Atlanta Based App Revolutionizes Traffic Ticket Industry

The latest app born in Atlanta Tech Village is changing the booming traffic ticket industry one citation recipient at a time.

Launched in September, Atticus is the only on-demand legal marketplace connecting traffic ticket recipients with licensed attorneys to defend their violations and go to court on their behalf. Users simply download the app, upload a picture of their ticket and hire an attorney for a flat rate of $249. Atticus connects users with qualified attorneys to fights their ticket to win the ticket holder reduced points, a reduced fine or both to prevent insurance premium increases.

Founded by criminal defense attorney Michael LaScala and financially backed by former Atlanta Falcon Roddy White, Atticus is the first app of its kind that may be used to summon a traffic attorney while the user is already in the courthouse.

“We modeled the app to be used much like Uber,” said Atticus CEO Jabari Moore. “Anyone with a traffic ticket can hire an attorney as soon as they receive the ticket, a week before their court date or even while in the courthouse. Atticus attorneys are there right at your time of need.”

Atticus is made simple. The user uploads a photo of their ticket, selects an attorney and pays a flat fee of $249 for the service.

Despite incurring heavy fines and insurance rate hikes, only 5% of ticket recipients hire a lawyer to fight their tickets in court. Getting just a single ticket can boost an average policyholder’s auto insurance premiums by 22%. The team behind Atticus aims to keep money in their client’s pockets and out of insurance companies.

“Time after time, I witness ticketed drivers in court getting blindsided by exorbitant fines and court fees,” said Michael LaScala. “My partners and I know all drivers would benefit from legal representation to avoid increased insurance premiums. There is a financial stigma against hiring an attorney. We are making traffic lawyers affordable and approachable,” LaScala said.

There is a high success rate for attorneys when hired to fight traffic tickets. They are able to negotiate reduced fines, less license points or both for their clients to avoid both the long and short term costs that come with a traffic ticket.

“For me, using Atticus was a time and money saver,” said Atticus user Mik Lauric. Mr. Lauric was one of the first Atticus users to hire an attorney to appear in court on his behalf.

Lauric notes his ability to work and not have to go to court offset the price of Atticus’ service.

“I travel a lot for work and I don’t have the time to spend half a day in traffic court,” said Lauric. “For $249 my lawyer went to court on my behalf and resolved my case so there were no points on my license. Using Atticus wound up saving me hundreds of dollars in insurance costs.”

Atticus’ services are currently available in all of Georgia. The team plans to extend coverage further into the Southeast in 2017.

Atticus is currently available in the Apple app store and on Google Play.

According to Atlanta Municipal Court records, the city handled over 269,000 citations in 2014. Citations accounted for 5 percent of the city of Atlanta’s $565 million operating fund in 2014.

According to the website statisticsbrain.com, Georgia ranks 6 among the top 10 states writing the most traffic citations.

For more information visit: www.atticusnow.com

To interview Atticus CEO Jabari Moore or founder Michael LaScala contact:
Karen Jones, 404-483-8226 or karenijones27@gmail.com