Getting a traffic ticket is at best an annoyance and at worst the difference between you being able to drive and losing your license. Traffic tickets are not always given out for a good reason because sometimes an error of judgment is made and mistakes occur.
If you believe that you have been given a traffic ticket in error, you should take action to fight it. By doing so in a smart and effective way, you may be able to have the traffic ticket revoked. The following are five ways to potentially fight traffic tickers.
Dispute the evidence
Some evidence, such as video recordings of dangerous driving, is enough to show that a driver should be subject to a traffic ticket. However, other evidence, such as data from a speed camera, may be faulty.
Dispute the opinions presented
If a law enforcement official gives their opinion on what happened, you can dispute their opinion as being merely subjective. Other witnesses may be able to tell a different story.
Show evidence that you made an honest mistake
If you made a “mistake of fact,” you may not be required to pay a ticket. For example, if you ran a stop sign because you did not see the sign and therefore were unaware of your responsibility to stop, the judge hearing your case may dismiss the ticket.
Show that your actions were justified
You may be able to give a good and sensible reason for why you broke a traffic law. For example, if you were in close proximity to a driver whom you suspected was drunk, you may have started speeding to distance yourself from them, with the belief that this was the safest thing to do.
Show that your actions were necessary
In some circumstances, your ticketed driving may have been necessary to prevent harm to others, for example, if you were speeding because you were transporting a person to the hospital in an emergency.
It is important that you understand all of your options before taking action to fight a traffic ticket.
