kmsh-speed-sign-772013-mJust because you have been given a speeding ticket by an overzealous cop does not mean that you are on the hook for the fines and penalties.

If you take sufficient time to research the reason for which you were issued a citation, or consult an attorney who can represent your case in the court of law, there are number of ways in which you can defend against a speeding ticket in court.

 

Here’s a few things you need to know if you receive a speeding ticket in the state of California.

Defend Against Technicalities

In order for you to be liable for a traffic ticket under the law, the ticket must be filled out perfectly by the arresting officer.

  • The first thing that many people do is to personally monitor the ticket for any discrepancies.
  • They will also have a lawyer look over the ticket and juxtapose it against the recorded or written record of what the cop said the ticket was for.
  • Different states and municipalities have vastly different laws about the actual enforcement of speeding ordinances and just because you were driving above the “posted speed limit” does not mean that you are automatically guilty in court.

Taking Advantage of Extensions

Depending on where you were given the speeding ticket, you may be able to take advantage of many extensions that will improve your chances of walking away victorious in court. Some of the extensions that are often used may include the following:

  • A “grace period” that allows the defendant to delay the entire process of the court for a month or many months;
  • A discovery period in which the prosecution and the defendant will be required to stay away from court in order to process information;
  • Logistical delays because of the court schedule or the schedule of the officer, and
  • Technical delays because of a number of other issues.

In order to take advantage of the many extensions that may be available, it is usually up to the defendant to keep up with court schedules and timelines. The court is under no obligation, nor will they ever offer this information to a defendant.

Lack of A Valid Case

Although it may not seem as though the defendant is innocent until proven guilty when it comes to traffic tickets, if the prosecution cannot come up with a case, then the ticket must be nullified by the court.

  • It is always in the best interests of the defendant to never miss a court date for a deadline for any paperwork that must be turned in. This may be used against the officer if he or she does not adhere to the same standard.
  • This is why many successful cases have been based upon the discovery method, showing that the officer did not keep accurate records about the ticket and was therefore unable to properly testify about it in court.
  • The memory of the officer may also be affected by an extended time period; yet another reason that every possible extension in court has a right to be considered.

Legal Defenses Specializing in Traffic Tickets

Many of the successful traffic ticket nullification case and dismissals have come from the help of an experienced attorney or a law firm that specializes in traffic tickets. If a ticket is threatening a license, this is often a very good option for a defendant to have.

An attorney who specializes in defending people against traffic tickets will be able to help with the logistical and technical aspects of the court as well as building a case against the actual ticket. This increased vigilance in the organization of a case is the deciding factor for the defendant in many cases.

Because the lawyer understands the entire process, the officer must keep up with his or her records that much more readily and since majority of cops are not used to this, in many cases it will work out in the defendant’s favor.

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Scott Desind

Scott Desind | Traffic Ticket Attorneys The Traffic Ticket Attorneys, Desind and Klijian, have over 25 years of experience fighting traffic tickets. Our attorneys are well respected and known for their experience in fighting traffic tickets, specialized knowledge of the law and procedures and results by the court personnel, officers, deputies, competitors and clients.