NJ Traffic Ticket Attorney

Many people want to know how to fight a traffic ticket, but they usually try to do it themselves. The best way to fight a traffic ticket is by hiring a traffic ticket attorney. Traffic Ticket Attorneys specialize in fighting traffic tickets for speeding, improper turns, accidents and other infractions. Before going to court to fight the ticket, you should contact an attorney and find out what your outcome could possibly be if you were to hire him or her.

There is one thing that a person can do for themselves at the time a traffic ticket is being issued; take down notes that will help the traffic ticket attorney defend your case. Note the time of day, the weather conditions, and where the sun is if it is an accident. Note the speed limit sign and where it is located to where you were stopped. If it is an accident, make sure to survey the area and the other car.

Drivers can do one thing to help in any situation.

Carry a disposable camera in the glove box. If something were to happen, you will have a camera to take pictures that might help with your case. Sometimes, a driver cannot see things in the pictures that an attorney can see. Traffic Ticket Attorneys are trained to look for the obvious and work from there.

If you feel your speedometer was correct and the Officer that stopped you was wrong, take your car immediately to a garage and have the speedometer read. This information will help an attorney defend you in a case where a speeding ticket was issued.

Okay, you ran that stop sign, failed to yield, sped in a school zone, and had a broken tail light; then to top it off, you forgot your wallet at home and your insurance card is expired! To make matters worse, because you argued with the Officer, or he was having a bad day, you were cited for every single offense.

So, do you pay the fines, or take your chances in Traffic Ticket Court? Your best bet is to go to court with a competent Traffic Ticket Attorney. When I was 18 and received my first traffic ticket for speeding, I made the mistake of just paying for the fines through the mail; and then found out from an angry phone call from my mother, that I received 4 points on my license and her insurance rate went up. The next ticket I received, several months later, I fought and received no points; but I did have to pay a fine (which is minimal compared to what your insurance company charges for having points on your license).

Additionally, you never know what the Judge will order, or what the District Attorney may offer you. Usually, at the very least, they will let you pay a reduced fine for not having the proper documentation at the time of the incident, if you bring the proper documentation with you to court. Can’t afford to pay the fine? Community Service and payment plans are also options.

In addition, if the Officer fails to show up at your trial, they may drop the charges altogether. However, in most cases, the charges are reduced, and sometimes even dropped, even if the Officer appears in court.

If you decide to fight a traffic ticket there are a few things you should do immediately. First, when confronted by a Police Officer, remain calm and polite. Next, you should never admit to any negligent or criminal act. If you admit guilt at the time, such as saying you were speeding, it will be much harder to fight the ticket later. Finally, take notes and record any pertinent information. For example, ask the Officer for the specifics of how he established the speed you were driving, or what law you broke. If there is physical evidence such as a speed limit sign that is clearly obstructed by foliage or paint, take a picture of the sign.

There are several instances when a traffic ticket attorney would be beneficial in your quest to fight a traffic ticket. If you are out of your home state and receive a traffic ticket, it may be inconvenient or even impossible for you to travel back to the state that issued the ticket to appear in court. If this is the case, then a traffic ticket attorney could attend the court proceedings and plead your case for you. Even if you are close to home, there are some serious traffic tickets that it is best to hire a traffic ticket attorney for. If you have received a ticket for driving under the influence, an attorney is almost always needed. Additionally, tickets issued for accidents and driving without a license are more complicated, and a traffic ticket attorney can help you throughout the process of reversing or reducing your ticket.

Getting a Speeding Ticket in NJ can be a real hassle; instead of saving time by driving over the speed limit, when it comes down to it, you are doing the complete opposite. Speeding tickets mean time spent pulled over waiting for the Police Officer, a possible lengthy vehicle search, the cost of the speeding ticket, and of course, the rise in your car insurance premiums. There are ways, however, that you can go about fighting a Speeding Ticket in NJ.

First of all, never admit to your personal guilt of anything. Often times when you are pulled over, the first question the Officer will ask is how fast do you think you were going? Don’t incriminate yourself, if you admit to speeding at this point in the encounter, there really is no way of fighting it; in essence you’ve already plead guilty to the charge, and have no choice but to pay the ticket.

Instead of answering the Officer’s question with an admission of guilt, respond with a question of your own. Ask the Police Officer if he or she has your speed on radar, and ask him or her how fast you were going according to the radar. Sometimes Police Officers do not use radar at all; instead they may use their “keen eye” to spot potential speeders, and hope that when pulled over, the violator will foolishly admit to speeding.

If you and the Officer have moved past this stage and he or she has already given you a speeding ticket, the next best thing you can do is defend yourself in court. Sometimes, Police Officers will not show up when summoned for a court appearance, especially for something as mundane as a speeding ticket. After all, to appear in court, the Officer has to take time from work, just like you do; this really is the best way to fight any speeding ticket.

Sometimes you will get lucky and the Officer will simply let you go with a warning. Reasons for this vary, and in reality it seldom happens; one should never expect to be let off with only a verbal warning. You can improve your chances, however, by being polite to the Police Officer, cooperating with him or her, and providing all of the information and/or documentation that is required, such as your driver’s license and proof of insurance.

You’re driving down the street and suddenly you notice the lights flashing in your rearview mirror. You’ve been pulled by a Police Officer for an offense for which you don’t think you are guilty. Was that light really red? When did that stop sign go in? Is the elementary school really in session at 7 p.m., requiring the need for reduced speed “while children are present?”

Often receiving a traffic ticket is a black and white offense. You knew what you were doing (racing to work, talking on your cell phone without a hands-free device, or cruising through a stop sign), and while a smile and apology might get you a warning once in awhile, the probable outcome is a traffic ticket.

Sometimes, however, the situation is not so clear cut. If the violation seems unclear, it is worth looking into further. Offenses which rely solely on the Officer’s judgment or visual range, were a result of a recent change in signage or truck blockage, or were created due to a natural obstacle, such as swerving to avoid an animal in the street, can be challenged.

This requires a careful look at the situation on your part, perhaps even a consultation with a traffic ticket attorney. If you “need” to fight the ticket because of concerns relating to insurance rates, or DMV and court records and want the best chance of dismissal, a traffic ticket attorney may be the best way to go.

If you just want to “try” to fight the ticket, self representation is not a bad idea. Make sure you bring any photos or professional looking intersection drawings that you can create to add credibility to your viewpoint. Consider the small factors, such as paint erosion or new signage. Relive the experience – were you speeding because you were experiencing chest pain and were trying to get to the hospital? Did you ask the Officer for help and receive a rebuff?

All these factors add up and can make or break your judgment. Hopefully you won’t find yourself in need of this advice for a very long time. Drive safe and good luck.