A speeding ticket 25 mph over the limit doesn’t just mean a fine. It means six points on your license, sky-high insurance premiums, and potential suspension if you already have violations on your record. The difference between fighting your charge and accepting a plea can determine whether you keep driving or spend months taking the bus to work.
We handle high-stakes traffic cases throughout Colorado. With over 22 years of criminal defense experience, our team knows when aggressive courtroom defense makes sense and when negotiation serves you better. Mr. Kianpour graduated top of his class in Criminal Law and has successfully defended thousands of clients against traffic charges across the Denver Front Range.
Understanding Colorado’s Point System and License Suspension
Colorado uses a point system to track driving violations. Accumulate 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months, and the DMV suspends your license automatically. Points add up faster than most people realize.
How Points Accumulate
Reckless driving puts eight points on your record in a single stop. Careless driving adds four points. A speeding ticket 10 to 19 mph over the limit adds four points, while any speeding ticket 20 mph or more over the limit adds six points. Two moderate speeding tickets within a year can trigger suspension.
There’s an important legal distinction between speeding violations. Tickets for 20 to 24 mph over the limit are infractions and carry no jail time. However, speeding 25 to 39 mph over the limit is a traffic misdemeanor and can carry 10 to 90 days in jail in addition to the six points on your license.
Points stay on your record for seven years in Colorado, though they only count toward suspension thresholds for the first 12 to 24 months. Still, insurance companies see all points and raise your rates accordingly. You may pay thousands more in premiums over several years following a single high-point conviction.
High-Point Violations Where Fighting Makes Sense
Reckless driving carries the steepest penalty at eight points. This charge is a Class 2 misdemeanor, creating a permanent criminal record beyond the points. Prosecutors must prove you drove with willful or wanton disregard for safety. Many reckless driving charges stem from high speeds, aggressive lane changes, or accidents, but the actual circumstances often tell a different story. Weather conditions, road hazards, and equipment malfunctions can explain driving that looks reckless but wasn’t.
Hit and run charges require immediate legal attention. Leaving an accident scene carries criminal penalties, points, and license consequences. Prosecutors must prove you knew an accident occurred, which becomes difficult in parking lot bumps or minor contact during lane changes. Many drivers genuinely don’t realize they’ve touched another vehicle, especially in congested traffic or poor visibility.
Driving under restraint means operating a vehicle with a suspended, revoked, or denied license. This violation adds 12 points and carries potential jail time. However, many drivers never receive proper notice of their suspension. DMV mailings get lost, addresses change, and notices arrive after people have already driven. If you can show you lacked knowledge of the suspension, you may get the charge dismissed.
Speed exhibition cases, or street racing charges, add eight points and carry up to one year in jail. Police often mistake normal driving for racing. Two sports cars accelerating from a stoplight or two friends driving to the same destination don’t necessarily constitute a speed contest. The prosecution must prove you raced, not just drove fast near another vehicle.
When Negotiating a Plea Is the Better Strategy
Not every traffic case requires trial. When evidence strongly supports the charge or when you need to minimize points quickly, plea negotiations make sense. A skilled traffic defense attorney can often reduce charges in ways that cut your points significantly.
Common Plea Reductions
Prosecutors often reduce four-point speeding tickets to two-point defective speedometer violations. This reduction cuts your points in half and may prevent suspension if you’re close to the threshold. A six-point excessive speed ticket might become a four-point standard speeding violation or even a no-point equipment violation in some cases.
Careless driving charges sometimes reduce to improper lane change or other lower-point violations. These reductions depend on the circumstances, your driving record, and the prosecutor’s willingness to negotiate. First-time offenders typically get better plea offers than repeat violators.
Factors Favoring Negotiation
Time and expense matter when deciding strategy. Fighting a two-point speeding ticket costs more in attorney fees and lost work time than the long-term insurance impact for many people. If your record is clean and you can afford slightly higher premiums, accepting a reduced plea may be practical.
Your driving history plays the biggest role. If you’re approaching 12 or 18 points, every violation becomes critical and fighting makes sense. But if you have a clean record and this is your first ticket in years, negotiating one two-point violation won’t drastically impact your situation.
The strength of the prosecution’s evidence also determines strategy. When radar calibration records are solid, the officer followed proper procedures, and video footage supports the charge, negotiating becomes more attractive than risking trial and potentially facing the full charge.
Special Situations Requiring Different Approaches
Commercial drivers face federal regulations beyond Colorado law. A four-point ticket that’s minor for most people can end a CDL career. Commercial drivers need aggressive defense even on seemingly routine violations because their livelihood depends on maintaining specific standards.
Out-of-state drivers think paying the fine avoids hassle, but most states have reciprocal agreements with Colorado. A conviction here adds points to your home state license. We offer teleconferencing for out-of-state clients, allowing you to contest your ticket without returning to Colorado.
The Real Cost of Points Beyond Fines
Insurance rate increases hurt more than tickets. A single four-point violation raises premiums 20 to 40 percent for most drivers. Over three years, you may pay $2,000 to $4,000 extra. Multiple violations compound these increases, and some insurers drop drivers with too many points entirely. Finding new coverage after being dropped costs significantly more.
Employment consequences affect anyone who drives for work. Delivery drivers, sales representatives, home health aides, and many other professionals need clean licenses. Some employers set maximum point thresholds, and exceeding them costs you your job. Even if your employer doesn’t fire you, a suspended license makes getting to work nearly impossible without reliable transportation alternatives.
Contact Shazam Kianpour & Associates
Traffic violations carry consequences far beyond the initial fine. Points threaten your license, your insurance rates, and potentially your employment. Mr. Kianpour has defended thousands of traffic cases across Colorado and the Denver Front Range over 22 years of practice. Our firm has achieved recognition from the National Trial Lawyers and Superlawyers for criminal and traffic defense work.
Whether you face reckless driving charges, excessive speeding tickets, or license suspension threats, we provide the aggressive defense or strategic negotiation your case requires. We handle cases throughout Colorado and offer teleconferencing for out-of-state drivers. Contact our office to discuss your traffic violation and learn how we can protect your driving record and your future.