Traffic Ticket Lawyer in Harrisburg.

Yes. You have 30 days from the MDJ guilty verdict to file a summary appeal to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas for a new trial. See our summary appeals page for the deadline and process.

Usually no. Paying a citation is the same as pleading guilty — points hit your record, your insurance rates can rise for years, and certain violations trigger PennDOT license suspensions or CDL disqualifications. Many tickets can be reduced to non-point violations through negotiation or beaten on the merits at a summary trial.

Pennsylvania uses a point system where 6 or more points triggers a written exam, suspension hearing, or other PennDOT action depending on your record. Repeated 6-point accumulations bring escalating suspensions. Two points are removed for each 12 months without a violation. Some serious offenses also carry automatic suspensions regardless of point total.

Yes. Federal regulations treat CDL holders more strictly than regular drivers — even off-duty in a personal vehicle. Two 'serious traffic violations' (15+ mph over the limit, reckless driving, improper lane change, following too closely) within three years triggers a 60-day disqualification; three triggers 120 days. A DUI or refusal is one year for a first offense.

Section 1543(a) carries a $200 fine and a one-year credit-card extension of the suspension. Section 1543(b) — driving on a DUI-related suspension — carries mandatory jail (60–90 days minimum, more for repeats), large fines, and additional suspension. These are not citations to ignore; they almost always benefit from an attorney.

For most summary traffic citations you can plead not guilty and request a summary trial in front of a magisterial district judge. An attorney can often appear on your behalf or negotiate with the citing officer before the hearing — many cases resolve without you needing to take time off work.