If you’ve recently been pulled over for some kind of traffic violation, just know that you do not have to immediately pay the ticket you’ve been issued. If you feel you have been wrongfully given a traffic ticket, there are a few options to fighting it. Doing this could lessen the overall impact of the ticket or even outright erase it. Below are some tips for fighting your traffic ticket.
Tips for when you are initially pulled over
Be very careful about what you say when you are first pulled over. Ask how the officer calculated how fast you were going and also say as little as you can. You will want to research the exact form of equipment the officer mentions later. Simply try to be as non-confrontational as possible. After the officer leaves, write down the entire experience while mentioning the location, time, or anything else relevant to the incident.
At this point, evaluate your case. Think about all of the things you wrote down and whether you believe you were in the right. Do not fight the ticket if you think the officer’s actions were warranted.
Tips for fighting the ticket in court
Fighting the ticket will require a court appearance where proof that you were speeding will need to be presented. You will want to be prepared to make your case in front of a judge as to why you shouldn’t have received the ticket. Be sure to read through your ticket beforehand for any fine print. Knowing the exact law in the jurisdiction in which you supposedly broke it is very important.
There are a few things that can be done to help strengthen your case. The first is to delay the case so you have more time. You will also want to gather any supporting evidence to your claims that might exist. This includes dashcam video or data from GPS from an app or simply photographic evidence of some kind. If you have any witnesses who were there for the incident make sure they corroborate your story. Stick to a set list of simple questions for the officer in question.
Reaching a decision about getting a lawyer or not
Of course, taking all of these actions is not something you necessarily have to do by yourself. Hiring a traffic ticket lawyer is quite common, and they will help you with all of the things surrounding the case. The more expensive the ticket the more it might make sense to do this.
Finally, for a more extensive list of things you might want to prepare for based on the court case, check out Nerd Wallet’s synopsis.
Be careful when dealing with a traffic ticket. It isn’t the end of the world if you get one, but if you do choose to fight it then definitely listen to these friendly words of advice.
Author Bio: Emma Sturgis is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2
