What is deferred adjudication from a speeding ticket?

If you've recently received a speeding ticket and are headed to court where a judge will determine your fate, consider asking for deferred adjudication. Deferred adjudication is a sort of probation, where a judge is essentially saying that, based on your plea of no contest or guilty, he could find you guilty as charged but he is not going to. Instead of finding you guilty of speeding, the judge will place you on probation, where, if you follow all the rules and guidelines of probation for a determined amount of time the charges will be dismissed. You are simply postponing the outcome of your speeding ticket, and if you can walk the line, so to speak, for whatever amount of time the judge decides, then it will be as if your ticket never happened. While the laws for deferred adjudication will depend upon your particular state, in most states if you violate the terms or conditions of your deferred adjudication your probation will be revoked. Your probation will usually include the stipulation that you cannot receive another ticket of any time during the probationary period, so be extra-careful whenever you are driving, and take great care not to exceed the speed limit. You will not be eligible for deferred adjudication if you were cited with speeding 25 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit, and you cannot receive deferred adjudication if you hold a commercial driver's license—even if you were driving your personal vehicle. You must still pay all applicable fees and fines even if your request for deferred adjudication was approved. You will most likely also have to complete a Defensive Driving Course if you were under 25 years of age on the date of the offense.

Consult an Attorney

If you are nervous about asking the judge for a deferred adjudication, consider hiring an attorney to go to court with you. Having an attorney by your side could convince the judge that deferred adjudication is in the best interests of all parties concerned.