Zoom! You’re late to an important meeting, and you’re rushing as fast as you can. Sure, you’re doing a few rolling stops, accelerating through the end of those yellow lights (it was pink!) and very definitely exceeding the speed limit. When suddenly, pop! The blue flashers come on and you know you’re in for it.
So, they’ve got you. Or so it seems. Getting out of a traffic ticket can be tricky, but it’s certainly possible to beat a speeding ticket. With over 200 million licensed drivers in the United States as of May, 2014, getting out of a traffic ticket is a skill that has been achieved by many.
1. Don’t be rude. Remember, police officers are just people, and they’ve got a hard job to do. In 2013, nearly one third of motor vehicle crash deaths involved speeding, so it makes sense that police take a serious view of speeders. Your first, best tactic in getting out of a speeding ticket is to be as polite as possible and get the police on your side.
2. Don’t confess. There’s no reason for you to admit guilt in this situation, and doing so will only hurt your chances if you decide to hire a traffic ticket attorney later. Be polite and professional, but don’t act guilty.
3. Beg a little. Doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a try. Bat those baby blues and explain how important getting out of a traffic ticket is to you. If the officer is having a good day and really likes you, a convincing plea for sympathy could go a long way.
4. Plead not guilty. If things don’t go the way you want them to, and many times they won’t, you’ll be ticketed and later mailed a ticket or a summons. At this point, you may want to consider an attorney for traffic tickets. At the very least, maintain your official not-guilty status.
5. Stall for time. When you appear in court, it will be the ticketing offer’s responsibility to prove that you are guilty. The longer you are able to delay your court date, the more likely it is that the officer will lose track of your case, or forget certain details. A speeding ticket attorney can help you develop strategies to play for time.
If you do end up in court, there’s a chance the officer won’t even bother to show up. The courts are busy: there were 30,800 fatal crashes in 2012 in the United States that accounted for 33,561 individual deaths. If the officer is swamped, or doesn’t remember who you are, you’re guaranteed to be getting out of a traffic ticket. On the other hand, if the officer does make an appearance, things could get tricky. Depending on your personal situation and history with law enforcement, a traffic ticket lawyer might be your best resource in deciding when to fight a speeding ticket, and how.
