}); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); All of the information on the Colgan & Associates, LLC web site is for informational purposes only. Call 610-565-9696 or contact us online to speak with an attorney today. You do not want the officer to think you are being hostile or reaching for a weapon. Thankfully, there are successful ways to fight a speeding ticket. One of the easiest ways to pay for your speeding ticket in PA, especially if you do not live in Pennsylvania, is by paying it online. Politely ask the officer if he can move the court appearance to the county seat. For instance, NerdWallets 2020 rate study found that: A 40-year-old driver with good credit and full coverage will pay $355 more per year after one speeding ticket, on average. http://traffic.findlaw.com/traffic-tickets/fight-a-speeding-ticket-is-speeding-always-speeding.html. However, this does not influence our evaluations. If the Pennsylvania judge decides you're not guilty of the traffic violations, congrats! NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539, NMLS Consumer Access|Licenses and Disclosures, California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812, Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no. These lawyers typically specialize in DUIs and more serious cases, but some take speeding ticket cases. This video describes 20 speeding tickets defenses and how to beat a speed. So how do we make money? If you choose to plead guilty to a speeding ticket in Pennsylvania, there are several ways to pay the fine within the deadline stated on your ticket. Keep you hands visible as the officer approaches your car, placing both hands on the steering wheel. You may think that your only option once you have received a speeding ticket is to pay the fine, watch your insurance rates rise, and accept the addition of points from PennDOT. Going to court to contest a speeding ticket or traffic offense may be worthwhile if: Our Pennsylvania traffic attorneys will stand by your side throughout the process of contesting a speeding ticket or traffic violation. NerdWallet writer Philip Reed contributed to this report. You take a driving course instead of paying the speeding ticket. Drivers who rack up too many points face consequences like having to take a driver improvement course and license suspension. Afterward, write down everything about the incident, including the time of day, location and anything that might have affected the circumstances, such as obscured or missing speed limit signs. 13. 9 Best Car Insurance Companies of March 2023, The Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision Coverage, Get more smart money moves straight to your inbox. That way you can decide whether to contest the ticket or pay the fine. The details you wrote down earlier in terms of the incident you were pulled over will come in handy here. Pull over as soon as you see the officer's lights and there is a safe spot to do so. However, if you want to give some answer do not admit guilt here. You can call in witnesses, including any passengers in the car when the ticket was issued. 2. Go back to the scene of the citation. However, that isnt the only cost youll be assessed. If you plan to testify in your own defense, you might want to practice your testimony until you feel comfortable telling your story. Theres nothing fun about the feeling you get when those blue lights flash behind you on the highway. This will give you more time to build your case. What can we do for you? For more tips from our Legal co-author, like how to prepare for your speeding ticket trial, read on! You should get documents on the radar device used to determine your speed to check for any malfunctions or recent repairs. The case is State v. Jarosz, 2013-Ohio-5839. Get free quotes from the nation's biggest auto insurance providers. Its likely youre reading this because youve already gotten a speeding ticket, so file away these tips in case it happens again: Ask which method the officer used to determine you were speeding and write it down afterward. Show Up To Court. Save Penalties: The penalties for traffic tickets in Ontario can be significant. If you opt to represent yourself, you'll need to have some familiarity with the procedures of Pennsylvania traffic court before fighting your ticket. HOWEVER, some PA traffic courts may allow you to notify them: After informing the court of your plea, you must post collateral. if( jQuery(.ajax-loader).hasClass(is-active) ) { Your email address will not be published. Typically in mitigation, you admit to the offense and present information that would lead a judge to grant you leniency. Lacie Glover is an insurance editor and writer and a NerdWallet authority on insurance. The goal is to avoid the speeding ticket going on your driving abstract, so that your insurance is not affected. You can appear before a judge and enter a Not Guilty plea as well as a request for a court date. Try the waterworks. Answering that you were speeding can be taken as an admission of guilt and sabotage your chances of successfully fighting the ticket. By using our site, you agree to our. You normally must appear in person to inform the court, although some are now allowing other options. Research speed equipment. Some get lucky when driving over the speed limit, while others get caught and are hit with hefty fines. From raising your insurance ratesto staying on your driving recordfor an extended amount of time, getting a PA speeding ticket can cause you more of a headache than just a one-time fine and getting points added to your PA driving record. You can submit a discovery subpoena to the court to get certain documents that may help your case. You can pay: Online. The radar will release a radio wave at one frequency. Several hundred dollars are now being demanded from you because the camera captured your car and license plate. The cost for PA speeding tickets varies according to the speeding scale fineover the posted speed limit. Check the violation and fines, and make certain that your name, address, vehicle information and license number are all correct. Call your DMV or licensing agency to see if your state has a similar program. 1999 - 2023 DMV.ORG. How much can I save by refinancing my car? To do this, you must send a written request to the court noted on your ticket to request a hearing, and then showing up on the assigned court date. If all this sounds like more than youd want to handle on your own, you can enlist a traffic lawyer to help you. If you are facing a speeding ticket or traffic offense that could threaten your license, you may choose to contest the ticket and force the police and Pennsylvania prosecutors office to prove that you committed the traffic offense you were charged with beyond a reasonable doubt. Show up at court for the hearing date printed on your speeding ticket. This will not work on every police officer, so the driver will need to read them to see what might be effective. Persons who choose to dispute the ticket may need to make an appearance in court to enter this plea. Fighting with the police officer never increases your chances of leniency. traffic school or defensive driving course. Consider hiring a traffic ticket lawyer PRIOR to your court appearance (s). If you are found guilty, you will also have to pay the penalties and fines. ; some companies will raise your rates more than others. If you don't feel comfortable representing yourself or want legal advice to see the best way to fight the ticket, enlist the help of a traffic attorney. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. Yes, Here's How. You could receive a deferral, in which case typically youll pay a fine and your ticket will be dismissed after a period of time if there are no further offenses. 4) Tell them who the actual driver was. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 106,613 times. In other cases, fighting the ticket may be the best option. If you are facing an aircraft speeding ticket in the Columbus area, talk to one of our Columbus speeding ticket attorneys about your potential defenses and options. You do not want to pull over in an intersection or anywhere else you might obstruct traffic. Your case will be given a trial date and assigned to a hearing officer or a judge depending on how severe the violation is and the possible penalties you could face. return false; Outcomes may include: You pay all or some of the ticket, but it doesnt affect your driving record. If you're trying to prove his radar system was faulty, ask if he was aware at the time of the citation his radar device was 3 weeks overdue for basic maintenance. If convicted of failing to drive at a safe speed while driving 11+ mph above the posted speed limit or involved in a crash in an active work zone, you will automatically lose your license for 15 days. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Fight-a-Speeding-Ticket-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Fight-a-Speeding-Ticket-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Fight-a-Speeding-Ticket-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid3335265-v4-728px-Fight-a-Speeding-Ticket-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"