticket online. This is often an admission of guilt that results in a conviction on your permanent driving record. As a driving defense attorney with decades of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how a single conviction can derail a career, especially for commercial drivers or those who rely on a clean record for their employment.
The specific penalties vary significantly across the jurisdictions we serve. For example:
Beyond the immediate court-imposed penalties, a conviction can lead to a “high-risk” designation by your insurance carrier, causing your rates to skyrocket for years. For these reasons, contesting a charge with the help of a knowledgeable legal team is not an overreaction; it is a prudent step to protect your future.
The legal process for a traffic violation begins the moment you see flashing lights in your rearview mirror and ends with a final court disposition. This journey involves interactions with law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges within specific court systems, each with its own rules and procedures.
Understanding the basic flow is critical. After you are issued a summons or arrested, a court date is set. This is not a suggestion; it is a legal command to appear. For many people, especially those charged from out of state, this is the most daunting part. The case will be heard in a specific court depending on the location and severity of the charge.
Our firm is adept at managing cases across these key venues:
Our role as your driving defense attorney is to intervene at every critical stage. We begin by analyzing the evidence—the officer’s notes, calibration records for speed measurement devices, and any available video footage. We then identify procedural errors or weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case. Depending on the jurisdiction and the facts, our strategy may involve negotiating for a reduction to a non-moving violation, arguing for a complete dismissal based on a legal defect, or defending your case vigorously at trial. Having a seasoned attorney who regularly appears in these specific courts is an invaluable advantage.
Our firm provides dedicated representation across the full spectrum of traffic and criminal driving offenses. We understand that each charge carries unique legal standards and requires a tailored defense strategy. Below are the core areas of our practice.
As a seasoned speeding ticket lawyer, I know that what seems like a simple citation can have lasting consequences. Fighting a speeding ticket is about more than avoiding a fine; it’s about protecting your driving record from points and preventing insurance increases. We handle everything from minor infractions to high-speed ticket defense for charges of excessive speeding, such as 20, 30, or 40 MPH over the limit, which can often be charged as more serious offenses. We also defend clients charged with speeding in a school zone or work zone, which carry enhanced penalties, and provide defense for CDL speeding tickets where a driver’s career is on the line.
In many states, particularly Virginia, a reckless driving charge is a serious criminal misdemeanor, not a traffic infraction. As a reckless driving lawyer, our primary goal is to mitigate this severe charge. We handle all forms of reckless driving defense, including the common charge of reckless driving by speed. Whether you’re facing an aggressive driving charge in Maryland or need to contest a reckless driving ticket in VA, we build defenses that challenge the officer’s evidence and subjective judgment. We also represent clients facing related charges like reckless endangerment with a vehicle.
A charge of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is one of the most serious accusations a driver can face. As a DUI defense attorney, I have dedicated a significant part of my career to defending these complex cases. We scrutinize every aspect of the stop, the administration of field sobriety tests, and the breathalyzer or blood test procedures. Our DWI defense lawyers handle first offense DUI/DWI cases, subsequent offenses, breathalyzer refusal defense, and DUI Drugs (DUID) defense. The science is complex, and the procedural requirements are strict; our role is to hold the state to its high burden of proof.
The privilege to drive is essential. When you are charged with an offense that threatens that privilege, you need immediate legal assistance. As a lawyer for driving on a suspended license, we understand the severe penalties, which can include mandatory jail time and additional, lengthy license suspensions. We also represent clients charged with driving without a license or driving with a revoked license. For commercial drivers, we act as a CDL suspension attorney to protect their livelihood. Our ultimate goals are to avoid points on your license, protect your driving record, and assist with driver’s license reinstatement where possible.
When an accident occurs, law enforcement often rushes to assign blame by issuing a ticket. As a hit and run defense attorney, we handle serious felony charges for leaving the scene of an accident. We also provide at-fault accident defense for infractions like a failure to yield accident charge or a following too closely ticket. These tickets can have a major impact on your insurance and civil liability. Our job is to defend you against the traffic charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident and protect you from unfair blame.
Our moving violation defense practice covers the full range of common citations. We are experienced red light camera ticket lawyers and regularly defend clients against charges of running a red light or a stop sign violation. We can help if you’ve received an improper turn ticket, an HOV violation, a citation for passing a stopped school bus, or a charge for failure to obey a traffic signal. While seemingly minor, these violations can accumulate points and lead to suspension, making a strong defense essential.
As a CDL traffic ticket attorney, we recognize that commercial drivers are held to a higher standard and the consequences of a conviction are far more severe. We work to protect your CDL. Our commercial driver violation lawyers defend against logbook violations, overweight truck tickets, equipment violations, and any moving violation that could jeopardize your career. We understand the CSA scoring system and the importance of keeping your record clean.
Our multi-state practice is a key advantage for our clients. We have cultivated deep knowledge of the traffic laws and court customs in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., New York, and New Jersey.
Traffic law is intensely local. The strategy that works in a Fairfax County courtroom may be ineffective in a New York City TVB hearing. Our experience across this entire region allows us to provide knowledgeable counsel whether you are a local resident or an out-of-state driver who received a summons while traveling.
As a Virginia traffic lawyer, we have extensive experience in courts throughout the Commonwealth. We frequently represent clients in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, Arlington, Loudoun County, and Prince William County, as well as in Richmond and surrounding areas. We are particularly seasoned in defending against Virginia’s notoriously strict Reckless Driving laws.
Our Maryland traffic lawyers regularly appear in the District Courts of Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Howard County. We defend clients in cases originating from traffic stops in major hubs like Baltimore, Silver Spring, and Rockville, handling everything from payable citations to jailable offenses like DUI.
Defending drivers in the District of Columbia requires a specific understanding of the D.C. Superior Court’s procedures. We handle all DC traffic violation defense matters, protecting both local residents and commuters from Virginia and Maryland who are cited within the District.
As a New York traffic attorney, our practice spans the five boroughs of New York City (NYC)—Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan—and the surrounding suburbs. We represent clients on Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk County) and in Westchester County. We are well-versed in the unique, non-negotiable environment of the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) as well as the local town and village courts.
Our New Jersey traffic attorneys handle cases in Municipal Courts throughout the state, from North Jersey to South Jersey. We have a strong presence in the busy courts of Bergen County, Hudson County, and Essex County, representing clients from major cities like Newark and Jersey City against a variety of motor vehicle offenses.
In the aftermath of an accident, it is easy to make unintentional errors that insurance companies can exploit to reduce or deny your rightful compensation. Avoiding these common pitfalls is essential for protecting the value and integrity of your personal injury claim. Our experience has shown us what to watch out for.
A Driver Made a Left Turn in Front of My Motorcycle in Fairfax, Virginia.
This is a classic and dangerous scenario. The driver of the car will likely claim you were speeding or that they “never saw you.” In Virginia, because of the strict contributory negligence law, their insurance company will use this as a reason to deny your claim, arguing you were partially at fault. Our immediate focus would be on securing physical evidence from the scene, locating any traffic or dash-cam footage, and identifying independent witnesses to prove the driver’s sole responsibility for the crash.
I Was Rear-Ended by a Distracted Driver in Newark, New Jersey.
In this situation, liability is often clear, but the challenge becomes proving the full extent of your damages, especially for common motorcycle injuries like spinal cord compression or a TBI. New Jersey’s modified comparative negligence rule means the insurer might still try to argue you did something to contribute (e.g., your brake lights weren’t working) to reduce their payout. We would focus on proving the other driver’s distraction and working with medical and economic professionals to quantify the complete, long-term cost of your injuries.
My Spouse Was Killed in a Hit-and-Run Motorcycle Accident in Queens, New York.
This is a devastating situation that combines a wrongful death claim with the complexities of a hit-and-run. Our first priority would be to work with law enforcement to identify the fleeing driver. Simultaneously, we would open a claim under your own policy’s Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. In New York, this coverage is mandatory and designed for precisely this situation. We would navigate the intricate process of filing a wrongful death action while managing the UM claim to secure the financial support your family is entitled to.
The value of any personal injury case depends on several factors: the severity of your injuries, the total of your medical bills, the amount of your lost wages, your long-term prognosis, and the state where the accident occurred. There is no "average settlement" because every case is unique. A detailed case assessment is required to provide a realistic valuation.
No. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we only earn a fee if we successfully recover compensation for you, either through a settlement or a court verdict. You pay us nothing out-of-pocket.
No. We strongly advise against giving a recorded statement to the at-fault party's insurer without legal representation. Their goal is not to help you; it is to find reasons to minimize or deny your claim. Politely decline and direct them to your attorney.
It makes your case significantly more challenging. The insurance company only needs to convince a jury that you were 1% at fault to deny you any recovery. This is why immediate, thorough investigation to prove the other party was 100% at fault is absolutely critical in these states.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance or is a hit-and-run driver. Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their policy limits are too low to cover the full extent of your damages. Both involve making a claim against your own insurance policy.
The legality and impact of lane-splitting (or filtering) vary. While it is not explicitly legal in New York for passing, how it impacts your claim can be complex. Under NY's pure comparative negligence, even if you are assigned some fault, you are not automatically barred from recovery. The specific circumstances of the accident would need to be carefully analyzed.
The timeline can range from a few months for a straightforward settlement to several years for a complex case that goes to trial. Factors include the severity of your injuries, how long your medical treatment lasts, and whether the insurance company is willing to negotiate fairly.
This depends on the state. In states with mandatory helmet laws (like NY, NJ, MD, VA), not wearing one can be used by the defense to argue your injuries (specifically head injuries) were worsened by your own actions, potentially reducing your compensation. However, it does not typically bar your claim entirely for injuries to other parts of your body or for the accident itself.
Even in "obvious" fault cases, insurance companies are businesses designed to pay out as little as possible. They will undervalue your pain and suffering, dispute the necessity of your medical treatment, and try to settle quickly for a fraction of your claim's true worth. A seasoned attorney levels the playing field and fights for the full value of your damages.
Do not accept or cash the check without seeking a legal case assessment. Cashing that check is almost always considered a final settlement of your claim, preventing you from ever seeking additional compensation, even if your injuries turn out to be more severe than you initially thought.
When you are facing the aftermath of a serious accident, you need more than just a lawyer. You need an advocate with decades of hard-won experience who understands the law, the opposition, and the personal turmoil you are experiencing. At Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., we provide the knowledgeable guidance and determined representation needed to navigate the path forward.
If you or a loved one has been injured in Virginia, Maryland, D.C., New York, or New Jersey, we invite you to reach out to our firm. Let our experience work for you.
Contact Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at 888-437-7747 to schedule a confidential case assessment.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
Criminal Defense & Family Law
Mr. SRIS Licensed in VA, MD, NJ, NY, DCOwner & CEO – Former Prosecutor