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Getting a traffic or speeding ticket will cost you in a number of ways. In addition to the fine and associated fees, your auto insurance rates could go up, you could have your license suspended, and if you don't pay your fine within the appointed time frame, you could be arrested. But what if you were wrongly cited, and you want to fight the ticket? Fortunately, there is a process in place to help you find justice.

3 Steps for Fighting Your Ticket

Know Your State Laws

speeding ticketEvery state differs slightly in how their court systems handle speeding ticket cases. In the state of Missouri, many counties utilize the Fine Collection Center (“FCC”).  If your ticket references the FCC, you should complete and submit a Not Guilty Plea Form to the FCC. This declares your desire to fight the ticket and sets up an official docket in the courts.  You will be informed by mail of your court date.

Have a Strategy

Walking into court unprepared will rarely lead to success. Know your strategy beforehand, and be ready to argue it. Some popular legal strategies for fighting traffic or speeding tickets include:

  • Challenging the officer's observations or conclusions, such as arguing the officer didn't have a clear view of the incident, or you were speeding only to keep pace with the traffic around you.
  • Establishing that you acted to avoid harm, such as abruptly changing lanes without signaling because a deer darted into the road or veering onto the shoulder because someone stopped short in front of you.
  • Establishing legal justification, such as speeding to the hospital during a medical emergency or swerving to the shoulder during a vehicle breakdown.
  • Establishing a mistake of fact, such as a speed limit sign being obscured by foliage or a traffic light not functioning properly.

Hire a Lawyer

Traffic law can get complicated, and there is considerable room for nuance and interpretation. A lawyer will help you fight your traffic or speeding ticket and will design an approach that meets your goals. A traffic ticket can have serious implications, and it may be in your best interest to fight it in court.  But a lawyer may be able to negotiate an amendment of your charge, to enable you to plead guilty to a non-moving violation which will not appear on your driving record nor affect your insurance rates.  A lawyer will be your advocate at every step.

Drew F. Davis, principal of the Law Offices of Drew F. Davis, P.C. in Cameron, Missouri, has been serving clients for more than two decades. Call (816) 632-7575 or visit the law firm's website to schedule a consultation. Don't let a traffic ticket impede your finances, driving privileges, or auto insurance rates any more than is necessary; hire an experienced lawyer today.

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