How to Contest and Beat a Traffic Ticket

Reviewing Your Ticket

Check your ticket for accuracy. Immediately after the officer gives you the written citation, make sure all the information is correct, including anything identifying you or describing your car. Missing or incorrect information on your ticket may be grounds for dismissal. It has to be significant, however. For example, if the officer says you have a navy blue BMW when you, in fact, have a black BMW, this probably is not a big enough difference to justify the dismissal of your speeding ticket. If the officer writes the ticket for a red Honda Civic when you actually have a navy blue BMW, that's a different story.

Make note of the exact code sections you're cited for violating. The officer will either check off or write down the exact sections of the city or state traffic code he claims you didn't follow. If you don't understand what you did wrong, ask the officer on the scene before she leaves. You want to make sure you understand exactly why you were pulled over and why you're being given a ticket.

Find out the exact procedure for contesting your ticket. Typically the citation itself will have contact information for either paying your fine or disputing the ticket.

Gathering Evidence

Record all relevant details from the scene of the incident. As soon as possible, make a record of the time of day when you were stopped, where you were stopped, what the weather was like, how much traffic was on the road, how long you were detained, and any other relevant information. Since many laws rely on subjective judgment, all of these details can help support your understanding of the situation. For example, in 20 states – including California, Texas, and Utah – speed limits are not absolute and you can make a judgment call as to whether it is safe to exceed the speed limit. Although you could still get a ticket, you could use circumstances from the time of the incident to argue you were operating your vehicle safely.

Take statements from witnesses. If you had anyone in the car with you, or if there were people nearby who saw you get pulled over, find out if they're willing to make a statement on the record about what they saw. If you have eyewitnesses who are willing to testify on your behalf, make sure you have their names and contact information before you leave the scene. Passengers or bystanders who will testify to your version of events can help you convince the judge that you were right and the police officer's observations were inaccurate.

Take pictures of the area from your perspective and the perspective of the officer. If the officer observed you from a different location before pulling you over, go there and take pictures of what he would have seen. This is especially important if your case depends on an obstruction or other dangerous condition. For example, if you had to swerve to avoid a huge pothole and were pulled over and given a citation for an illegal lane change, photos of the pothole would support your argument that your actions were justified. You can almost always argue that the officer was not in a good position to see what happened, especially if there are obstructions or if there was heavy traffic.

Find out what devices or equipment the officer used. If the officer's position that you violated the law is based on information provided by a piece of equipment, you will need to verify that the equipment was functioning properly. Before you go to trial, request copies of maintenance records and schedules for any of that equipment. If the machines weren't calibrated or maintained according to industry standards, you may be able to get your ticket dismissed on the grounds that the officer's decision was based on unreliable information. For example, most radar guns need to be re-calibrated either once a month or once every other month. If the gun was not calibrated, or if the officer did not check the calibration when he issued the ticket, you may be able to get your ticket dismissed.

Get identifying information from the officer. Make sure you have the officer's name, his badge number, and his patrol car number. If the officer who issued your citation filed a report or made any notes about the traffic stop, you are entitled to copies of those as well.

Assessing Your Defense

Determine whether you can argue that your actions were due to a mistaken fact. Although ignorance of the law is never an excuse, a legitimate and understandable mistake of a key fact may get you off the hook. For example, if you didn't stop at a crosswalk because the paint was so faded it was barely visible, the judge might cut you some slack. However, arguing that you didn't stop because you didn't know you were supposed to stop at a crosswalk won't help you.

Decide if your actions were legally justified or were necessary to avoid harm. Even though you technically violated a traffic ordinance, in some circumstances you must make an illegal maneuver to avoid something far more dangerous. For example, if you were swerving to avoid hitting an animal crossing the road, you might be able to get a ticket for an illegal lane change dismissed. However, keep in mind that you have to be able to prove that your version of events happened. If there was nobody else in your car who saw the animal and it's going to come down to your word against the word of the police officer, you're probably better off simply paying the fine. Your own inattention or personal need isn't the same thing as avoiding harm. The harm you avoid must be something you didn't cause. For example, if you were having a fight with your sister on your cell phone and ran a red light, that argument would not excuse your actions in the event a police officer pulled you over and wrote you a ticket.

Analyze the code sections you were cited for violating. Find a copy of the code and break the section down into elements. If one of the elements is missing in your case, you can't be held liable. Look at the portions of the code where personal judgment comes into play. Many traffic laws are not absolute and rely on the driver to make an honest assessment of what conduct is best-given weather and highway conditions. For example, speed limits aren't absolute in more than a dozen states – this means that even if you get a ticket for exceeding the speed limit in those states, you can still make an argument that the speed at which you were traveling was safe given the totality of the circumstances. Nearly any violation that has the word "unsafe" in it implies a subjective judgment was made on the part of the police officer. Any time you are cited for an unsafe movement, the door is open for you to argue that from your position, your actions were in fact safe. If highway signs or signals figured into your citation, check them against the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, published by the Federal Highway Administration. The MUTCD is a compilation of national standards for all traffic control devices. If you can demonstrate that the relevant sign or signal didn't meet applicable standards, your ticket may be dismissed on those grounds.

See what the prosecution offers you. In many states, as an incentive, the prosecutor may offer to drop your original violation for a new one that carries a lighter penalty. You can either accept or decline the offer, but be aware the prosecutor is not required to offer you a deal again so it may be your only opportunity for a reduced penalty than if you were to go to trial and lose. A traffic lawyer can help negotiate with the prosecutor and get a more favorable outcome than if you were to negotiate yourself. If you will negotiate yourself, do not admit guilt. If it is your first offense, consider bringing your driving record to show you're not a high-risk driver. This may convince them to drop your violation to a non-moving violation and have you pay court fees. If you accept the plea deal and the judge approves it, the proceedings end (you cannot appeal). If you decline or the judge rejects it, you will be scheduled for trial.

Going to Trial

Find out if you can have an attorney represent you. Although you don't have the right to an appointed attorney, you may be able to hire a traffic attorney who can help you fight the ticket.

Consider traffic school. In many jurisdictions, you can attend traffic school and have a minor violation dismissed. Typically this option is only available for first-time offenders or for relatively minor infractions. If it's your first ticket in the jurisdiction, you may be able to take a special "no contest" plea in which you pay a reduced fee and the violation doesn't add points to your license or go on your insurance.

Find out if you have the option of trial by declaration. In many states you can have a trial by mail. You write a letter explaining why you shouldn't be held liable for the violation, and then the officer writes in with his side of the story. If the officer fails to write in, you win by default. However, if you lose by mail you can still request an in-person hearing.

Request an in-person hearing, if necessary. You may have automatically been assigned a hearing date, or your city may require you to request a hearing date. If you're responsible for requesting a hearing, do so as soon as possible after you get your ticket so you have a greater choice of dates and times. In most jurisdictions, the police officer who issued your citation is required to show up at your hearing. If he does not appear, your ticket will be dismissed as there is no one to defend it. If you were given a court date, consider postponing it. The original date undoubtedly works for the cop so by changing it, you will increase your chance of them not showing up as they may be too busy, have several hearings on that date, or have simply forgotten about you. Requesting a continuance also may increase the chances that the officer isn't available to show up.

Appear at your hearing. Dress in clean, professional clothing and arrive early for your hearing. Bring copies of all documents along with any evidence or witnesses you wish to present. Treat all court staff with respect. If there are other cases being heard before yours, take a seat and wait your turn. When you are called to come forward, address the judge as "your honor" and don't speak unless you are asked a question.
 Leave your mobile phone or any other electronic devices at home or in the car – don't try to bring them with you into the courtroom. Organize your documents and evidence before you get there so you aren't shuffling through papers if the judge asks for something.

Present your defense. When the judge calls on you, explain briefly why you are not liable for the traffic violation. Keep your argument succinct and stick to the facts. If you've brought witnesses to testify on your behalf, keep your questions brief and make sure they stay in line with what you're trying to prove rather than digressing.

Listen while the officer presents her side of the story. You can make notes if there's something you want to ask her about. But don't interrupt her or argue with her. Don't insult the police officer or accuse her of lying. If it comes down to an argument between you and the police officer without any factual evidence, the judge probably will believe the police officer.

Ask the officer questions. After the officer has finished her testimony, the judge will give you an opportunity to ask her questions. You want to establish some doubt in the officer's mind, as well as in the judge's mind. The officer may have walked into that courtroom absolutely convinced that she was correct in giving you a ticket, but if you can place doubt in her mind she may become less sure of herself. If the officer isn't entirely sure, the judge won't be sure either, and might dismiss your ticket. Create uncertainty in the officer's mind by challenging her subjective conclusions. Police officers often don't know the exact wording or interpretation of a law. The officer who pulled you over may not have realized that she has to make a judgment call every time she writes a ticket for violating a law that requires safe or responsible vehicle operation. Ask the officer how she came to the conclusion that your driving was unsafe or irresponsible, and then provide her with evidence she didn't have at the time. For example, suppose she gave you a ticket for an unsafe lane change. She only saw you swerve erratically into the left lane and then back into the right; however, she didn't see the deer crossing the road that you swerved to avoid. This information might change her judgment since it would be safer for you to swerve than to hit the deer. You also can impeach the officer's testimony by challenging her observations. This is why you talked to witnesses and took photos of the scene. For example, suppose you ask the officer to describe the weather conditions when she pulled you over, and she says it was bright and sunny. If you have a photo showing that the conditions actually were gray and cloudy, use it to cast doubt on her observations. When she later says she's certain your car was the one that was speeding, you get the opportunity to ask her how certain she is – as certain as she was that it was bright and sunny?

Accept the judge's ruling. After both sides have presented all evidence, the judge will decide if you are liable for the violation or not. If the judge rules against you and you decide you want to appeal, ask the court clerk for information on the appeals process.