How To Fight Traffic Tickets

By Author: Shelby Lara
Total Articles: 100
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Fighting traffic tickets ultimately comes up in most peoples lives at some point or another. For whatever the reason may be, you feel that the ticket awarded to you was unfairly received. Maybe you don't think you were speeding, or perhaps you really just can't afford to pay off anymore tickets. Whatever the reason may be, you want to get out of your ticket. There are a few things that you need to do to fight that ticket you were awarded.

One of the first things to do is check and make sure that the ticket you received was completely accurate. You may find that the officer has some incorrect details on the ticket. He may write that you were going 10 mph over the speed limit when it was really only 5. Make certain that you try and get these details changed. Judges will be more lenient over smaller ticket items.

Take pictures and take notes of what actually happened at the accident. If you want to prepare a good, solid defense you need to have the facts. Fighting traffic tickets requires you to be meticulous with your note taking. You should begin doing this while still at the scene of the accident if possible, your ...
... memory will be fresh and it is important to have as many facts as you can. Not all police officers have time to take in depth notes and yours may just save your case.

Once you have all of your information, you will want to decide if you can fight this case on your own or if you will need a lawyer. The main reason you will want to hire a lawyer is if there is a lot of money at stake. If you are fighting a fairly standard traffic ticket, you will end up paying more for the lawyer than you would win. Weight the cost benefit for you before you decide if you need some professional legal help.

It is also possible that you may be able to make a deal with the person prosecuting you. If this ticket will greatly effect your insurance rates or point value of your license, it may be a good idea to take a deal before you get into court. Sometimes to avoid the time and work it takes to go into court, prosecutors may be willing to make a deal with you. Consider the deal very carefully if one does get made, you want to make sure it won't negatively impact your driving record more than the original punishment.

Finally, a good tip for fighting traffic tickets is to request a continuation for your court hearing. In order for the court hearing to happen, the officer who ticketed you needs to be there. If you change the date of your hearing, it is possible they will not be able to be there and your case can be dismissed.

Fighting traffic tickets is not always the easiest thing to do, but many people don't even try. If you put in the effort to fight your ticket, there is a good chance something can be reduced if not forgiven all together. Follow these tips and you are on your way to a clean driving record.

Fred Meek is a professional SEO consultant in Austin Texas. For more information go to Defensive Driving