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Ways to Beat a Speeding Ticket
by Annie Wang
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Overview
The safest way to drive is to follow all traffic laws. First of all, don't speed. However, if you do happen to receive a ticket for speeding, there are ways to combat the charge. Speeding tickets often carry heavy fines and can raise your insurance rates. Fighting a speeding ticket can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, when you take into account the cost of increased insurance rates.
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Talk to the Officer
Be sure to get the name of the police officer who gave you the speeding ticket. Call him at work, and politely request a time he can meet with you face-to-face. The officer does have the authority to revoke the speeding ticket. In advance, think of what you will say to the officer that might explain why you were speeding in the first place, or why you believe he was mistaken about the speed you were actually driving. Don't lie, though! Connect on a personal level with the police officer, since he's a thinking and feeling human being just like you. The more the officer can relate to your story, the more willing he'll be to revoke the ticket.
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Check Out State Programs
Some states have special programs that will negate speeding tickets as long as you qualify. For example, in Rhode Island, if you haven't received a ticket for the past three years and receive a speeding ticket, you can request that it be dismissed as long as you weren't going more than 20 miles over the speed limit. In California, you can do community service in order to earn ticket forgiveness. Some other states will forgive your speeding ticket as long as you don't receive another one within the following six months. Educate yourself on your state's laws and you may end up sparing yourself a lot of stress and money.
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Go to Court
You can dispute your speeding ticket in court. The option and instructions on how to set a court date will usually be on the back of the speeding ticket, or in a letter sent to your home after you receive the ticket. First of all, show up on time. If you fail to appear on time, you will incur additional fines. Do not plead guilty. The prosecution will make a case against you, and you have the chance to rebuke it and tell your own side of the story. Be polite and concise, and do not go on long, hard-to-follow tangents. If you believe the officer was mistaken in giving you a speeding ticket, ask for proof, such as when his radar gun was calibrated. Always make sure you conduct yourself civilly. The worst that can happen is that you will be found guilty and have to pay the fine. You can also request a reduced fine. Hopefully, though, you'll be deemed innocent.
