After you have been cited for a speeding ticket and have dealt with a few minutes or even hours of self-flagellation, it is now time for you to decide whether you want to pay for it or fight it. First things first, you need to be aware of the penalties associated with traffic tickets. There are some stated and also unstated penalties. Other than the traffic ticket fine that’s posted on the citation, some other penalties that may be faced are:
- Suspension of revocation of driver’s license. This can depend on your charge’s severity and whether you are a repeat offender. For instance, your license is suspended immediately for Driving under the influence (DUI). It doesn’t usually happen for first-time speeding tickets.
- If applicable in your state, you may get driving record points.
- Your car insurance rates may be increased.
When you pay for a traffic ticket, it means that you are admitting your guilt and accepting the consequences. You don’t need to make an appearance in court and you can just follow the payment instructions outlined on the citation. In most cases, you have to pay via email or online. Regardless of method, you need to make the payment before the ticket’s due date. If you don’t pay by the due date, you may have to pay a stiffer fine, lose your driving privileges or a bench warrant may also be issued for your arrest.
If you enter a not guilty plea, this means that you wish to challenge the charge in court. In order to do that, you have to send a notification to the presiding court before the due date of the ticket comes to pass. In most courts, you have to appear in court for entering a not guilty plea. However, there are some courts that do allow you to do so by email. You can get assistance from the court clerk about any ticket questions you may have, but they cannot provide you with any legal advice.
You should also bear in mind that there are no guarantees when you decide to fight a ticket. Depending on the rules of your court, it is possible that you may get some or all of the charges against you dismissed. Another possibility is to get them reduced through a plea bargain like attending traffic school. It is also vital to remember that challenging traffic tickets will require time and money on your part. If you decide you want to represent yourself, you will have to spend some time for preparing your case. You also need to consider that doing so will mean taking on a seasoned prosecuting attorney.
If you don’t think you can do that, you can hire a traffic ticket lawyer in Springfield, MO or wherever you are based. They are well-versed in traffic laws and this will boost your chances of getting the charges against you like for multiple speeding tickets dropped and that too in a very short period of time. Yes, you have to pay legal fees, but it is worth it in the end.
