How to Handle Traffic Tickets

General information, not legal advice. This post describes how traffic stops, accidents and traffic court work in general. Every case turns on its own facts, and reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your own ticket, call The Traffic Ticket Attorneys at (310) 455-6810 for a free consultation.

If you’re over the age of 16 and own a car, chances are that at 1 point in time you’ve received one or perhaps many traffic tickets. And as much as we appreciate our fellow police officers, and the function they do for our community’s security, let’s admit it – we all want to stay as far away as possible from them.

In the event you’re unlucky and got pulled over, here are some general points about dealing with the police officer.

• Do not act foolish. Besides receiving a ticket for a traffic violation, you do not want to end up in jail.
• Think before admitting guilt. A driver can choose to say very little, and the police officer could use whatever you say against you in a court of law.
• Avoid arguing with the police officer. There is nothing worse than an upset officer. Considering how high the traffic fines are these days it’s in your greatest interest to help keep it as low as possible.
• Appeal to the officer’s emotions. Let’s face it. They are human too. And as difficult as they might wish to seem, they might give you a break in the event you can push the proper buttons.

If you obtain the ticket

You’ll not get anywhere if you argue with the police officer. Drivers who take the ticket, thank the officer and leave give the officer less to remember if they decide to fight the ticket in court.

Keep in mind each and every detail in the scenario. What time you were stopped, what location, how was the climate, your speed (in the event you got a speeding ticket).

In court

It’s best to hire traffic ticket attorneys, who know the process. A driver who goes to court to contest the ticket pleads ‘not guilty’. Otherwise what’s the point of going to court? Some drivers also ask to delay the court date, as the police officer may then remember less about them and the day of the violation. The longer the wait, the greater the chance the officer will not show up.

Following appearing in court and fortunately got your traffic ticket dismissed, or at least saved the points on your driver’s license, try and comply using the law. It will save you a lot of headaches, and clearly steer clear of any interactions with the police officer.