What Should You Do If You Get A Traffic Ticket?
There are more than 175 million tickets issued every year in the United States.
Considering the fact that more than 95% of the population over the age of 16 is licensed to drive, the volume of drivers is increasing rapidly.
According to the Department of Motor Vehicles' traffic violation guide, the purpose of the traffic-violation regulations is to prevent unsafe driving and to alter and improve the behavior of bad drivers.
Statistically, drivers that are inclined to break the law, will repeatedly do so, endangering the other drivers.
Repeated traffic citations consisting in high traffic fines have showed more responses in terms of compliance with the law from bad drivers.
Most traffic tickets are issued for what is called 'strict-liability' offenses, which means that the only thing needed to convict a person of a certain offense is that the person did the prohibited act.
Criminal intent is not required for the conviction.
Strict liability traffic offenses include: speeding, failure to use turn signals, failure to yield, turning into the wrong lane, etc.
So, if you find yourself in a situation where you received a traffic ticket and consider you received it unfairly, below are a few ways to beat your traffic ticket.
Considering the fact that more than 95% of the population over the age of 16 is licensed to drive, the volume of drivers is increasing rapidly.
According to the Department of Motor Vehicles' traffic violation guide, the purpose of the traffic-violation regulations is to prevent unsafe driving and to alter and improve the behavior of bad drivers.
Statistically, drivers that are inclined to break the law, will repeatedly do so, endangering the other drivers.
Repeated traffic citations consisting in high traffic fines have showed more responses in terms of compliance with the law from bad drivers.
Most traffic tickets are issued for what is called 'strict-liability' offenses, which means that the only thing needed to convict a person of a certain offense is that the person did the prohibited act.
Criminal intent is not required for the conviction.
Strict liability traffic offenses include: speeding, failure to use turn signals, failure to yield, turning into the wrong lane, etc.
So, if you find yourself in a situation where you received a traffic ticket and consider you received it unfairly, below are a few ways to beat your traffic ticket.
- Research and find out the law you have been cited for.
Before you decide to fight your traffic ticket, you need to make sure that you have grounds to fight it.
You can get a Traffic Violation Guide from your local DMV and familiarize yourself with the traffic violation laws. - Fight your traffic ticket.
File a non-guilty complaint with your local Clerk of Courts. - Prepare for court.
This is not an easy task but it is not impossible.
Clearly, a judge can be intimidating, but if you prepare accordingly you can get your point across.
Do not make the mistake of saying 'Your Honor, I was just driving as fast as the other cars around me were'.
It's not going to work.
Give the judge reasonable grounds for dismissing your traffic ticket. - Know your options.
Be prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.
While keeping a positive attitude when you go to court, remember that at this point it is out of your hands.
The worst that can happen is that you will be commanded to pay the fine.
And in most cases where that happens, you will not be deducted the points of your driver license, which will play a major role for your insurance rates.
So, it could be a positive outcome after all. - Dress to impress.
When you go to court make sure you are dressed appropriately.
Your physical appearance matters, and if you are dress appropriately for a court of law you will more than likely be regarded with more respect.