There is nothing so heart-stopping as the feeling you get when driving and suddenly seeing police lights flash behind you. They walk up to your car and let you know that you are speeding; they hand you a ticket and send you on your way. Ticket in hand, you know, several things could happen as a result of this ticket. For many, receiving a speeding ticket affects your driving record, leading to a possible suspension of your license, or insurance rates could increase. But all hope is not lost. There are ways to handle a speeding ticket that will help lessen the penalties or even erase it altogether.
During the Traffic Stop
In the moments during a traffic stop, there are a few tips you should practice when interacting with the police officer and immediately after they hand you a ticket.
When the officer tells you that they caught you speeding, ask which method they used to determine that you were, in fact, traveling over the speed limit. Remember to write it down after the stop. It is also a good rule to say as little as possible to the officer since anything you say during the traffic stop can be used against you in a courtroom. When you do speak, be sure not to argue and be polite. It could also help to be as bland as possible. Doing this could make the officer unable to recall details about your traffic stop because you were not memorable to them.
Once the police officer hands you a traffic ticket and sends you on your way, make sure you write everything down about the traffic stop. Include the day, time, and location in your notes and any other details that may seem impertinent to your case, such as a hidden or missing speed limit sign. These details could also help you gather enough information to fight the ticket in court.
Fighting the Ticket
Fighting your speeding ticket is a stressful process where a prosecutor must prove that you were indeed speeding. It is challenging to beat a speeding violation, but that does not mean you should not try. Instead, bring your speeding ticket to a Florida Ticket Firm that can help you find a good lawyer if you feel you need one.
There is a chance that the officer that gave you the ticket does not show up for the court hearing. In that case, it would all be resolved, but it is best not to rely on that possibility. Instead, if a court day is set, always show up prepared to make your case in front of a judge.
If you decide to represent yourself in the court hearing, then there are things you can do to be fully prepared. The first is to ensure you gather as much evidence for your case as possible. Get as much physical proof as possible such as dashcam video, GPS data, or any photographic evidence. It would also be helpful to look into the specific speeding equipment the police officer used to clock your speed and see if there are any weaknesses in the equipment.
If there are any, you can also bring in any witnesses that can help your case. This could include any passengers in the vehicle when you were pulled over. It would also be good to plan out any questions you want to ask the officer who gave you the ticket, such as their training on speeding violations, their equipment, and what they remember about the stop. Of course, you can always delay the hearing if you need more time for this.
Negotiating the Penalty
You also can have mitigation, where you make a deal with the court and the prosecutor. This way, the jurisdiction saves money by dodging a hearing, and at the same time, the fine from your speeding ticket could be reduced. These negotiations can happen either before your hearing or during, but ultimately it is the court‘s decision. Typical mitigation usually includes you admitting to speeding but then giving information that could lead a judge to give you leniency.
No matter the outcome, make sure you do not ignore the ticket. It will not go away, and a much bigger penalty will come your way if you go this route. So instead, the best route to take is to follow these tips to understand better how you can handle a speeding ticket.
