The Right Way To Fight A Speeding Ticket
Posted by admin at 25 August 2016, at 17 : 58 PM
It’s a pretty frightening statistic that about a quarter of speeding tickets in the US are issued in error. If you’ve ever been slapped with one of these fines, then, you may be wondering how many of them you could have actually dodged in the past. Shadowing, cosine angle faults and RFI interference are all common errors when it comes to traffic cops issuing speeding tickets. Whatever the problem was, the most important thing to you is probably how you can get off the violation! Here’s a brief guide to fighting your next speeding ticket.
My first piece of advice is to get into the habit of preparing to fight a ticket. If you’re going to have any hope of fighting your speeding ticket, then, you need to know as much about the incident as any cop. If you’ve been driving for a few years, then, it can be pretty easy to let your thoughts wander from the here and now. If and when you get stopped, you need to be very aware of everything that happens before, during, and after you’re pulled over. Start developing some habits to make yourself a more vigilant driver. Pay close attention to the flow of traffic around you, the condition of the road, any signs on the roadsides, and surrounding witnesses. Even seemingly trivial details like the weather can be a big factor in all the legal proceedings which will follow. When you see those lights in your rear-view mirror, be sure to do a quick sweep of the road around you and try to remember every detail about the incident.
As the officer stops and approaches your vehicle, do everything you can to avoid causing them stress. If you don’t have much experience with police, then this can be a little tough. You should be aware that a massive proportion of police shootings happen as the officer is approaching a stopped vehicle. This is going to be at the front of the officer’s mind, and if you make them feel any more on edge, they’re not going to be lenient with you. The two things you should never do is to reach into your glove box, under your seat, or anywhere you could be holding a weapon. After stopping the car, keep your hands open and in plain sight. This will show them that you’re not an immediate threat, and reduce their stress levels significantly. From there, be as cooperative as possible, and answer all their questions honestly. Still, you should be paying attention to every last detail, including the officer’s badge number and the brand of their speed gun if they used one. Again, remembering this kind of situation can mean the difference between paying the fine and dodging it. After this, write everything you remember down.
After going over the case, if you think you’re in a decent position to fight the ticket, your next step should be contacting the officer who gave it to you. Call them at work, and ask to arrange a time when you can come in and meet the officer in person to discuss the ticket. This may sound like it’s going a bit far, but most police officers will be happy to meet with people they’ve detained. When you go to the meeting, however, you can’t simply just ask them to let you off. If you want to dodge the charge, then, you need to come prepared with a story or an explanation that will motivate the officer to tear up the ticket. This reason or alibi is totally up to you. However, you should stick to the truth and try to frame it in a way that bridges that gulf between police officer and civilian.
If the officer who was involved in the stop isn’t going to budge, then, you may want to try contacting the judge and prosecutor for your trial in the same manner. They have more power to have the charges dropped, and may even be more sympathetic to your excuse than the officer who first pulled you over. If this doesn’t work either, and you still want to fight the ticket, then, you’ll have to take it to trial. In this phase, it’s important to understand your rights and how the trial will happen. This is where law firms such as Georgia Trial Attorneys at Kirchen & Grant can come in handy.
If you’ve been given a speeding ticket, then, you’re accused of a crime. The traffic cop has signed a sworn statement that he or she saw you breaking the law. To start with, there’ll be a simple hearing where you’ll have to plead guilty or not guilty. After that, there’ll be a second trial where the judge actually decides what’s going to happen to you.
One of the most important things you can do here is to turn up on time and plead not guilty. Ensure you’re dressed fairly well, too. You probably won’t need to wear a suit. It’s only traffic court, and you may risk looking over-dressed or silly. A nice shirt and chinos is usually totally adequate. Still, if you want a firm guide, visit the traffic court before you’re due and see what everyone’s wearing. As mentioned before, pleading not guilty is generally your best shot at getting let off the ticket. However, depending on your circumstances, a plea of “nolo contendre” (literally “I do not wish to contend”) could be a better choice. This is where you accept the conviction without making a formal admission of your guilt. In many traffic courts, this kind of plea can get you off almost immediately, and cause your ticket to fade away into the court’s logs. Still, make sure you do your research and talk to a lawyer who’s familiar with the traffic court.
Being given a false speeding ticket can be a very stressful experience, but it isn’t something you have to lie down and take! Follow this advice, and you’ll be in a much better position for fighting the charge.