Orlando Traffic Violations Lawyer

Legally Reviewed by Simon Wiseman on May 27, 2026

In Florida, a traffic ticket is rarely just a ticket. Depending on the violation, you could be looking at points on your license, a suspension, steep insurance increases, or criminal charges that carry real jail time. Florida treats several offenses that other states handle as civil matters — including driving on a suspended license — as criminal violations that can result in arrest and prosecution. If you received a citation or are facing more serious traffic-related charges in Orlando, understanding your options quickly matters.

At The Wiseman Law Firm, Attorney Simon Wiseman has more than 25 years of experience in the Central Florida courts. As a former state prosecutor in Orange County, he built cases across the full spectrum of criminal and traffic offenses — and he now uses that knowledge to defend people on the other side. Whether you are dealing with a speeding ticket that could tip your license into suspension or a reckless driving charge that carries criminal penalties, he can evaluate your situation and tell you exactly what you are facing.

Traffic Violations The Wiseman Law Firm Defends in Orlando

Florida’s traffic laws range from civil infractions to serious criminal charges. Attorney Wiseman handles both ends of that spectrum, including the following violations:

• Reckless driving: A criminal offense under Florida Statute § 316.192, defined as driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Fleeing a law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle is reckless driving per se under Florida law
• Careless driving: A civil infraction — not a criminal offense — but one that carries four points and fines between $160 and $500. Often charged when an officer uses a broad catch-all for driving behavior that endangered others
• Speeding: Minor speeding adds three or four points depending on how far over the limit; excessive speeding can escalate to reckless driving charges
• Driving on a suspended or revoked license: Unlike many states, Florida criminalizes this — it is a second-degree misdemeanor with up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Repeat offenses escalate to first-degree misdemeanors or felonies
• Hit and run: Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious offense that can be charged as a felony depending on whether injuries or property damage were involved — learn more about hit and run charges
• Racing on public roads: Street racing and drag racing are criminal offenses in Florida that carry license revocation and potential felony charges
• Red light and school bus violations: These carry points, fines, and in some circumstances — such as passing a stopped school bus — mandatory driver improvement courses

Florida also treats certain drivers differently depending on their license type and history. Commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders face additional reporting requirements and heightened consequences for violations, and drivers designated as habitual traffic offenders face five-year license revocations.

Florida’s License Point System — What the Thresholds Mean

Every moving violation conviction in Florida adds points to your driver’s license. Those points accumulate, and once they cross certain thresholds within set time windows, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) will suspend your license automatically — no hearing required. Under Florida’s point system, accumulating 12 points within 12 months triggers a 30-day suspension, 18 points within 18 months results in a three-month suspension, and 24 points within 36 months brings a one-year suspension.

Common violations and their point values include: speeding less than 15 mph over the limit (3 points), speeding 15 mph or more over the limit (4 points), reckless driving (4 points), leaving the scene of an accident with property damage (6 points), and passing a stopped school bus (4 points). The practical impact is significant — a driver who picks up two speeding tickets and a reckless driving charge within a year could easily cross the 12-point threshold. Attorney Wiseman can review your current point total and advise whether fighting a specific citation is worth prioritizing.

When Traffic Violations Become Criminal Charges in Florida

This is the piece most people don’t fully appreciate until it’s too late: Florida criminalizes traffic offenses that other states treat as minor civil matters. Reckless driving — even a first offense with no bodily injury — is a second-degree misdemeanor carrying up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. If reckless driving causes serious bodily injury, it becomes a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Driving on a suspended license, even if the suspension was for something as routine as unpaid tickets, is also a criminal offense. A felony charge is possible for repeat offenders, and a conviction goes on your permanent criminal record. A DUI charge arising from a traffic stop compounds these consequences dramatically, with mandatory license revocation, ignition interlock requirements, and potential prison time. Understanding from the start whether your traffic matter is civil or criminal — and what that means for your options — is where Attorney Wiseman’s background as a former prosecutor makes a real difference.

Common Defenses to Traffic Violations in Orlando

Traffic charges are not automatically airtight just because an officer issued a citation. A number of legal and factual arguments can be raised depending on how the violation was detected and documented. Effective defenses frequently include the following:

• Challenging officer testimony: If the citing officer fails to appear in court, the case is typically dismissed. A traffic violation lawyer can position your case to take advantage of this outcome
• Disputing radar or speed measurement evidence: Radar and LIDAR devices require proper calibration and must be operated correctly. Gaps in calibration records or improper use can undermine the State’s evidence
• Contesting red light camera citations: Automated camera systems can malfunction or misidentify vehicles. The prosecution must prove the identity of the driver and the reliability of the equipment
• Signage and visibility issues: Speed limit signs, no-passing zones, and school zone designations must meet specific visibility and posting requirements. If signage was obscured or improperly placed, the citation may not hold
• Necessity or emergency: In limited circumstances, driving behavior that would otherwise constitute a violation can be legally justified by an emergency

Even in cases where a full dismissal is unlikely, an experienced traffic attorney can often negotiate a reduction in charges — for example, reducing a reckless driving charge to careless driving, which avoids criminal prosecution entirely.

Contact The Wiseman Law Firm About Your Traffic Charges in Orlando

Attorney Simon Wiseman has spent more than 25 years navigating Orange County’s courts — first as a state prosecutor trying cases at the highest levels of the criminal justice system, and for over two decades since as a defense attorney protecting clients from the consequences of traffic and criminal charges. His clients recognize him with 5-star Google ratings for his responsiveness, attention to detail, and results. He is available 24 hours a day because traffic arrests and urgent court deadlines do not wait for business hours.

If you have received a traffic citation or are facing criminal traffic charges in Orlando, do not simply pay the fine and move on without understanding the full impact on your driving record and insurance. Contact The Wiseman Law Firm through our online contact form to schedule your free and confidential consultation today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Traffic Violations in Orlando