are they any tips?
2007-01-26 05:44:28 · 33 answers · asked by catchup 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
> 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
2007-01-26 05:54:45 · answer #1 · answered by YRofTexas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-01-26 06:08:34 · answer #2 · answered by mattzcoz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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!!
2007-01-27 09:36:59 · answer #3 · answered by theyreouttogetme 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-01-26 05:50:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-01-26 05:53:25 · answer #5 · answered by redhotboxsoxfan 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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.
2007-01-26 05:50:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
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!"
2007-01-26 05:50:40 · answer #7 · answered by briang731/ bvincent 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-01-26 09:12:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you were speeding and there was no dying child, sick grandmother, severed limb, Suck it up and pay the ticket. You sped, you got caught, now pay the fine. Honesty is the best policy. Because I guarentee you that judge has no sympathy for your lack of funds, or "I didn't mean to" story!
2007-01-26 05:50:00 · answer #9 · answered by auequine 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-01-26 05:54:22 · answer #10 · answered by Ultimate Guitar Hero! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋