Municipal Court of Atlanta's Pre Trial Intervention Program
Lots of people get traffic tickets in the City of Atlanta. And they all end up with a court date on Garnett Street unless the ticket is paid online, which is pleading guilty and usually a bad idea. Atlanta’s Municipal Court created a program called Pre Trial Intervention – Traffic (PTIT), in which your case will be dismissed if you complete the terms of the program. Entry in to the program is discretionary, and you’re not eligible for it as a matter of law. Many times the program is simply paying a participation fee, which typically ranges from $150 to $500, depending on the nature of the charge(s). The good thing about the program is that your citation(s) will be dismissed and will not appear on your driver’s history if you complete it. Aside from a dismissal by the prosecutor or possibly a not guilty verdict after a trial, it’s probably the best outcome for your case. Here are some are the conditions that will DISQUALIFY you from PTIT:
You are under 21 years of age,
You have participated in the PTIT program within the last 12 months,
Your citation involved an accident,
You were driving a commercial vehicle with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL),
You were charged with one of these crimes: DUI, Reckless Driving, Hit & Run, Aggressive Driving, Drag Racing, Fleeing & Attempting to Elude Police, Driving with a Suspended License or with No License, or Driving with an out of state license after 30 days of residency in Georgia.
Many times this program only involves paying the “participation fee.” Sometimes the completion of a defensive driving course or obtaining valid insurance or registration on a vehicle is also required. Either way, you’re given up to 45 days to complete the program. If you fail to do so, your case is sent back to court for regular prosecution. PTIT requires a personal appearance in court and cannot be entered online. Another benefit to PTIT is that your attorney can appear and pay the participation fee on your behalf without you appearing in court. Feel free to call attorney Kyle Jarzmik if you have any questions about this program.