Picture this: You’re driving down the highway, humming to your favorite tune, when suddenly you see flashing lights in your rearview mirror. A sinking feeling takes over as you realize you’ve been caught speeding. What now? Is there a way to fight this speeding ticket? The answer is yes! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to successfully fight a speeding ticket and potentially save you from those dreaded consequences.

Key Takeaways

Understand the consequences of a speeding ticket to develop an effective defense strategy.
Assess the validity of your ticket and present evidence in court, such as documents and records or witness statements.
The Shelton Firm can help navigate traffic court by protecting your rights and negotiating on your behalf.

Understanding the Consequences of a Speeding Ticket

A driver looking at a speeding ticket with a concerned expression on their face

Understanding the potential repercussions is a prerequisite to learning how to fight a speeding ticket. A traffic ticket, especially a speeding ticket, may result in driving record points, increased insurance premiums, and the possibility of license suspension. Given what’s at stake, mounting a robust defense is imperative.

Driving record points

When you’re found guilty of certain traffic violations, such as ignoring a speed limit sign, points are added to your driving record. Accruing driving record points due to alleged violations can result in a variety of adverse outcomes, including:

Higher insurance premiums
Suspension of your license
Jeopardized driving privileges
Possible penalties for violations

Maintaining a clean driving record is essential to avoid these consequences.

Seeing as a speeding ticket can add three points to your driving record, mastering the art of effectively contesting traffic tickets, such as these, becomes vital. Subjective tickets, which require the officer to provide their personal viewpoint and reach a subjective determination concerning the incident, can be more challenging to fight in court.

Click here to view the Penndot Point System Fact Sheet.

Insurance premium increases

Receiving a speeding ticket, a common traffic offense, can lead to an increase in your automobile insurance rate. On average, insurance premiums rise by approximately 25% after a speeding ticket. Moreover, a speeding ticket typically remains on your insurance record for a minimum of three years.

The gravity of the speeding violation can also influence the insurance premium increase. The more serious the violation, the higher the conceivable rise in insurance premiums. Attending traffic school may be an option to reduce the impact of a speeding ticket on your insurance premiums and driving record.

License suspension risks

The risk of license suspension increases with multiple speeding tickets. Demonstrating that you had insufficient notice of a traffic sign can lead to a judge dismissing the ticket issued against you. Mistake of fact is an error made by drivers regarding the circumstances.

When receiving 6 points for the second time, you’ll have to attend a mandatory departmental hearing. Failure to attend will result in an automatic suspension of the license for 60 days. Passing an on-road driver’s exam may be mandated, and if it’s not passed, the license will be suspended for 15 days.

Upon successful completion of the exam or serving the suspension, two points will be removed from the record.

Assessing the Validity of Your Speeding Ticket

A police officer pointing to a speed limit sign

Assessing the validity of your speeding ticket is an effective strategy in contesting it. This involves examining the officer’s observations, verifying the speed limit signage, and confirming the accuracy of the equipment used to measure your speed.

Officer’s observations

Officer’s observations can be subjective and may be challenged. A police officer tracking your car to calculate your speed could have been diverted. Alternatively, they may not have monitored you long enough to get an accurate reading..

Disputing a subjective ticket, such as demonstrating that your lane change was prudent given the prevailing weather and traffic circumstances, can be an effective way to fight a traffic ticket. Darkness at night could reduce accuracy when tracking your car. Curves in the road may also cause variances in monitoring performance.

Speed limit signage

Speed limit signage should be clear and discernible. According to the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices), posted speed limit signage in the US must be situated at or close to the applicable area, visible, and with a minimum size of 18” x 24”.

Common issues related to speed limit signage visibility include:

Signs being blocked by other signs or objects
Signs being located too far from the road
Signs being faded or damaged
Signs being situated in areas with inadequate lighting
Signs being placed at angles that make them hard to spot

By law, speed limit signs should be placed as close as possible to the start of the speed limit zone, at the beginning of each speed limit zone.

Equipment accuracy

A valid speeding ticket hinges on the accuracy of the equipment used. Police officers often use VASCAR, radar, and LIDAR speed guns to measure speed. However, it is possible that up to 10-20% of speeding tickets may be issued erroneously due to inaccurate readings.

VASCAR is an automation that has been demonstrated to be error-prone and inaccuracies can be contested in court. Building a robust defense involves confirming the accuracy of the speed measuring equipment used.

How the Police Time Speed

Grasping the methods police use to time speed is fundamental when contesting a speeding ticket. Police use speed timing devices and radar timing devices to measure vehicle speed.

Speed Timing Device

Speed timing devices measure the time it takes for a vehicle to travel a specific distance. Police commonly utilize radar, VASCAR, and speedometers for speed timing. These devices are typically accurate within a small margin of error. However, factors such as the device’s calibration and the conditions in which it is used can influence the accuracy of the recorded speed.

Bear in mind that these devices’ accuracy can vary; hence, if you doubt the precision of a speed measurement, it’s recommended to seek advice from a legal professional.

Radar timing Device

Radar timing devices use radar signals to determine a vehicle’s speed. They operate by:

Transmitting a radar signal to a moving vehicle
Measuring the time it takes for the signal to be reflected back
Using the change in frequency of the returned signal to calculate the speed of the vehicle.

Radar timing devices are generally reliable and accurate for measuring vehicle speed and are widely used by police departments for speed enforcement. However, the accuracy of the device may be affected by factors such as:

Calibration and proper usage by law enforcement officers
Transmitter power and antenna size
Receiver noise
Target size
Clutter
Ratio of transmission to reception power
Calibration of the equipment

All of these factors can have an impact on the accuracy of radar timing devices.

How the Shelton Firm Can Help?

The Shelton Firm offers the following services:

Developing a defense strategy
Contesting the officer’s testimony
Submitting evidence
Asserting necessity or mistake of fact
Guiding through traffic court proceedings
Informing of rights
Negotiating on behalf of the client

With professional help, your chances of successfully fighting a speeding ticket significantly increase, especially when you fight traffic tickets with expertise on your side.

Preparing Your Defense Strategy

In the fight against a speeding ticket, a well-crafted defense strategy is paramount. The Shelton Firm can help you assess the validity of your speeding ticket, ensuring that the officer’s observations, speed limit signage, and equipment accuracy are all valid.

Understanding the methods police use to measure speed, such as speed timing and radar timing devices, is also a key component of a strong defense strategy. With a solid understanding of these factors, you’ll be better equipped to challenge the speeding ticket and protect your driving record.

Challenging the officer’s testimony

Contesting the officer’s testimony is one approach to dispute a speeding ticket, especially in cases of an alleged violation. Inaccuracies or inconsistencies in the officer’s testimony, such as:

Contradictions with other evidence
Inaccurate recollection of events
Lack of specific details
Inconsistent statements
Bias or prejudice

These can be considered and challenged.

For example, in a speeding ticket case, you can strengthen your defense by:

Disputing the officer’s personal opinion or presentation of evidence
Cross-examining the officer to undermine their credibility
Challenging the officer’s observations or conclusions

These strategies can help cast doubt on the officer’s testimony and strengthen your defense.

Presenting your evidence

In the battle against a speeding ticket, presenting your evidence forms a crucial part of the process. Evidence that can be presented includes:

Tangible proof such as documents and records
Statements from witnesses
Evidence challenging the officer’s version of events
Discovery requests
Clear and convincing evidence
Evidence that can be admitted through hearsay, undue prejudice, and impermissible witness testimony

Photo or video evidence can be a key component in defending against a speeding ticket. It can be used to demonstrate that the driver was not exceeding the speed limit or to question the accuracy of the ticketing device. Providing strong evidence to support your defense can significantly improve your chances of successfully fighting a speeding ticket.

Arguing necessity or mistake of fact

In some cases, arguing necessity or mistake of fact might be a viable defense strategy. Necessity, in the context of traffic violations, is when an individual commits a traffic violation in response to an imminent and actual threat or environmental danger. For instance, exceeding the speed limit to avoid a potential multi-car pile-up may be necessary.

Mistake of fact is an error made by drivers regarding the circumstances of the traffic violation. By establishing necessity or mistake of fact, you can justify your actions and potentially have your speeding ticket dismissed.

Navigating Traffic Court

A traffic court hearing, also known as a court date, typically involves the following steps:

The clerk calling each case
The officer presenting any relevant evidence
The driver providing their defense or challenging the evidence
The judge listening to both sides
The judge making a decision based on the evidence and arguments presented

If found guilty, the judge imposes fines, penalties, or other consequences. If found not guilty, the case is dismissed, and no penalties are imposed.

The Shelton Firm can help you navigate traffic court by guiding you through the process, ensuring that your rights are protected, and presenting a strong defense on your behalf. With their expertise, you’ll be better prepared to face the judge and potentially have your speeding ticket dismissed.

Knowing your rights

Knowledge of your rights becomes critical when contesting a speeding ticket. During a traffic stop for speeding, you have the right to:

Remain silent
Refuse a search of your vehicle without a warrant
Inquire about the reason for the traffic stop
Request identification from the police officer
Request a lawyer if arrested

When disputing a speeding ticket in court, you have the right to:

Request a hearing
Plead not guilty
Dispute the police officer’s personal opinion or presentation of evidence
Present evidence that the traffic violation was a result of a serious and immediate danger
Challenge the ticket and argue your case in court

The Shelton Firm can help ensure that your rights are protected throughout the process.

Negotiating on your behalf

The Shelton Firm can negotiate on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome in your speeding ticket case. Their negotiation services can help:

Reduce or eliminate the fines and points associated with the ticket
Present the case to the magistrate or judge
Demonstrate that the prosecutor is unable to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Securing the most favorable result in your speeding ticket case can save you money on fines and protect your driving record from accumulating points, which can lead to increased insurance rates and potential license suspension. With professional help from the Shelton Firm, you can confidently fight your speeding ticket and potentially avoid these negative consequences.

Click here to contact The Shelton Firm and request your free consultation.

Summary

In conclusion, fighting a speeding ticket is a critical step to protect your driving record, avoid increased insurance premiums, and prevent potential license suspension. By understanding the consequences of speeding tickets, assessing the validity of your ticket, knowing how police time speed, and seeking professional help from the Shelton Firm, you can build a strong defense and maximize your chances of successfully disputing your speeding ticket. Don’t let a speeding ticket hold you back – take action and fight for your rights today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points is 20 mph over the speed limit in PA?

Going 20 mph over the speed limit in PA will result in 4 points and, if it occurs in a work zone, also a 15-day license suspension.

What happens if you get a speeding ticket in PA?

If you receive a speeding ticket in Pennsylvania, you can expect to pay a fine of $35-$42.50 plus an additional fee for every mile over the speed limit.

How many points before i get suspended in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, if you accumulate 11 points or more on your driving record, your driving privileges will be suspended. For the first suspension, it will last for 5 days per point. For the second suspension, it will be for 10 days per point. For third and subsequent suspensions, your license could be suspended indefinitely until you pass an exam.

What is the best defense for a speeding ticket?

The best defense for a speeding ticket often involves challenging the accuracy of the speed measurement, questioning the clarity and visibility of speed limit signs, disputing the officer’s observations, or proving a necessity or mistake of fact.

Is it worth fighting a speeding ticket in PA?

Yes, it is worth fighting a speeding ticket in PA. Considering the potential consequences such as increased insurance premiums, driving record points, and even license suspension, it is beneficial to contest the ticket. Professional help, such as that provided by the Shelton Firm, can significantly increase the chances of successfully disputing the ticket.