Do I have a right to a trial by jury to fight traffic tickets?

Answer 1

If you think you don't deserve the traffic ticket, then yes you do have a right to go to a trial. Examples of this are if your parked in a no parking spot,but the curb wasn't red or a sign was covered by trees or graffiti. That happened to my mom. Or you thought you were going the speed but you were actually speeding and you didn't see a sign. Another great example would be if your parking meter was expired and the meter maid gave you a ticked right as you were getting in your car to leave. This also happened to my mom. I don't think that you should get a ticket if you were leaving a parking space.

But for speeding, you would not have a right to a trial. You knew the speed limit. There were signs. You just needed to slow down. There is a reason for speed limits! You could be putting kids in danger by speeding. I live in an area with a lot of kids that play on the street and I see a lot of cars going way too fast down my street. This is dangerous and they could hit some one. If you didn't see the sign or there wasn't a sign, then you could protest it. Just remember. Always drive 25 miles per hour when you are in a neighborhood or near a school. In the distance you can see, you should be able to stop. That means slowing down in foggy areas. the safer you drive, the less parking tickets you'll get. If your in a hurry to get some where, calm down and slow down. You can always tell your reason for being late.

good luck and drive safely. Oh, happy holidays!

Answer 2

Not for ordinary traffic infractions. You only have a constituional right to a jury trial if there is a possibility of incarceration of a certain period (which depends upon the constituional interpretation in your state). I believe the federal constituion pins it at one year.

In most traffic offenses there is only a monetary penalty.

note: to take acception to mr. haughty municipal judge above. You should challenge all such tickets. They have not only an effect upon your pocket book, but your insurance as well, and possibly driving privileges. If they pile up you can get in serious problems of having license suspensions and an inability to get insurnace.

I don't know how it works in your state. But in many places if the cop does not show up you win (and this happens a lot). And believe it or not Your Honor, there are actually some judges who will give a defendant a fair shake and not always believe everything the cop says.

Answer 3

No you do not. You must be charged with either a Misdemeanor or a Felony to have a right to trial by jury. Simple traffic tickets are merely Violations.

Answer 4

Traffic tickets are violations. I think you need to commit a misdemeanor or felony (crime) to get a trial by jury. So just crank it up a notch if you want that jury, which I really do not advise.

Answer 5

Using a lane designated for turns to pass a vehicle is illegal. Your not going to find a law that says it is not. A marked turn lane is for turns only. In most states its illegal to pass someone on the right. And wether it is a normal occurence or not does not have an effect on the law. People speed all the time and find it acceptable. Its still against the law. Id just pay the fine and be done with it. I do not think they can raise the cost of your fine but they can charge you a fee for the jury trial itself.

Answer 6

At least in California, absolutely.

Most traffic tickets in CA are a special type of misdemeanor called an infraction. You can make a motion to the court to have your infraction tried as a misdemeanor and then make another motion to have your case heard and decided by a jury.

I don't think I'd recommend this course of action though. With a normal infraction, you only need to provide one person with reasonable doubt; with a jury, you need to provide 12 people with reasonable doubt. Most of the time, I think I'd stick with having to convince only one person....

Answer 7

Yes. Why would you do so? It is a pointless action. The ticket could not cost more than an attorney. You are obviously not very smart in the ways of the law or you would not be asking such a question. You would need an attorney. Pay your ticket and bad mouth the cop to his buddies.

Answer 8

No,the punishment isn't servere enough to warrant a jury trial.

Answer 9

Not in Canada you don't. By Justice of the Peace (1) only.

Answer 10

Yes you can, when you go before the judge on the date... request it.... most the time it will be dismissed neways because the cop won't won't show up thinking you just paid the fine...