If you can't avoid a Traffic Ticket, contest it!
Nobody wants to receive a Traffic Ticket but most
of us will get at least one during our lifetime. You can avoid
receiving too many by following these pointers. Obey the law and
drive in a responsible manner It is there for you safety. You
endanger yourself and fellow road users when you ignore road
signs and markers or skip traffic lights and make U-turns
wherever you like. There are times that we have to accelerate or
cross a solid line in order to avoid an accident and may end up
with a Traffic Ticket. Under such circumstances, don't just pay
the fine. Contest it in court. Don't stand out Keep your car
clean. There is a smaller chance of being stopped by a police
officer if your vehicle looks like any other on the road and you
act like all the other drivers. Don't play your music so loud
that other drivers can hear it. Keep the exterior of your car
dent free and repair broken taillights. Be alert at all times if
you want to avoid a Traffic Ticket Don't complain when you get
pulled over if you are asleep behind the wheel. Watch out for
speed traps at regular spots. Check your rear view mirror every
eight to ten seconds to see if there is isn't perhaps a patrol
car behind you. Look out for changes in the traffic flow as well
as speed limit signs. Keep a safe distance from the car in front
of you As a rule of thumb, keep a space of two car lengths
between you and the vehicle in front of you. It ensures that you
have enough time to react should the driver in front of you make
an unexpected move. Don't use your mobile phone while driving
Make use of the speakerphone or a car unit if you have to use
the mobile phone. You won't be able to spot patrol cars and
speed traps in time when you are chatting on the mobile phone.
Wear your seatbelt You don't want a police officer to spot you
for not wearing a seatbelt, and receive a Traffic Ticket for
another violation, because you stood out. You may receive a
Traffic Ticket for making a U-turn, skipping a traffic light or
a stop sign, repairs needed, wrongful parking or speeding. Each
of these is handled in a different way. Most of the unfair
violation charges relate to speeding. This is the
result of many factors such as faulty radar and laser readings,
incorrect speed estimates by police officers, inadequate
training of officers to handle speed reading equipment, broken
speedometers, traffic conditions and more. Not many people know
that you can contest a Traffic Ticket by mail rather than go to
court as a first step. You enter a not guilty plea and select a
trial option. The bail is sent together with your written plea.
You may choose to appear in court for your trial or request a
Trial by Written Declaration. The court will mail the acceptance
of this to you. You have four weeks to return the form. The
police officer that wrote the citation has the same period to
enter his written statement. The judge will inform you by mail
of the verdict. The bail amount is kept if you are found guilty.
If you receive a not guilty verdict, you will be refunded. A
guilty verdict is not the end of the world. You then have the
right to request a new trial in court. This gives you a second
chance at fighting a Traffic Ticket. The police officer will
have forgotten details by then, and may not even show for the
court appearance. It means case dismissed!