Tips For Fighting A Ticket In Traffic Court
You're driving along the highway when suddenly you see bright flashing lights in your rearview mirror. Uh oh. You're about to be pulled over for a traffic violation. While this situation is obviously never fun, you should know that it's not yet a given that you will have points added to your license. Here's what you should do during and after the traffic start to help you fight the ticket in traffic court.
Be Polite But State Your Objection
When you are talking to the police officer at the scene, let the officer know immediately if you disagree with his or her assessment of the situation. But it's also important that you do it in a respectful way because the last thing you want to do is give the police an excuse to charge you with something else. Avoid apologizing as that can be viewed as an admission of guilt and simply state that believe you did come to a full stop at that stop sign, or that you were driving at the speed limit, etc. In some cases, you might even be able to talk your way into getting just a warning instead of a ticket, but if the officer does write you up, just accept the ticket and move on.
Inspect the Ticket for Inaccuracies
Once you actually have the ticket, you should go over it line by line. Is absolutely every detail on the ticket correct? That means not just the account of the incident, but the way the officer spelled your name or wrote down the time and date? If you find any inaccuracies at all, this might prove useful if you do want to fight the ticket in court.
Write Down Your Own Statement
If you disagree with what was written by the officer, it's important to get your own statement down on paper as soon as possible so you don't forget details. When writing your account, note any landmarks that were nearby. Were there any witnesses in your car or perhaps a nearby business where someone saw you driving?
Contact a Traffic Law Attorney
If you are certain you are in the right, an attorney might be able to help. He or she can bring up the inaccuracies you uncovered in the ticket in court or interview your witnesses or the police officer on the stand. Sometimes just hiring a lawyer might be enough to get the ticket thrown out if the police don't have the time or the patience to show up in court to defend the ticket.
Contact a traffic law attorney today for more information