defending yourself in traffic court?

Question

if you wanted to represent yourself for a trafic ticket, where could you research what the legal tricks are for getting tickets dismissed?

I know some law libraries have some inro--but nothing so specific as this.
the ticket is in TX

and, pls, no whinning babies like Skull, who are just full of piss and vinegar and want to spew.

if you haveinfo for me, thanks,
if you're not here to gime me info--you just want to go on and on about "what is wrong with America nowadays" then take your old man farting complaints elsewhere

Answer 1

I fought a speeding ticket once in court and won. I did go to a law library and research a bit, but without knowing what to look for I really didn't find anything. I am sure with the internet you can find a great deal. I sat down and came up with sensible questions to ask the police officer. Just consider the facts supporting your case and come up with questions that will lead the judge to see your side. Be very rational.

Answer 2

Defending Yourself In Traffic Court

Answer 3

How serious is this ticket?? Got a DUI, get a lawyer. Got a simple speeding ticket? If you're guilty, pay the fine. If you really want to fight a ticket forget legal tricks. They simply don't work and annoy the Judge, who can hammer you. Advice like picking apart the ticket looking for misspelled words is useless. Administrative errors on tickets are common and the judge will simply let the officer correct the error in court. Factual errors are the only thing you can use. For instance, you are charged with speeding 40mph in a 30mph zone. You can prove that the speed limit is actually 40 and not 30. That's a factual error and will result in the ticket's dismissal.
Sometimes it is best to enter a guilty plea and then explain the circumstances to the judge. Some years I was in another town and blew a stop sign. I got broad sided by a pickup. Totaled by poor Honda, fortunately no one was injured. I got a ticket for Failure to Stop. In court, I plead guilty but showed the judge a picture of the intersection. The stop sign was totally obscured by a large overhanging Weeping Willow tree. You could not see the sign. The judge suspended the fine. I could have plead not guilty and probably won, but the expense and hassle of setting up another court date, taking more time off work, traveling to the other town, was more then the ticket was worth.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
defending yourself in traffic court?
if you wanted to represent yourself for a trafic ticket, where could you research what the legal tricks are for getting tickets dismissed?

I know some law libraries have some inro--but nothing so specific as this.
the ticket is in TX

Answer 5

What is with skull? Is he an officer?
What an inconvenience for him that people are exercising their constitutional rights! I guess we should just pay him directly?

You should definitely go to court.
Take photos of the area and write down what happened.
maybe you can find an obscured traffic sign.

If the fine is too high, you can tell the judge that...the worst that could happen is the judge will not agree with you and you pay the fine. But at least that way you will know you tried. The judge will respect you for showing up and talking to him so he might reduce it. Judges have egos like everyone else.

best of luck to you.

Answer 6

You are not going to like this answer, but here it goes. Traffic offenses are almost impossible to defend. Unless he wrote you for running a stop sign where there is no stop sign, you're screwed. It will be his word against yours and he will win. Just the way it is.

If you do represent yourself, get a plea. If it is a speeding ticket, get it reduced to 9 over (no insurance points). If you ran a stop light, get it reduced to an unsafe movement. In other words get the best deal possible for yourself.

Answer 7

I agree, it depends what the citation is for and how serious it is.

If it's an accident, then get copies of the police report, pictures anything you can use to defend what you believe happened.

A few years ago, I pulled out of some place and crossed the median to go southbound and as I crossed a pedestrian ran out in the middle of the road. I hit him and he popped up on to my windshield. I was ticketed for reckless driving. The guy was carted off in an ambulence. I pointed out to the officer that he should be ticket as well for jaywalking (and he was), which was probably a good move at the time.

I talked to my insurance and they covered everything minus my deductable. The guy even tried to sue me and my insurance company. It turned out he was higher then a kite when he was taken away and he had a criminal record as well.

I put my case together and was able to get the ticket dismissed.

Answer 8

A person to represents themselves in court has a fool for a client. Get an attorney that specializes in traffic cases and let them represent you. They know all the tricks and if they find an excuse to get you out of the ticket they will. But then again if the cop did it right they will plead you out but you probably won't get the points.

Answer 9

I had to go to traffic school and the police officer said that you should fight every ticket. Especially around the holidays.
Police sometimes don't go to court when the schedules won't permit it.
I had the advice of a free lawyer and they would give me advice on how to act in court

Dress and attitude is very important and of course your past record will be also a determining factor.

Answer 10

I don't know about "legal tricks" but if you are in the right and bring documentation, e.g., photographs, you stand a good chance. Also many officers do not come to court for traffic tickets so if you present a good case with evidence, you should do fine.