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BEAT A SPEEDING TICKETHOW TO

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Speeding laws exist to deter drivers from driving at

speeds that increase the risk of property and bodily

damage should an accident occur. Regardless,

receiving a speeding ticket for driving over the speed

limit can create some unwanted hassles for any

driver. Drivers who can afford it and do not mind the

points on their driving record can take care of the

situation easily. Simply plead guilty during the traffic

ticket arraignment, pay the fines (online, by mail or

in person at the court house) and be on their way.

However, drivers who want to dispute their speeding

tickets have a few ways of doing so. Drivers can hire a

traffic ticket attorney to handle their trials, plead with

the judge to reduce or dismiss their fines or hope

the officer who issued their ticket does not show up

for the trial. To find out more about the best ways

to beat a speeding ticket, read the sections outlined

below.

GUIDEINTRODUCTION

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TABLE OFCONTENTS

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What to Do While Getting Pulled Over 6

What to do After Getting a Speeding Ticket 9

Why You Should Hire a Speeding Ticket Lawyer 11

What Happens During a Speeding Ticket Trial? 14

Worst States to Receive a Speeding Ticket In 17

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Getting pulled over by a police officer is an unpleasant experience for nearly everybody involved.

WHAT TO DO WHILE GETTINGPULLED OVER

Whether you were going a couple of miles or a couple of dozen miles

over the speed limit, the chances that you will have to pay out a hefty

fine are pretty high the moment you see those flashing blue and red

lights in your rearview mirror. However, there are a few tactics drivers

can use in order to lower their risk of receiving a ticket from a police

officer. To find out more about what to do while getting pulled over to

get out of a ticket, read the information below.

All About Attitude

Being pulled over for speeding can cause anxiety and stress in the

driver, which can translate to hostility towards the officer issuing the

speeding ticket. However, displaying anger towards a police officer

during a traffic stop is a surefire way to receive the heftiest fine possible.

To avoid receiving a ticket simply out of spite, take a few deep breaths

to calm yourself. Then, when the officer approaches, speak to him or

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her in a professional and even tone, answering and

following any questions and/or commands offered.

Car Off, Lights On

Once your car is parked on the side of the road with

the officer behind you, make sure to turn your car

engine off while also turning on your car’s interior

lights. This way the officer can be assured there is

nothing dangerous in the car and that you are not

going to try and make a run for it. For an even better

effect, place your hands on the steering wheel at the

10:00 (left hand) and 2:00 (right hand) positions.

Follow Instructions

Police officers have a basic script that they must follow

when pulling a driver over. To raise your chances of

getting out of a speeding ticket, allow the officer to

complete this process while also doing your best to

accommodate his or her wishes during the process.

Wait until the officer has returned to your vehicle and

is ready to have a conversation before asking politely

if you can speak to him or her about the violation. If

possible, admit fault from the beginning before trying

to appeal to the officer’s sense of empathy.

Ask Questions and Plead

Once the officer has finished their procedures, ask to

see the radar gun evidence that you were speeding.

If the officer says no, do not ask again (this can be

brought up during any court hearings). When asking

questions, make sure to keep a calm, even tone and

remove all evidence of sarcasm or hostility from your

voice.

After you have developed a rapport with the officer,

you can begin to plead your case. During this process,

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resist any temptation to get angry or attack the officer in any way. This is almost a guaranteed way to receive a

hefty fine.

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Receiving a speeding ticket in the U.S. can be a huge hassle that hurts both your driving record and your bank account.

WHAT TO DO AFTER GETTING A SPEEDING TICKET

However, getting a speeding ticket does not necessarily mean that you

must pay it. Depending on the state and the circumstances surrounding

the traffic stop, there are actions that drivers can take following the

receipt of a speeding ticket to heighten their chances of the ticket

being thrown out. To find out more about what to do after getting a

speeding ticket, read the information below.

Speak to the Officer

Most officers will happily speak with you about the ticket they issued

you prior to the court hearing. However, to get out of the ticket you

must come to this meeting with more than a plea to get out of a

speeding ticket. Instead, approach the officer with an explanation of

the circumstances surrounding the traffic stop that day.

Alternatively, you can also write a letter to the officer in question,

explaining your situation and the circumstances surrounding the

speeding ticket. The more you can connect with an officer and convince

him or her that the speeding ticket is a huge hassle in your life, the

likelier he or she will be to dismiss it.

Speak to the Judge

If you are not receiving a proper response from the officer who issued

the ticket, you can also speak to the judge who will be handling your

case. While you have less of a chance of getting out of a ticket through

this route than by contacting the officer, there have been situations

where a judge sees the circumstances surrounding a speeding ticket

and decided to toss it out.

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Heed Court Guidelines

Prior to your court hearing, make sure you know

each and every deadline for your case. Call the clerk

of court if possible and get to know him or her by

name. By making court employees comfortable, you

increase your chances of a favorable hearing.

Delay the Date

Most courts allow speeding ticket recipients to

reschedule their court hearing for a later date at least

once. If possible, reschedule your hearing for as late

a date as possible. The longer it takes for you to go

to your court hearing, the farther you are from the

officer’s memory and the more likely your ticket will

be thrown out.

Ask for Alternatives

Speeding tickets can not only break your bank

account, but can have adverse affects on your car

insurance premiums. To avoid these potential pitfalls

during a court hearing, ask the judge if it is possible

to receive an alternative punishment which will keep

the speeding ticket off your driving record. In some

cases the judge will allow you to pay the court costs

and ticket fine without putting any points on your

record.

Do Not Plead Guilty

Regardless of the type of speeding ticket you

received, plead not guilty when arriving for your court

hearing. Pleading guilty automatically eliminates any

chances you have of fighting the ticket in the future.

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Once you have received a speeding ticket, you have a few options as to how you may proceed.

WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE A SPEEDING TICKET LAWYER

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Drivers who would like to simply pay their speeding fine can typically do so by mail, online through their county

clerk’s website or in person at a local county tax collector’s office. However, if you plan on disputing the ticket, you

will usually have to do so either in writing or online, depending on your location. Drivers who opt to take their

speeding charge to trial have the option to represent own case or hiring a lawyer. As the intricacies of a legal trial

can be difficult to navigate, it is recommended that you hire a trained legal specialist before taking your case to

trial. To learn more about how to find the right speeding ticket lawyer, read the information outlined below.

Why Should I Hire a Speeding Ticket Lawyer?

Even though handling a traffic ticket trial is not that difficult as handling the trial for a more serious charge, it is still

a legal proceeding that requires some prior knowledge. Traffic lawyers are not only experts in these types of legal

proceedings, they are also present in court rooms every day. Therefore, they are more likely to have connections

within the court system that you do not have. By hiring a traffic lawyer to handle your case, you increase the

chances of having your ticket thrown out. Lawyers also frequently help their clients avoid unnecessarily large fines,

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lengthy driver’s license suspensions and negative

points on their driving record. At the minimum this

can help you avoid further penalties for receiving a

traffic ticket, such as higher car insurance rates.

How to Find the Right Speeding Ticket Lawyer

Choosing a lawyer to handle your speeding ticket trial

is a decision that can have lasting consequences. For

that reason, hire a reputable lawyer with a good track

record of winning traffic ticket cases. The following

tips will help you pick the right lawyer for your case.

Shop Around for the Right One

To find the right attorney for you, compile a list of

applicable candidates and compare their credentials.

If you need more information about a specific

attorney, visit their website. Attorneys also frequently

offer free consultations to potential clients where

they break down the costs and potential benefits of

hiring their firm.

Find a Local Lawyer

Assuming you received your speeding ticket in the

city you live in, make sure to hire a lawyer who is from

the same area. Many times you are hiring both a

lawyer and the lawyer’s connections to help get your

ticket dismissed. Hiring a lawyer with connections

in your area increases your chances of a favorable

outcome.

Go with Your Gut

Hiring somebody to represent you in court means you

have to essentially give control of your situation over

to that person. Before doing so, trust that the lawyer

you have hired is competent enough to handle your

trial. If at any point you become uncomfortable with

the way your lawyer is proceeding with your case, you

have every right to hire new representation.

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Speeding ticket procedures vary depending on the state you live in within the U.S. However, there are some universal rules and regulations regarding speeding ticket payments and trial dates, regardless of where you live.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING ASPEEDING TICKET TRIAL?

To learn more about the specifics of local speeding ticket laws, contact

a traffic attorney in your area. For more information on what happens

generally throughout the country during a speeding ticket trial, read

the sections below.

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Arraignment

The first time you enter a courthouse after receiving a speeding ticket

will be during your arraignment. During this procedure, you will need

to find the court room you have been assigned to and take a seat. Once

your case has been called, you will be asked to state your plea concerning

the charges against you. Plea options include guilty (admitting fault

in the case) or not guilty (admitting no fault). Your options after this

moment vary depending on which of these pleas you choose.

Choosing Guilty

Drivers with speeding tickets who plan on pleading guilty can typically

skip the entire court process by paying for their ticket online or through

the mail. However, if you plan on asking for a reduction of your fine, you

will need to speak with a judge personally during your arraignment.

Choosing Not Guilty

Once you have entered a plea of not guilty during your arraignment,

the judge will schedule a court date for your trial to begin. During this

process, the officer who issued the ticket receives a subpoena to appear

in court as well. Most states throw out speeding tickets if the officer in

question does not show up to the trial. Therefore, it is typically in the

driver’s best interest to plead not guilty.

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Trial Day

On the day of your traffic ticket trial, your case will be called by the

judge in their own order. Once your case is called, both you (and/or

your lawyer) and the police officer who issued you a ticket will be asked

to approach the judge. Assuming your ticket is not dismissed due to

the police officer not showing up, your trial will begin at this time. It is

highly recommended that you secure legal representation should your

traffic ticket case actually go to trial, as lawyers have much more legal

knowledge and experience in courtrooms.

Speeding ticket trials typically start with a testimony from the police

officer during which he or she presents evidence about the traffic stop

in question. From there, the defendant is allowed to plead their case as

well as cross-examine the police officer. Once both sides have presented

their argument, the judge comes up with a verdict either dismissing or

upholding the speeding ticket. Drivers who are found guilty will typically

only have to pay the original fine and any associated court fees.

Once your judgment has been issued, you can either leave the court

house immediately or pay the fine you were ordered to pay before

leaving. The judge will set any other stipulations for your circumstances,

such as points being added to your driving record or driver’s education

requirements.

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States with local ordinances that change speed limits and other driving

regulations abruptly can many times catch non-local drivers off-guard.

To learn more about the worst states to receive a speeding ticket in,

read the information below.

Speeding tickets are a hassle no matter where you receive them. However, there are a few states in the U.S. where receiving a speeding ticket can be more of a hassle than it is in other states.

WORST STATES TO RECEIVEA SPEEDING TICKET IN

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State with the Highest Fines: Georgia

Speeding in Georgia can be detrimental to your

bank account if you are stopped by patrol officers.

While most interstate highways in the state still allow

a 70 mile per hour speed limit, many local highways

have speed limits no higher than 55 miles per hour.

This can catch many drivers off guard when driving

locally through the Peach state. Additionally, Georgia

is one of just five states in the U.S. that allows judges

to issue fines to drivers at their discretion (up to

$1,000 for a first offense). Georgia patrol officers can

also add roughly $200 in fees to your speeding ticket

if you are caught driving 75 miles per hour or higher.

State with the Most Speed Traps Per Capita: Hawaii

All highways in Hawaii have a speed limit of 60 miles

per hour. To keep drivers motivated to stay driving

at this speed, the state has set up numerous speed

traps to discourage speeding. With an average of 4.74

speed traps per 1,000 miles (according to research

conducted by the National Motorists Association),

Hawaii’s roads generates revenue for the Hawaiian

transportation department on a daily basis.

State You Shouldn’t Fight a Parking Ticket In: Massachusetts

To fight a speeding ticket in most Massachusetts’

counties, residents and visitors must visit a court and

petition for a hearing. However, the Massachusetts

state government requires speeding ticket recipients

to pay hefty fees in order to secure a court date. Fees

are typically in excess of $300, with a majority of the

fee being nonrefundable.

State with Most Disputed Speeding Tickets: Washington, D.C.

Though the capitol of the United States is not

actually a state, it is part of the union and issues

speeding tickets the same as any other state in the

country. However, Washington D.C. also happens to

be known for the large amount of speeding ticket

disputes the area receives annually. With over 2.83

million speeding tickets written in 2015 alone, the

state managed to pull in over $83 million in fines. Add

another 5.5 million parking tickets issued in D.C. over

the past three years, and you can see how speeding

in the city can become financially detrimental. As

a result, in 2013 alone nearly $55 million in fines

remained unpaid in D.C.

Additionally, another 55 percent of ticketed drivers

were able to dispute their tickets and win their

court cases. With such a high dispute and win rate

regarding speeding tickets in the district, Washington

D.C.’s court system sees much use.

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HOW TO

BEAT A SPEEDING TICKET