If you have received a speeding ticket, it is crucial that you understand your options. In many instances, hiring a traffic lawyer may help negotiate with the prosecutor and achieve better results than going it alone.
Start by asking for a different court date than that stated on your ticket; this increases your odds that the officer won’t show up and thus reduces any chance for violation of his warrant.
Check strategies to fight a speeding ticket:
Understanding Speeding Fines
Traffic tickets can have serious repercussions for drivers. Each state and community has different rules regarding speeding tickets; therefore it’s essential that you understand how these affect you in your locality.
If you have been given a ticket, it is essential to follow its directions or those given by law enforcement. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your citation, contesting it in court could result in either dismissal or reduction of fine.
To successfully dispute a ticket, it’s necessary to develop an argument that exposes any inconsistencies or errors in the officer’s testimony and case. Some drivers use “legal necessity” defense, claiming they had no choice but to violate traffic law in order to prevent harm (for instance making an illegal lane change to avoid drunk drivers). Other effective arguments could include:
Demerit Points For Speeding
Officers issuing tickets typically include instructions on the ticket for how to proceed with payment – typically including contact numbers for your local municipal courthouse and how you can pay either online or in person.
Always ensure your citation is correct before appealing. Check it for any details that could potentially identify you or describe your car; any discrepancies could constitute grounds for dismissal.
Consider your options for contesting your ticket carefully before taking action to contest it. This could range from writing or meeting with your local police officer or prosecutor prior to trial to agreeing to traffic school or community service in exchange for dismissal of your citation.
Contesting A Speeding Ticket
When fighting a traffic ticket, it is crucial that all available evidence be reviewed, including speed and time of incident details, witness statements, documents related to incident, witness statements etc. These will all help build your strongest argument to convince either judge or jury of its invalidity.
If you can show that it was impossible for you to adhere to the speed limit due to circumstances beyond your control – for instance a pregnant loved one bled or was distressed, or an emergency medical situation occurred that necessitated speedier travel – this might convince a judge to let off on you for speeding.
Potential Outcomes
When it comes to traffic tickets, it’s crucial that you understand all potential outcomes. One popular defense against tickets is “legal necessity.” This allows drivers to demonstrate they were forced to break the law for their own protection – for example if another driver driving recklessly forced you past.
Your goal should be to persuade a judge that there was an extenuating circumstance when breaking the law; otherwise, you could still be found guilty and face fines, surcharges and insurance rate increases as a result of breaking it. Furthermore, violations can also lead to license suspension; for this reason it is wise to consult an attorney if fighting a ticket is something you’re contemplating.
Consequences Of Not Paying A Speeding Ticket
No matter if you choose to contest the ticket on your own or hire legal representation, it is vitally important that you don’t pay it as this would constitute an admission of guilt and could add points to your driving record.
First, thoroughly review your citation to spot any discrepancies or contradictions that might provide more evidence in favor of your argument. Even minor discrepancies might strengthen it significantly.
If you were charged with speeding on the highway and were passing an erratic driver, and are cited for speeding, you may argue that circumstances required your actions in order to protect both yourself and other road users from potential harm. This defense, known as legal necessity, may not always work effectively but may work under some circumstances.
By Chris Bates
