Utah Traffic Crimes Defense Attorney
Last updated on October 29, 2026
The moment you get behind the wheel of a car on a Utah road you are automatically at the mercy of every law enforcement agency who patrols the streets. The possible Utah traffic crimes a driver can commit seem endless. Some of the crimes you can commit while driving a motor vehicle can include:
- Not obeying traffic signals and police officer’s instructions
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Passing on the right
- Failure to operate within one lane
- Having a light out such as a tail light, brake light, headlight, license plate light
- Stopping in a crosswalk
- Failure to repair a damaged airbag
- Expired registration
- Driving without a license
- Driving without insurance
There are myriad other traffic laws that you can break while driving your car. Highway patrol troopers, police officers and deputy sheriffs patrolling city streets, highways and freeways are pretty clever and crafty in figuring out ways to pull you over. Most of the time they use a traffic offense as an excuse to try to find out if you have something else going on like using alcohol or drugs. Defending against traffic crimes in Utah also carries with it the difficulty of overcoming the strict liability nature of most of those offenses.
Infractions Versus Misdemeanor Traffic Offenses In Utah
Understanding the difference between an infraction and a misdemeanor protects your rights and future. Infractions like minor speeding result in fines and points, but they don’t create a criminal record. Misdemeanor traffic offenses in Utah can land you in jail, create a permanent criminal record and suspend your license. Courts treat these as real criminal cases with prosecutors and potential jail time.
Major Utah Traffic Offenses We Defend
We defend clients across Salt Lake City and surrounding counties against serious traffic charges that threaten their freedom and driving privileges.
Reckless Driving And Speed Contests (Utah Code § 41-6a-528)
Reckless driving charges arise when officers claim you drove with willful disregard for safety. These Class B misdemeanors carry up to six months in jail and fines up to $1,000. We challenge pretextual traffic stop defenses and fight to prove you drove safely under the circumstances.
Driving Without A License Or Under Suspension
Utah treats driving under suspension as a Class B or Class C misdemeanor depending on why your license was suspended. Many clients don’t even know their license was suspended until an officer pulls them over. We review your Utah Driver License Division (DLD) records and explore options like a plea in abeyance Utah traffic court arrangements.
Driving Without Insurance (Utah Code § 41-12a-301)
This Class B misdemeanor carries jail time, fines and automatic license suspension. We’ve defended countless clients who had insurance but couldn’t prove it at the traffic stop. Our Utah reckless driving attorney team works to verify coverage dates and protect your driving privileges through both criminal and administrative DLD hearings.
How Traffic Convictions Impact Your Utah Driver’s License
Traffic convictions trigger two consequences: criminal penalties from the court and administrative actions from the DLD. Courts impose fines and jail time, while the DLD adds points, suspends privileges and requires SR-22 insurance. We handle both sides of your case with our in-depth mastery of judicial criminal proceedings and administrative hearings.
Protect Your License And Record
Misdemeanor traffic charges won’t disappear on their own, and showing up to court without an attorney puts your license, your freedom and your clean record at serious risk. Call Salcido Law Firm at 801-810-2045 or use the online contact form to talk to our Utah traffic crimes attorneys today. We offer transparent fee structures with flat fees for uncontested matters and clear retainer models for contested cases.
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