\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Call us today at 877-466-5245. Contact the California traffic ticket attorneys at Fight My Ticket today for a free consultation. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 2. For more tips from our Legal co-author, including how to read the code sections you were cited for violating, read on. The service will help you save time and money by allowing you to dispute California traffic tickets in under two minutes. Eyewitness statements from passengers, other drivers on the road or pedestrians that will confirm your story. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. However, taking care of everything yourself is expensive and time-consuming. Create uncertainty in the officer's mind by challenging her subjective conclusions. Tickets for more serious driving offenses, like a DUI, are handled in criminal court. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Make sure to research and list applicable laws for your defense. TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select, Please enter a legal issue and/or a location, Begin typing to search, use arrow This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. To further support your argument, you could point out that the police officer was in front of you during the lane change, and that, due to the heavy traffic conditions, the officer most likely was paying more attention to the road in front of him rather than a car changing lanes behind him. Given the time and effort it would take to fight a traffic ticket, if the infraction is minor and the fine is small, you might be better off simply paying the fine and moving on with your life. Generally, there are three plea options: no contest, guilty, or not guilty. The results of these types of cases will generally boil down to who the judge believes, and you, as the driver, will often have a high burden to overcome. Gather information at the scene. Even if you're guilty of the infraction, using DoNotPay to contest a California traffic ticket can lead to fine reductions. This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style byFindLaws team of legal writers and attorneysand in accordance withour editorial standards. The most common defense is to claim that you were not speeding. If you dont remember what you said, then wait until you get a copy of the officers notes. How strong your evidence is. This is especially true if the ticket is for a minor traffic violation. To get started, just do the following steps: Indeed, you won't find a service that will help you fight California traffic tickets this easily. Try not to worry, though. Radar technology employs radio waves. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Then, the officer uses a stopwatch to measure the amount of time it takes cars to pass between the points. Fighting a traffic ticket is doable if take the proper steps and employ the right strategies. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. To do so, you must appear at the court on the date and time posted on your ticket and/or courtesy notice. You can almost always argue that the officer was not in a good position to see what happened, especially if there are obstructions or if there was heavy traffic. Here, challenging a ticket involves challenging whether or not the officer saw you perform the ticketed action. In most jurisdictions, the police officer who issued your citation is required to show up at your hearing. For example, under New York vehicle and traffic law, the number of points for speeding can range from 3 points to 11, depending on the speed in excess of the limit. All rights reserved. This is especially important if your case depends on an obstruction or other dangerous condition. Dispute the Police Officer's Personal Opinion. First, it would be a mistake of fact if you were driving in two lanes because the lane markers were so worn down by use that you could not see them. These speeding tickets are often challenged by those who are cited. Contact a qualified traffic ticket attorney to help you get the best result possible. If the officer who issued your citation filed a report or made any notes about the traffic stop, you are entitled to copies of those as well.