How to Fight a Speeding Ticket

How to Fight a Speeding Ticket How to Fight a Speeding Ticket Speeding Ticket, also called as Traffic Ticket, could be a result of over-speeding, speeding the signals or breaking any other rules of traffic. When you’re pulled over for speeding, you’re given a ticket, usually called Speeding Ticket or Traffic Ticket. The consequences of having a Speeding Ticket could range from a hefty fine, jail, community service, mandatory diversion programs to increased insurance rates.

If you want to moderate the consequences of a speeding ticket, give it a fighting chance!

The benefits of fighting a speeding ticket are many, and there’s usually no downside to it. Hence, fighting a speeding ticket is well worth a shot.

If you have decided to fight a traffic ticket, the following tips could help you achieve better results:

Do You Need a Lawyer?
It is important to find out whether you need an attorney who could represent you to fight a traffic ticket. You may have received the speeding ticket within the jurisdiction far away from your place. Try to find out whether the court within that jurisdiction allows you to hire an attorney to represent in the court. Hiring an attorney to fight a speeding ticket is usually not expensive. If the court allows you to hire an attorney, then the attorney could even represent you without your presence in the court. The good news is sometimes the cases are dismissed if there is no way to prove that you were the driver. This said, you should think of hiring an attorney for serious infractions such as DUIs.

Don’t Pay The Fine
In most of the jurisdictions, paying fine tantamount to admission of guilt. Hence, you should never opt for paying the fine in the first place. Instead, you should request for a trial and get a date in the court to fight a speeding ticket.

Get Necessary Information
When you fight a speeding ticket, you plan of defense is crucial to the outcome of the trial. You need to secure relevant information to present a solid defense against the prosecutor. For this, you need to send written request of discovery to the prosecutor’s office which means you apply for the access to the evidence and other potential information which might hurt your case. While applying for a discovery, make sure request for the following copies:

Officer’s Copy of the Ticket
Maintenance and Calibration Records
Officer’s Training & Certification Records

Consider a Deal with the Prosecutor
Usually, a deal with the prosecutor is an opportunity to plead for lower charges or reductions in fines before you go to trial. However, consider the potential implications on your driving history and insurance costs before you decide to go for a deal with the prosecutor.

Request a Continuation of Your Hearing
One of the smartest ways to avoid the negative consequences of a hearing in fighting a speeding ticket is to request a continuation of your hearing date. As for the rules of law, if the officer fails to show up in the trial, the case stands dismissed automatically. Hence, it pays to request for a continuation of your hearing. For example, if you request for the hearing to be postponed to a holiday season, the officer may be out for vacation and this is usually a good way to get your case dismissed.

Plead Not Guilty
Plead not guilty is a provision that allows you the opportunity to lower the harsh consequences of your trial. To begin with, you may consider speaking to the prosecutor. If you’re offered a satisfactory deal, you should please no guilty. Never settle down for a plea of no contest or guilty with explanation.