If you've lost your ticket, contact the county court for information. You take a driving course instead of paying the speeding ticket. When issued , most people simply pay the lower fine; however, if facing the larger ticket or the accumulation of points will cause your license to be suspended, fighting the ticket may be worthwhile. In some cases, you may be able to look up your traffic ticket online. A traffic lawyer costs between $250 and $350 on average nationally, according to Thumbtack, an online marketplace for service professionals. You do not want the officer to think you are being hostile or reaching for a weapon. Your trial will occur within 45 days of the day you enter you plea. Traffic Violations Providing evidence, testimony and if appropriate, witnesses The opportunity to be represented by an attorney Testimony by the officer who issued the ticket Cross-examination of the officer by your attorney Losing the opportunity to plead outright to lower charges Call your DMV or licensing agency to see if your state has a similar program. If foot traffic within the school zone is non-existent and there are no physical prompts signaling me to stop, is it really justifiable for an office to charge me with such an outrageous penalty? You can question the issuing officer, including about his or her memory and training with speed-clocking equipment. Once again, it's not an admission of guilt and refusing to sign it will not make you look favorable in the officer's eyes. Show Up To Court. Cost money upfront: Youll pay the speeding ticket and any court fees. The judge is the person overseeing the case, who has final authority on the rulings. Answering that you were speeding can be taken as an admission of guilt and sabotage your chances of successfully fighting the ticket. How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record? What Happens When You Get a Speeding Ticket. Find out how to fight a speeding ticket or other traffic offense, and when you should hire our speeding ticket lawyers to help you. What can we do for you? How Long Do You Have to Pay a Speeding Ticket? return false; Select whether or not you want the letter mailed to the traffic ticket issuer on your behalf! Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Radio Detection And Ranging or radar as it is popularly known works by emitting radio waves. Fighting traffic tickets in Pennsylvania is a procedure that can be initiated by submitting a "not guilty" plea to the court that is processing your citation. You can pay: Online. If the officer clocks you at greater than 11 miles over the speed limit the ticket grows to $500. You should get a record on the police officer to look for any previous cases he's won or lost in traffic court. On the other side, note your possible comments and questions to raise during cross-examination. But for a civil complaint such as simple speeding - do not pay! Before you try to fight a speeding ticket, check with your insurance to see how much your premiums will increase if you fight the ticket and lose since they might go up more than if you were to just plead guilty. You want to see how much a conviction would affect your insurance premiums and whether the raise would be more or less than it would be if you simply accepted responsibility and paid the fine. Pay attention to your shirt color, any small dents or cracks in your car, and any noticeable physical characteristics of the officer. Make witness arrangements. If caught speedingwhile driving through Pennsylvania, you can expect to pay a hefty fine. There are also certain traffic offenses that carry their own consequences, such as passing a school bus with red lights flashing (which has an automatic 60-day license suspension). You should review the actual vehicle code in the area where you were allegedly speeding to make sure the officer pulled you over for the correct violation. You may think that your only option once you have received a speeding ticket is to pay the fine, watch your insurance rates rise, and accept the addition of points from PennDOT. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. Here are five key ways: 1. Check the PAePay websiteto see if the traffic court your ticket was assigned to accepts online payments, as it varies by county. That's it! If the officer, for example, does not remember it was raining and a Tuesday he might not look like a less reliable witness. 2. MORE: How much can I save by refinancing my car? Evidence could include dashcam video or GPS data from a smartphone app, or photographic evidence that a speed limit sign was obscured. The radar will release a radio wave at one frequency. Thank you for your time. Keep in mind, missing ANY of your court dates could result in: If you cannot make it to your assigned court date, usually you can request a continuance in writing or in person at the applicable PA traffic court. If you do end up accepting the speeding ticket, its crucial to compare car insurance quotes; some companies will raise your rates more than others. He will have a court clerk, who is his assistant. The PA traffic court may also appoint you counsel if you meet the following criteria: At a pre-trial conference you (or your attorney) will meet with a Pennsylvania state prosecutor to try to work out a plea bargain. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 106,613 times. It wont just go away on its own, and youll be in much bigger trouble with the law. Refer to your printed ticket for information about the presiding court handling your case. Successfully overturning 200,000 tickets, DoNotPay understands the steps to make traffic tickets go away without paying ridiculous fees. The state of Pennsylvania bases the amount of your speeding fine on how fast you were going and what the speed limit was in the area where you were caught speeding. There are three ways to set your court date. You want him to like you. How to Get a Judge to Dismiss a Speeding Ticket from Your Phone, Can You Dispute Chicago Speeding Tickets? NOTE: This blog article is for advertising and general informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon by any individual seeking to represent himself or herself in any legal proceeding in any jurisdiction. var gform;gform||(document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.domLoaded&&gform.scriptsLoaded?o():!gform.domLoaded&&gform.scriptsLoaded?window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",o):document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",o)},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,n,r,t){gform.addHook("action",o,n,r,t)},addFilter:function(o,n,r,t){gform.addHook("filter",o,n,r,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook("action",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook("filter",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,n){gform.removeHook("action",o,n)},removeFilter:function(o,n,r){gform.removeHook("filter",o,n,r)},addHook:function(o,n,r,t,i){null==gform.hooks[o][n]&&(gform.hooks[o][n]=[]);var e=gform.hooks[o][n];null==i&&(i=n+"_"+e.length),gform.hooks[o][n].push({tag:i,callable:r,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(n,o,r){var t;if(r=Array.prototype.slice.call(r,1),null!=gform.hooks[n][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[n][o]).sort(function(o,n){return o.priority-n.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){"function"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),"action"==n?t.apply(null,r):r[0]=t.apply(null,r)})),"filter"==n)return r[0]},removeHook:function(o,n,t,i){var r;null!=gform.hooks[o][n]&&(r=(r=gform.hooks[o][n]).filter(function(o,n,r){return!! 3 points. Lacie Glover spent more than five years covering health care costs and all types of insurance as a NerdWallet writer before becoming an assistant assigning editor in 2019 and later an assigning editor on the insurance team. A jury will usually not be called in for traffic court. If there were many other cars similar to yours on the road that day, the officer may have pulled you over by mistake. Technicalities can also help you get your ticket dismissed. If the prosecution fails to prove the case against you, you will be found not guilty. Research speed equipment. If you ask for a hearing, plan to make your case and be questioned before a judge. If convicted of vehicular homicide in an active work zone, drivers will be given up to five additional years of jail time. This will, however, result in the same consequences as pleading guilty. Typically in mitigation, you admit to the offense and present information that would lead a judge to grant you leniency. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Traffic Tickets - Getting an Attorney's Help Ask questions you think might help your case. Pleading "Guilty with explanation" means you admit to speeding but want to the court to take certain circumstances into consideration, which may result in your insurance premiums staying the same. For instance, certain courts may allow initiating . Note that paying your speeding ticket in PA is considered an admission of guilt. How to Fight a Speeding Ticket If you get a speeding ticket, you may think your only course of action is to pay the fine, accept the points from PennDOT and watch your insurance rates go up. Traffic school is one of the best options for most people who get a speeding ticket, so you should at least check to see if it's an option where you live. You're only two minutes away from getting your PA speeding ticketdismissed using these steps: It's really that simple! CALL NOW: 800-874-8583; Choose Your State. If you are found guilty, you will also have to pay the penalties and fines. At Berman Law, our Media, PA attorneys represent drivers in Chester County, Delaware County, and Philadelphia County. To do so, alert the court within 10 days of receiving the notice that you are pleading not guilty. You can view a breakdown of Pennsylvania's traffic fines, updated in 2014, on the Traffic Injury Prevention Project website. If you dont pass that exam, your license will be suspended for 15 days. Always check with your insurance before fighting a ticket. Although this option is said to result in this matter . Pennsylvania police use a number or different methods to track vehicle speed and issue citations. As a writer, her work was featured in The Associated Press, The Motley Fool and U.S. News & World Report. Make sure you're fully aware of how traffic citations can affect your auto insurance rates BEFORE agreeing to a plea bargain. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. For example, you could prove you were driving the proper speed or the radar reading was inaccurate. Disputing a speeding ticket on your own requires a lot of time to gather information to increase your chances of winning in court, taking time off work to attend the court hearing, and the hassle of arguing your innocence on the matter. The prosecutor/ADA is the individual or team working on behalf of the state to prove your guilt. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Number two: If you get charged with a criminal offense such as reckless or negligent driving, DUI, vehicular homicide or hit-and-run, hire an attorney. That's it! An appellate court will only look to see if any legal errors were made and whether these errors affected the final decision in the case. You can appear before a judge and enter a Not Guilty plea as well as a request for a court date. Show respect in your actions and words. Subscribe to stay in the loop & on the road! Also, pay attention to the traffic conditions and look especially for extenuating circumstances that could have caused inadvertent speeding. e.preventDefault(); This will involve going to court. You can call in witnesses, including any passengers in the car when the ticket was issued. When Will a Speeding Ticket Show Up on Insurance? Merely visiting our websites does not create an attorney-clent relationship with the law offices of Colgan & Associates, LLC. Fighting with the police officer never increases your chances of leniency. How to Fight a Speeding Ticket - What to Do in 10 Steps Contents Remain calm and respectful Sign the paper copy of the ticket Check your contact information on your ticket copy Make sure you know how to handle the citation Read the instructions on how to pay your speeding ticket Attend defensive driving school instead of paying the fine When you contest a ticket, you must enter a plea. Many people don't bother fighting a traffic ticket because it may not seem worth the time and effort. 1. delaying or reducing the impact on insurance. If there are any discrepancies in the nature of the violation, you can dispute the ticket within 30 days. Your best chances to win the argument will be if you have physical proof you werent speeding. Immediately after the officer gives you the written citation, make sure all the information is correct, including anything identifying you or describing your car. How Pacing Works With this technique, the officer must maintain a constant distance between the police vehicle and the suspect's car long enough to make a reasonably accurate . my fine is $166 and I explained that as a teacher I would never consciously put anyone at risk, and that i always respect and obey school crossing zones when kids are crossing/boarding buses. When the officer asks for your license and registration, politely explain where these documents are and ask permission to reach for them. Several hundred dollars are now being demanded from you because the camera captured your car and license plate. Your day in court resembles most other types of hearings. Otherwise, to fight your ticket you'll need to plead "Not guilty" and challenge the officer's measurement of your speed or their identification of your vehicle. If you decide to fight the ticket in court. If the officer that issued the ticket doesn't show up, it's almost automatically a win for you. Your job is to present your case in order to prove you are innocent. Remember, only 50% of people who fight traffic tickets get their tickets dismissed. Sign up and well send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money. Since it can be difficult to prove you were not guilty when representing yourself in court, you may consider hiring an attorney to fight on your behalf. Worse, being rude or uncooperative can be counterproductive. Take notes during the prosecution so you can prepare your cross-examination. The court handling the ticket should be included on the ticket. Experienced Legal Advice When The Future Is At Stake. So, in response to the first letter, I mailed them back the following letter (copied and pasted): I received a letter claiming I committed a violation of a speeding law in the District of Columbia on 04/21/2012. If, for example, you're trying to prove the officer pulled over the wrong car ask if he remembers that there were two other blue Honda Civics on the highway that morning. Make sure you choose a firm who has experience fighting traffic tickets in Pennsylvania. Fighting a speeding ticket is about 3 goals: keeping your driving record clear. Write down the make, model, license plate and unit number of the officer's car. Your email address will not be published. You may be able to request a negotiation before or at your hearing, but its the courts decision, so check on the courts website or call to be sure. Because of this, you need to know EXACTLY what the officer used to measure your speed. In order to fight the traffic ticket, the driver must appear before a judge. Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania | Ticket Counsel Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania Fines and Fees Speeding 1-10 miles over: 2 - 4 points / $85 - $170 Speeding 11 - 15 miles over: 3 - 5 points / $115 - $235 Speeding 16 - 24 miles over: 4 - 6 points / $135 - $306 Speeding 25 - 35 miles over: 5 - 7 points / $160 - $380 Here are the 16 top reasons cited for getting out of a speeding ticket, and their rates of success as determined by CarInsurance.com: I'm bringing home hot food and didn't want it to get cold (11% . Do not say, "I was going 62 in a 55 zone," for example. Say as little as possible. Posting bail means you've already paid your fine, so if you lose your case there will be no additional fees. Youll pay the speeding ticket and any court fees. traffic school or defensive driving course. You should also expect to pay: At Berman Law, our traffic attorneys can help you review your ticket and add up all the costs associated with your speeding or traffic violation, so you can decide whether you want to contest the ticket. 1999 - 2023 DMV.ORG. You mayget a judge to dismiss a speeding ticketor significantly reduce the charge if you are prepared for court and can justify the unfair ticket. For example, depending on where you live: Your state may waive your first moving violation if you take a driving course. Be prepared to use this as your defense if the officer is not present on your court date. You could go to the County Clerk's office and request a trial date. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Dispute Your Band C Speeding Fine Without a Lawyer and Win. Other ways an officer can clock your speed are using a timing device such as a stopwatch or VASCAR, or following behind you clocking your speed using their speedometer. You need an experienced defense attorney on your side to review the ticket, your driving history, and any defenses available to you. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Speed and red light cameras are a type of automated enforcement technology used to detect and deter speeders and red light runners. First, look over your citation. Your sentence could include any of the following: NOTE: According the federal law, all commercial drivers MUST notify their employer of traffic charges within 30 days of conviction. Call 610-565-9696 or contact us online to speak with an attorney today. When you appear, the judge will; If you are found not guilty, you may still be responsible for the cost of the attorney and court costs. If you do not have previous traffic violations and have a clean driving record, bringing this kind of evidence to court can help your case. If all this sounds like more than youd want to handle on your own, you can enlist a traffic lawyer to help you. http://traffic.findlaw.com/traffic-tickets/fight-a-speeding-ticket-is-speeding-always-speeding.html. Instantly compare top auto insurance companies. How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in PA When you receive a speeding ticket or traffic citation, you always have the option to pay the fine and accept the points. Join 1,972,984 Americans who searched for Car Insurance Rates: In Pennsylvania, you must submit your plea of not guilty to the traffic court handling your case, within 10 days of receiving the traffic citation, if you wish to fight your ticket. Our attorneys can be reached at (614) 361-2804. If you would like to request a hearing within 30 days of the date of your Notice of Violation, you have two options. And we truly care about our clients. You may notify them: Online (court's website) By phone Where you have a strong defense, we can present your case to the magistrate or judge and demonstrate that the prosecutor cant prove you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If you ignore it, you may have to pay additional fines and your driver's license can be suspended. You can receive points for more than one offense at the same traffic stop. Ensure you understand all the penalties & implications for a speeding ticket before deciding to pay the ticket. Comparing auto insurance rates after speeding tickets. The simplest way to deal with a speeding ticket is to go ahead and pay the fine. Heres what to know about your options. On this morning there were no kids along the sidewalks, none crossing the street (the patrol wasn't even in the road telling traffic to stop), and no buses had their red stop lights flashing. Doing this, the officer can immediately see that you're not an immediate threat, and his stress level is reduced. Speeding in a highway work zone: $100 to $2000 and/or a maximum of 12 months jail time There may be additional fees depending on the judge. Gather information to help successfully dispute the speeding ticket. 5 Ways to Effectively Fight Traffic Tickets Five strategies for fighting a traffic ticket. Each time you reach 6 points on your record, there are consequences: You will need to take a written exam about safe driving practices and the penalties for violating them. We can negotiate on your behalf, reducing or even eliminating the fines and points you will be assessed. If you are facing a speeding ticket or traffic offense that could threaten your license, you may choose to contest the ticket and force the police and Pennsylvania prosecutors office to prove that you committed the traffic offense you were charged with beyond a reasonable doubt. Most drivers have sped at one point or another, even if just a couple of miles per hour over the speed limit. Do not say something like, "I wasn't speeding. You will need to attend a mandatory departmental hearing. Sometimes, just showing up means you win. Provide us with some details on why you believe the citation issued is a mistake. Submit a request for certain public records. Continue to get speeding tickets and the suspensions will keep adding up. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Hire a Traffic Attorney. , possibly resulting in suspension of your license. Show up at court for the hearing date printed on your speeding ticket. Assigning Editor | Auto insurance, home insurance, other insurance. Your case will be given a trial date and assigned to a hearing officer or a judge depending on how severe the violation is and the possible penalties you could face. If you are clocked at 11 miles over the speed limit, the fine is $35 plus $2 for each mile greater than 5 over the speed limit. Instruction manuals include maintenance schedules you can question the officer about, and they may note radar gun weaknesses, for example. Politely ask the officer if he can move the court appearance to the county seat. These methods include Pacing, Aircraft Speed Detection, Manual Distance Timing ( VASCAR ), Laser and/or electronic Distance Timing (ENRADD) and Radar. saving any demerit points. Look up your states motor vehicle code, carefully read the speed law you allegedly broke and prepare to argue that you didnt. This video describes 20 speeding tickets defenses and how to beat a speed.