If law enforcement officers catch you speeding, they'll give you a ticket. How do you fight the charges? There's a way to do that. You will have to follow these steps and seek help from a traffic law attorney for a successful defense.

1. Contact the Prosecutor

Before you go to court or hire a traffic violation defense attorney, speak with the prosecutor assigned to your case. You can find the name and contact information of the prosecutor on the ticket or by calling the clerk of courts for the county in which you got ticketed. Tell the prosecutor that you wish to plead not guilty and request a trial date.

Ask the prosecutor if you may file a trial by written declaration. A trial by written declaration allows you to submit your evidence and arguments in a written form so you won't have to appear in court.

2. Gather Evidence

If the officer gave you a ticket for speeding, ask whether the officer used a radar gun, a laser gun, or another device to measure your speed. If so, request a copy of any readings taken by that device relevant to your case.

If the officer didn't use a device to determine your speed (or if the device doesn't work and can't apply as evidence), it would be hard for the officer to prove that you were speeding. In such a case, ask whether there is any video or photographic evidence from the patrol car.

Or if there was another witness in court that day who saw you speeding, ask for their contact information. But, of course, you'll find all these processes daunting as you have other things to do. That's where your traffic violation defense attorney comes in.

3. Check for Errors on the Ticket

Your traffic law attorney checks the police report for mistakes the officer might have made. They also list any witnesses who can testify on your behalf. Your traffic law attorney also uses surveillance videos to defend you or raise doubt about the officer's credibility. This move is important if you got ticketed for running a red light or stop sign, and there's no video footage evidence of the act.

Your traffic violation defense attorney also looks at the traffic laws in your town or city. Many jurisdictions have specific rules that officers must follow when enforcing traffic violations. For example, when issuing a red-light or stop-sign ticket, they must be within a certain distance from an intersection. If the officers didn't follow the rules, the court might dismiss your ticket charges.

Conclusion

A speeding ticket can be an immediate hit to your wallet, and if you're not careful, it can also hurt your driver's record for years. So you need to be smart and seek a traffic law attorney who has the knowledge you need to win your case.

For more information, contact a professional like David A. Mansfield.

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