How To Fight A Speeding Ticket: Top 10 Ways [2023]

Looking for ways how to fight a speeding ticket? Let Mount Shine guide you on how to avoid traffic tickets, what the maximum speed limit is allowed, and what basic speed law to follow for 2023.

Getting into a little tiff with the speed law can trigger all sorts of reactions, including fear, frustration, and helplessness. The first speeding ticket might be an exciting experience, but tackling the scenario decently should be your priority. Moreover, speeding traffic tickets can affect your driving record negatively. In turn, it can increase your auto insurance rates by 25% on average. So, learn how to fight a speeding ticket without harming your driving record in 2023.

What Is A Speeding Ticket? [2023]

When you get pulled over for speeding, you will be handed a document that records your offense for driving over the speed limit. This document is generally called a speeding ticket. The accurate legal term for this is a ‘citation’ or ‘traffic citation.’ However, a citation is for all traffic violations, including speeding and not obeying traffic laws. This document has all the details about your alleged violation and the fine amount.

How Do Speeding Tickets Affect Your Driving History? [2023]

The citation will be recorded in your driving history and can negatively impact your vehicle insurance rates. A speeding ticket will likely stay on your record for about three years unless you were pulled over for a more serious offense.

For example, a DUI (Driving under the influence) charge could continue to stay on your record for over three years. The length of time for which a speeding ticket stays on your record also varies from area to area, with some places that can keep this record forever.

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What Are The Top 10 Ways On How To Fight A Speeding Ticket? [2023]

When you are on the road, anything can happen, and making mistakes is common, whether from your side or any other driver. That is why you should know about traffic violation rules, the motor vehicles act, and how to deal with a traffic cop who pulls you over or deal in traffic court.

Here are the Top 10 ways how to fight a speeding ticket in 2023:

1. Remain Composed And Polite.
2. Sign The Ticket On The Paper Version.
3. Verify The Contact Details On Your Ticket Copy.
4. Be Certain You Understand How To Manage The Citation.
5. Learn How To Pay Your Speeding Ticket By Reading The Guidelines.
6. Rather Than Paying The Fine, Consider Taking Defensive Driving Lessons.
7. If Defensive Driving School Is Not An Option, Be Aware Of Your Alternatives.
8. Inform Your Auto Insurance Provider
9. Avoid Arriving Unprepared.
10. Know What To Say In Court When Fighting A Speeding Ticket

1. Remain Calm And Polite

You are gauging how to fight a speeding ticket. Whether you feel you are being wrongly implicated or not, you must continue to hold your composure while attempting to take stock of what is happening. Speeding tickets is one of the common defenses. Getting argumentative or disrespectful with police officers will not help, and holding on to your polite demeanor is crucial to avoid complicating the situation.

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2. Sign The Ticket On The Paper Version

The police officers will likely need you to sign a paper copy of your ticket.

The procedure is to draft a paper ticket with all the information about why officer pulled you over and where your actions are at odds with the law. Once this information is documented, the traffic cop will give you a paper copy of the ticket to put your signature on it.

3. Verify The Contact Details On Your Ticket Copy

After you have put your signature down, the officer will give you your ticket. On the traffic ticket, you will find several details, including the minutes of your offense, speeding violation(if any), the location of your offense, the officer’s name, and the posted speed limit. It should have everything, from your contact information to the site and time of your offense and the tentative court date. Check if your contact information is written correctly; if not, notify the ticketing officer immediately.

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4. Be Certain You Understand How To Manage The Citation

Handling the citation that you received can be confusing. Ideally, the officer themselves will give you the instructions you need or refer you to the section of the ticket where they are mentioned. In any case, the instructions should be on the key itself, so ensure you are aware of them.

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5. Learn How To Pay Your Speeding Ticket By Reading The Guidelines

Clearing your traffic citation should be your priority once you have safely reached your destination. Generally, you can pay your cited fine online, via phone, or at the municipal courthouse in your area. All this information should include a helpline number if you have queries in the ticket.

6. Rather Than Paying The Fine, Consider Taking Defensive Driving Lessons

In certain areas, the first driving ticket one receives makes one eligible for defensive driving school. Attending defensive driving school is an alternative to paying the fine. Contact the municipal courthouse in your area for information about the possibility of enrolling in a defensive driving school or traffic school. Some states offer traffic school courses online.

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7. If Defensive Driving School Is Not An Option, Be Aware Of Your Alternatives

f the prospect of defensive driving school is unavailable, you must review your next most prudent options. Your first option is to appear at the municipal courthouse or traffic court on the given date to negotiate and get your ticket dismissed. Another option would be to pay the cited fine before your due courthouse date.

8. Inform Your Auto Insurance Provider

Speeding tickets often reflect poorly on your ability to abide by laws or drive carefully. You have to let your automobile insurance company know when you get issued a driving ticket. A series of events of this sort can result in a hike in your auto insurance rates. If you keep getting tickets, your auto insurance company might even drop you as a client in extreme cases.

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9. Avoid Arriving Unprepared

If you choose to appear in traffic court to argue against your traffic ticket, you might be bringing more responsibility onto your shoulders. You might have to cover some traffic court costs, too. Make sure you are well prepared for your court date. Go through all the information about your alleged offense to better understand how to fight a speeding ticket. You can also request access to the officer’s paperwork, which, if unavailable, can be used in favor of your case.

To get an idea of how likely you are to win a traffic court trial, you should talk to a traffic lawyer in your area about possible strategies. Your lawyer can request records from the most recent calibration of the radar guns the officer used to detect your speed. If they don’t comply with the requirements, it may be helpful to present these record on your trial date.

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10. Know What To Say In Court When Fighting A Speeding Ticket

When you are fighting a speeding ticket, you must remember that you must continue to be respectful to the police officer, and remain calm, no matter what. You could plead not guilty. Other than that, you could argue that your reasons for speeding were justified by mentioning an absence of traffic or an absence of speed limit signs. You can mention that if you were barely over the speed limit. Also, taking the help of an advocate is beneficial; they can provide legal advice and guide you on what to do next. Few traffic lawyer offer a free consultation that can help you reduce court fees, how to fight speeding tickets, and save you from getting declared as pleading guilty.

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Should I Fight My Speeding Ticket? [2023]

Often the easiest thing to do is simply pay for speeding tickets. The law states that you must admit traffic violations and pay fines via the Internet without ever going to court. Others would also be interested in paying penalties for driving tickets or getting higher insurance rates. It would certainly be worthwhile for these people to defend a speeding ticket in traffic courts. In fact, a speeding ticket won’t affect the driving history of anyone who has beaten them in the courts. It is also advisable to investigate traffic school if possible.

Things You Should Not Say To Police Officer [2023]

Be courteous if the cops pull over your vehicle. If an officer asks about your life, your career, your studies, your interests, and how you plan to find employment in the future. Maintain your privacy from them. Whenever officer asks you to exit your vehicle, do so without protesting. They offer a lot of suggestions.

Things could get complicated very soon if you don’t refuse to get out of your vehicle. Those windows might have shattered panes and criminal histories. The officer should retain your hands in front of them while positioning their hands in front of your steering column.

Conclusion

Over and beyond these tips and tricks, the best way to avoid a speeding ticket would be to drive within the speed limit. So if you want to avoid this intimidating procedure and the possibility of the subsequent increase in your vehicle insurance costs, your best option would be to drive safely and carefully.

Absolute Speed limits: We all tend to think we won’t get a speeding ticket, therefore many individuals simply don’t know how to defend one or talk to police officer. An absolute speed limit is relatively simple to understand; it is whatever is indicated on the sign. Therefore, it is an infraction if you are driving 50 mph when a sign says 45 mph is the safe speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Fight A Speeding Ticket: Top 10 Ways [2023]