If you fight a speeding ticket, what are the chances of winning? what should you do?

Kim Y

> Don't get emotional
> Stick with the facts
> Monitor the area & see if others are doing the same violations
> Are the officers under the pressure to "produce" tickets for revenue?
> Car checked out for mechanical problems
> Is your past history clear of violations (1st time)
> Any witnesses to back you up
> Know the habits of the judge as to how statistically he will rule
> Hiring an attorney can sometimes help
> Take good notes of the weather & road conditions (to question the officer and damage his credibility is possible)
> Make detailed notes and remember all you can
> Go back to scene at approx time, conditions & take pics
> Location of speed limit signs & the route you took may have "bypassed" any signs for that road up to the violation point
> Odds of "winning" are low; odds of reduced fine is good
> and last, but not least

> pray the officer doesn't make the court appointment, so that the charge will be dropped because of his "no-show".

012607 12:54

ret_roch_cop

In New York State, that would depend on how good a witness the Police Officer is. Out of 985 speeding tickets in my last two years, I convicted every one.

patrickctrombly

It's gotta be real blatant. I was ticketed in a speed trap in Wellesley. The sign that says the speed limit drops by 20 MPH was in fact missing, had been for 2 years, and a week after I got my ticket, the DPW replaced it. The cop had checked off "posted" on top of it!!!! I went to the DPW and got copies of the work orders showing the time line. It made it quite clear what scam the police were trying to pull and I was found "not responsible" for the ticket.

mattzcoz

Speeding convictions in many states end up as "points" on your insurance policy that may cost you more money in the long run than the lawyer. Consult your insurance company on this - they'll let you know.

If this is true for you, get a lawyer. Get a lawyer from the same town. Get a decent lawyer.

Under some legal guidelines, there may be times, places, and conditions under which a speeding conviction can be dismissed or plead down. This is what the lawyer is for.

Some times, and this is based on something a local court clerk told me at the time, having a local lawyer that is well thought of by the court can be of great help.

I plead one moving violation on my own and got it dropped (an alleged illegal U-turn). One other time, I had an alleged failure to appear (over an alleged failure to yield) because the summons never showed up in the mail. It helped that time to have a lawyer.

I only ever got one speeding ticket, and it really was my fault and I shouldn't have been doing it then and there. That was in California, and I took the option to spend a weekend morning in traffic school in lieu of a fine and a record. That was a good option and I learned some things from the school.

Overall, I'd appreciate it if you didn't drive recklessly; it makes my life a little easier. Thanks.

briang731/ bvincent

If you hire a lawyer to represent you, the chances to have the ticket reduced to something else are good. If you plead your own case the analogy still applies, "only a fool will represent himself in a court of law!"

p_l_gray

Why not show some personal integrity, own up to the mistake and pay the fine. Learn the lesson and don't speed.

theyreouttogetme

DON'T believe the "cop didn't show up" thing. I went to court, neither the cop nor the witness showed up, but the prosecutor told me he would just adjourn my case.

It is my sincere belief that most traffic tickets are written to generate municipal revenue, and the judges in NJ pretty much treat local LEOs as infallible. However, I was in court last week. There were 292 cases that day, and the prosecutor wanted nothing more than to go home at 6 pm rather than 11 pm (court started at 8 am). So, despite my innocence, I took the lower ticket, lower fine, and two, rather than 5 points on my license.

One thing though -- ALWAYS ask for discovery before court!!

disturbed

Get a lawyer and get it reduced.

TheGeneral

Slim to none if they got you on radar.READ BELOW IM TRYING TO HELP YOU OUT.

CL R

This all depends. When I went to my last traffic court I listened very carefully, and once the judge asked me how I had been caught and then said it wasn't written down I asked for a dismissal based on lack of evidence. That worked, but I don't think cops are usually that lax on doing all they need for a conviction.

LORI W

Unles you have proof the radar gun he was using was malfuctiong, you might have a chance of getting out of it, but in your case, you are stuck.

Ultimate Guitar Hero!

If you go to court you will just have to pay the fines. Hopefully the cop will take the points off. That is what you would be fighting for is the points.

Depends on where you live.. In St. Louis, you can just pay TLC (traffic law center) 90 bucks to fix it. They always win!

Dead man

the Justice is blind this is something we all know we must uphold the law,the see you speeding they give you penalty if you fight it and you didn't even do it you should always have proof of your words and a lawyer wouldn't hurt.

I wouldn't try to do any thing bad if I were you,Court rooms give me the creeps.

â˜†BTriXâ˜†

I have a friend that's gotten out of every speeding ticket he's ever gotten. You've just got to be up on your material - study the area of the ticket and make sure you ask to see the radar gun, etc. It is possible for sure...

Relax Guy

Usually just showing up and saying you disagree with it will at least get some points or fine knocked off.

Blunt Honesty

Get a traffic attorney.

Daniel B

You will lose!!! Just try to see if you can get it reduced with no points.

john b

You have about a 20% chance of winning.

Arnold

Fighting it is hard, unless you can prove you're innocent. The least they will do is change it to a non-moving violation, so it doesn't affect your insurance.

lindsey

not very good chances...good luck

badbill1941

If you have a valid argument, and can prove it, fight it in court. If you know in your heart you were wrong, pay the ticket and get on with your life.

Hunter

Not very good. It's going to be your word against the officer's, who probably has a good reputation in court. The officer is going to be more prepared in court then you also. Just plead guilty and pay the fine. That would be cheaper than paying a lawyer anyway.

ktbaron

dont register the car to yourself then they dont know where to send the ticket,
Say nothing.
Have no mentle recolection of the incident.
claim the court is being RACIST.

redhotboxsoxfan

Your actual chances of winning are slim, however if the officer doe not show up for court, you win. Also depending on how you got your speeding ticket you can be a real pain in the *** to the officer by requesting when was the last time his equipment was calibrated, etc. This has to be shown in court. Best thing to do is to pay the fine.

Aries G

Don't fight it, you'll lose. Believe me I use to issue them out.

Barrett G

Pretty good.
Usually you can at least plee it down so your fines are less.
The cop who stopped you will almost NEVER show up to court.
You don't need a lawyer. Just go and tell your side of the story to the judge. Usually they will at least hear you out.

Remember you are innocent until proven guilty.....not the other way around.

Good luck!

Kbear

you may win, but the court cost will be as much if not more than the original ticket would have cost... It can be done though!

Jack Chedeville

excellent, if the issuing officer does not appear in court. In fact, in the vast majority of cases, the issuing officer does not appear in court, and your case will be dismissed.

I got nailed once for running a red light. I went to court, pleaded not guilty, and requested a trial. That afternoon, the issuing officer did not appear. The judge asked me what happened, and I told him that the signal light was yellow, not red. The case was dismissed.

It is a question if you want to spend a day in court.

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