How to Fight a Speeding Ticket

People are caught speeding on a much more frequent basis then some may presume. In most occurrences, the violator accepts his or her punishment without too much argument, due to admission of guilt. However, in some cases people are ticketed without warrant or by mistake, and in these cases it is important for you to know what steps to take in arguing a speeding ticket.

If you go to court to fight a speeding ticket, there are several possible positive outcomes. You may find:

The amount of the ticket to be reduced greatly
Any points typically added to your license will not be added
In some cases, the ticket is dismissed altogether, and never appears on your record.

Mind Your Manners

When most people are pulled over by a police officer and they feel the action is unwarranted, the general reaction is to try and argue their case with the officer themselves. This is greatly advised against, because police officers don’t argue cases, they determine infractions. It’s up to you and the court to argue a case, not the officer. However, many times you can be granted a verbal or written warning when you are polite and simply ask the officer to inform you of your infraction. Showing interest in what your specific violation is tells them that you intend to not let the infraction not happen again. Often this can persuade an officer to grant you “another chance”.

Maintain Your Innocence

Police officers are not perfect beings. They make mistakes, just like anyone else. By your admission of guilt to either the officer and/or the court, you accept that even if they did make a mistake you are willing to pay for it. This can wind up costing you money it shouldn’t, and having a violation posted on your traffic report. This can in turn raise your insurance premiums, costing you even more for a longer period. By maintaining your innocence, you take your ticket to trial, and are given the opportunity to point out any mistakes the police officer may have made. Sometimes something so insignificant as a misprinted location on your ticket can have the entire violation thrown out of court.

Having Your Judgment Deferred

A deferred judgment is another possible option if you fight a speeding ticket. In the process of Deferred Adjudication, the offender is granted a probationary period in which he is not allowed to have any other infractions of any kind. If the offender successfully completes this probationary period, the offense is dismissed and is kept from posting to the offender’s record.

Getting Help

You should always familiarize yourself with your state and local traffic law regulations to know whether or not this process is available to you. An experienced traffic attorney can help you to understand any and all options and assist you in fighting against your speeding ticket.

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