Tips on Fighting a Speeding Ticket

Of course, the easiest way to avoid paying a speeding ticket is to not speed in the first place. But if you do speed and get caught, here’s what to do:

When you get pulled over:

• Always be polite and cooperative when you get pulled over. Have your license, registration and proof of insurance handy. The officer will be more likely to just give you a warning or write a ticket for a smaller fine if you are polite.
• Avoid admissions of guilt and don’t make lame excuses. If you do get a ticket, and decide to contest it, remember that any admissions you make could be used against you later.
• If you don’t think that you were speeding, you could ask the officer to show you the display of your speed on the radar unit. If the officer can’t or won’t show you, the lack of evidence may help in court as part of your defense. Make sure you write down the patrol car’s license plate number and the officers badge number.
• After receiving your ticket, check it for mistakes. If there are any mistakes that could hurt your case, ask the officer to correct them. However, if there are mistakes that may help your case or get the ticket dismissed, such as the wrong license plate number, you don’t want to point those out.
• Make note of any relevant details, such as traffic and road conditions, and any extenuating circumstances. If your defense depends on something like an obscured speed limit sign, then try to take pictures.

After you’ve been given a ticket:

• Read all of the information on the ticket when you get home. Make sure you understand all of it, as it will give you instructions on how to proceed.
• Decide whether or not you want to fight the ticket. Consider the costs and benefits of contesting the citation verses just paying it and how much of a chance you have of being able to fight the ticket.
• Your ticket may include a court date already or you may need to request one. Your ticket will also give you the option to pay the fine. In almost all jurisdictions, paying the fine is an admission of guilt, so do not remit payment. Instead, follow the necessary steps to get your day in court.
• Consider requesting a continuation of your hearing. In most jurisdictions, the police officer who gave you the ticket must show up for the court hearing. If he or she fails to show, your case will be dismissed. Many times officers will schedule many court hearings on a certain day so that they can appear for all of them at once. If you request a continuation, you increase the odds that the officer won’t show up.

Going to court:

• Plan ahead for your defense. Once you’ve decided to go to court, make sure you know how you will argue your case. In addition to pleading not guilty, you will need to provide reasons why you think that you are not guilty. Show up to your hearing looking professional. Just showing up to court may result in the case being dismissed if the police officer doesn’t show up.
• If the officer does show up, present your case to the judge without admitting guilt. Politely and clearly explain your defense, entering evidence if you have any. If your found guilty, the judge may offer to reduce the charge to a lesser offense. This will reduce the number of points that will be added to your driving record.
• Always thank the judge and be respectful regardless of the outcome. You never know when you may end up in his/her courtroom again.