Deciding whether or not to contest a speeding ticket requires a lot of issues to consider. Your driving record may be affected, and you could have a license suspension if it isn’t your first ticket. It could affect your insurance rates. Additionally, you may need to hire a speeding ticket lawyer to handle your fight at your court date.
A speeding ticket can be given for either going above the posted limit or below the posted limit when conditions are dangerous. To fight these kinds of tickets you either need a legitimate excuse or a legal/technical issue that can be raised in court. .
To fight an over-the-limit speeding ticket, you’re going to need to show that there was an emergency, a case of mistaken car, or that the officer’s radar gun was not working right because the calibration had not been reset for some time. If you want to argue that the law enforcement officer’s radar gun was off, you may need the help of a speeding ticket lawyer. For one, you’ll need to know the details of how radar guns are calibrated (and get the records about when the officer’s radar was last calibrated). You’ll also need to know local courts and traffic laws, and which elements of the alleged violation you can realistically fight. This is hard to do without any experience in contesting a traffic citation.
An under-the-limit speeding ticket is usually issued when the weather is dangerous, and you were going faster than was considered safe. If you decide to fight one of these tickets, you’ll have to prove that your driving was indeed safe for you and the motorists around you despite the weather.
Even if you don’t have a good reason, it might be wise to fight a speeding ticket if it could cause you serious legal problems. Speeding tickets can require your presence in court, cause you to lose your license, or violate probation. In some states there may be additional consequences from your state DMV or your insurance premiums.
If you are trying to keep a clean driving record you should consider hiring a traffic ticket attorney to review your case to see if it is worth fighting and help you with your court appearance. It may be that you need to go to traffic school before you go to court for your trial date. An experienced traffic ticket lawyer will give you the legal advice you need to make that decision.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge (theft or otherwise), immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.
