If you get a speeding ticket, you may assume there is very little that you can do — other than paying the fine, of course. The officer claims you were speeding, no one else was around at the time to say otherwise, and you assume that the court is going to believe the officer over you even if you decide to fight it. Do you really just have to pay up?
You do have options
There are ways to fight a speeding ticket. Not all tickets are fair and just, with many given out in error. You should never assume that the officer is right just because they are a police officer.
While every case is different, here are a few potential ways to contest a speeding ticket:
- It was a case of mistaken identity as the officer pulled over the wrong car.
- You were experiencing an emergency and had no choice but to speed — a common example is when transporting a pregnant spouse to the hospital if they are in labor.
- The officer’s speed detection device must have been calibrated wrong or was otherwise inaccurate.
- You were driving at the proper speed, but the officer made a mistake; for instance, maybe you had just crossed into a 55-MPH zone but the officer thought you were still in the 35-MPH zone that preceded it.
You don’t have to accept a speeding ticket without considering your options. You have the right to legally challenge the ticket when you feel a mistake was made. You have defense options and you must know what steps to take should you choose to go to court.