You are not required to have a lawyer for a Rhode Island speeding ticket, but for many drivers it pays off. A lawyer who appears at the Traffic Tribunal regularly knows how to question the speed measurement, how to use the officer's absence to your advantage, and which violations can be reduced to a non-moving offense that keeps points and insurance increases off your record. In many cases the attorney can appear for you, so you do not have to take time off work. The value is clearest on higher-speed tickets, where the potential insurance increase over several years can far exceed the cost of representation. For a very minor ticket the math is closer, but whenever a suspension or a significant rate hike is on the line, having a lawyer review the ticket is worth it.
