Almost every driver has received a traffic ticket at some point in his or her life, and the most common types of traffic tickets are speed tickets. Whether you have exceeded a posted speed limit, or you are simply driving too fast for the road conditions, you are likely to be subject to a speeding ticket in most states. Given the hefty fine, points on your driver's license, and/or increase in insurance premiums that typically occur when you receive a speeding ticket, you should investigate all avenues in order to determine if there is any way to contest your ticket. For instance, if your speeding ticket is a first offense or an insolated incident over a long period of time, you may be eligible under different state programs to have your ticket essentially erased. For instance, in some states, you can enter a deferral program, in which you pay a fee, and in return for getting no additional traffic citations for a certain period of time, your ticket will disappear. If you have a lengthier traffic citation history, however, you may want to contest your ticket, in hopes of the police officer failing to appear in court, or the prosecutor offering you a reduced fine or charge that might have less of an impact on your driving record and your finances.