Does Georgia Offer a Prayer for Judgment Plea?

Whether you’ve been assessed a traffic violation for speeding, running a red light, or other minor traffic infractions, you may have heard of the Prayer for Judgment Continued, or simply PJC, for short. A simple and straightforward means to avoiding fines and points against your driver’s license, a Prayer for Judgment Continued is frequently used by individuals in applicable states and counties.

And if you’ve received a traffic violation in Atlanta or within the state of Georgia, you may be wondering, does Georgia offer a Prayer for Judgment plea?

Below, we are going to look at just whether or not Atlanta, and Georgia as a whole, offers the Prayer for Judgment continued and what your other options may be to utilize a similar plea deal when negotiating down minor traffic infractions.

How Does a Prayer for Judgment Work?

A Prayer for Judgment Continued plea is not a “get out of jail free card” nor is it guaranteed to work. However, to briefly explain just what a Prayer for Judgment Continued is, it is a guilty plea which, if granted, allows you to both avoid paying the citation fine and having points assessed against your driver’s license or insurance record.

However, if the PJC is granted, you will still have to pay the court fees assessed.

A Prayer for Judgment Continued is a great option if you are looking to avoid costly traffic violations and points against your driving record or insurance record. However, they are not always granted and many times have certain stipulations alongside them.

What Are the Rules for Using a Prayer for Judgment?

As traffic citations are meant to encourage orderly behavior, a simple waiver of the citation cannot be abused. Therefore, there are a few stipulations and criteria which must be met before a PJC can be granted.

However, it is also important to understand the two different kinds of points you can receive due to a traffic violation.

Firstly, there are points that go against your driver’s license status with the Georgia Department of Driver Services and then there are insurance points. Insurance points are what cause your rate and cost of insurance to go up. Driver’s license points can eventually cause you to lose your license if you accumulate too many in a short period of time.

Requesting, and being granted a Prayer for Judgment Continued, essentially allows you to avoid both forms of points, with neither the Georgia Department of Driver Services nor your car insurance company being notified of the traffic violation.

When Isn’t a Prayer for Judgment an Option?

While a Prayer for Judgment Continued plea sounds like a great option, there are some rules which prohibit certain infractions or drivers from utilizing the plea. For the below cases, the infraction is often considered too severe to plead guilty and request a Prayer for Judgment Continued and will be automatically denied.

That said, the Prayer for Judgment Continued plea will not be granted, or made available, to the following:

• If your speeding ticket cites you as going 25 miles per hour or more over the speed limit
• If you have a commercial driver’s license
• If you were charged with a DUI/DWI

Does Atlanta or Georgia Offer a Prayer for Judgment Continued?

However, if you are looking to utilize the Prayer for Judgment Continued plea in Atlanta or Georgia, you will find that neither the city nor the state offer such an option. Rather, the Prayer for Judgment Continued is currently only available in the state of North Carolina.

And although neither Atlanta nor Georgia offer a Prayer for Judgment Continued, there are a few options available to you which may act as an alternative to the plea.

Nolo Contendere Plea in Georgia

A nolo contendere Plea in Georgia is one of the best options in Georgia. Taken from latin, nolo contendere roughly translates to, “I do not wish to contend” or simply, “no contest”.

In fact, Georgia courts themselves have defined nolo contendere pleas as, “a plea of nolo contendere is defined as an assertion by the defendant that the defendant does not desire to contest the truth of the charges . . . . Thus, it is not a plea of not guilty, nor is it a plea of guilty. Rather, it lies approximately midway between the two extremes.”

Essentially, entering a nolo contendere plea to a charge is neither admitting nor denying the charge. However, it is an acceptance of the charges and a willingness to face the consequences of the charge, without admitting to guilt of the crime.

Benefits of Entering Into a Nolo Plea in Georgia

In Georgia, a nolo contendere plea can be an extremely effective way to resolve misdemeanor traffic offense without the consequences of a guilty plea. Georgia residents age 21 and up are allowed to plead nolo contendere once every 5 years. This can help them protect their license and their criminal and driving histories.

As such, by entering into a nolo contendere, residents or individuals in Atlanta or Georgia are able to face the consequences of their actions, without having to admit guilt. This distinction is important as admitting to guilt can open an individual to further consequences in a civil court or with their insurance company.

However, by agreeing into a nolo contendere plea for a traffic citation, an individual will agree to pay a the fine and have the ensure the points aren’t assigned to their license or insurance. The violation though will still be added to an individual’s driving record.

What Are the Limits to a Nolo Contendere Plea?

In some cases, entering a nolo contendere plea is simply not an option. Typically prohibited for more severe infractions, the nolo contendere plea will also not avoid points for certain drivers below the age of 18 or 21.

• They do not prevent points for anyone under age 18, or under age 21 for serious traffic offenses.
• They do not prevent a license suspension connected to the charge itself (i.e. DUI).
• A judge has to agree to allow an individual to enter a nolo contendere plea. If the judge doesn’t consent to the plea, that individual will have to choose between pleading guilty or going to trial.
• For traffic violations, you can only enter one nolo contendere plea every five years in Atlanta or Georgia. If you have used this option too recently, your plea will be treated like a guilty plea, with all the consequences that come with that.
• Nolo contendere pleas don’t reduce the penalty for the charges.
• Depending on the charges, there may be alternatives or diversion programs that could avoid conviction entirely.

What to do if You Get a Traffic Ticket in Atlanta or Georgia?

Traffic tickets are never fun and can be stressful events. However, hiring an expert law team to represent you is simply the best option in the event that you do receive a traffic violation. These lawyers are typically specifically trained to help with traffic violations and can help you to avoid costly traffic tickets and points to your insurance.