When thinking about how to fight a speeding ticket you really only have to remember these three things. If you follow the below three steps you’ll give yourself a 90% chance of getting off with nothing more than a warning.
Demeanor During the Stop
What you do during the traffic stop will drastically improve your chances of getting out of your ticket. Cops are people too and just like you and me they are more likely to work with you if you give them some respect, and be polite. You’re going to be ticked off, and rightly so that you got pulled over – but don’t let them see it.
If you don’t get out of your ticket right then and there with the cop, remember that what you’ve said and done during the stop will be relayed to the judge before your court date. Don’t let the judge here about you kicking, screaming, and calling the officer an a** – it won’t help your chances!
What Are Your Options
If you are not let off with a warning during the stop, be sure you know your full options before the officer pulls away. When is your court date, what exactly was the offense you were cited for, and what county will you be required to appear are all questions you should clear up with the ticketing officer. This is very important for our next step.
Go to Your Court Date!
I can’t stress this enough, you must show up for your court date. Don’t mail in an excuse, or worse yet just pay your ticket in full – you show up for your court date! Why? Because this is where 50% of the tickets being issued get dropped, yet only 3% of people show up for their date.
Courts are busy, and what they don’t want you to know is that they’d rather you not take up their time with your “doing 65 in a 55″ ticket. Many judges will dismiss on the spot, especially if the ticketing officer doesn’t show up – and they never do. You may think this is too much time, but I can tell you it’s time well spent to get out of a $300 speeding ticket, believe me.
Conclusion
There you have it. Follow these steps and you’ll better your chances of getting out of your next speeding ticket.
My name is Aaron Kinser and I practiced law in Southern California for 15 years.