how to fight a speeding ticket in pa

This will give you more time to build your case. How Much Will a Speeding Ticket Raise My Insurance Premium? But for a civil complaint such as simple speeding - do not pay! To avoid paying an exorbitant amount upfront and over time for a speeding ticket in PA, you can always fight the ticket in court. Check the PAePay websiteto see if the traffic court your ticket was assigned to accepts online payments, as it varies by county. Most speeding. Traffic Citations, Speeding Ticket Attorney Plantation - Melanie E. Horowitz, PATraffic Citations, Speeding Ticket Attorney Plantation - Melanie E. Horowitz, PA Description. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. You're only two minutes away from getting your PA speeding ticketdismissed using these steps: It's really that simple! Stick to questions with short answers and avoid asking why questions. There are other possible ways your speeding ticket can shake out. Reviewing Your Ticket 1 Check your ticket for accuracy. If you opt to represent yourself, you'll need to have some familiarity with the procedures of Pennsylvania traffic court before fighting your ticket. It may be linked to an automated ticketing system. Evidence could include dashcam video or GPS data from a smartphone app, or photographic evidence that a speed limit sign was obscured. have a meeting with the prosecutor. 1999 - 2023 DMV.ORG. As Commanding General, he led the Union Army to victory in the American Civil War in 1865 and thereafter briefly served as secretary . You can view a breakdown of Pennsylvania's traffic fines, updated in 2014, on the Traffic Injury Prevention Project website. Here are five key ways: 1. As a writer, her work was featured in The Associated Press, The Motley Fool and U.S. News & World Report. If you are considering fighting your speeding ticket, we have listed some strategies that might come handy: Show Up & Get Lucky As weird as it might seem, if you show up in the court as decided and the issuing officer doesn't, you'll automatically win without having to do anything at all. The police officer will aim the radar at the target vehicle. 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. This will, however, result in the same consequences as pleading guilty. 5 points. This article has been viewed 106,613 times. (null!=i&&i!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][n]=r)}}); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); View Our Disclaimer | Privacy Policy Law Firm Website Design by The Modern Firm. Traffic school is one of the best options for most people who get a speeding ticket, so you should at least check to see if it's an option where you live. If convicted, your charges could result in, You (or your attorney) and the PA state prosecutor submit. When issued , most people simply pay the lower fine; however, if facing the larger ticket or the accumulation of points will cause your license to be suspended, fighting the ticket may be worthwhile. Delay the hearing. The defendant is you, as you're the person fighting charges. Each time you reach 6 points on your record, there are consequences: You will need to take a written exam about safe driving practices and the penalties for violating them. Write down the make, model, license plate and unit number of the officer's car. Over the phone by calling (800) 492-2656. The far greater consideration is that your insurance costs will rise. The radar will release a radio wave at one frequency. Your best chances to win the argument will be if you have physical proof you werent speeding. If you receive a speeding ticket, the fine amount will be printed right on it. For example, speeding up to 10 miles over the speed limit is a 2-point violation. Do not say, "I was going 62 in a 55 zone," for example. If the officer was in the wrong jurisdiction or enforcing the wrong code for the area, for example, the judge would likely rule in your favor. To do so, the prosecutor will usually call up the officer who issued your citation and ask him a series of questions in an attempt to establish his reliability. 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. If this is your first time ever receiving a speeding ticket, some states like New York are willing to dismiss your ticket if you complete a defensive driving course, usually offered in driving schools. How to Fight a Speeding Ticket - What to Do in 10 Steps Contents Remain calm and respectful Sign the paper copy of the ticket Check your contact information on your ticket copy Make sure you know how to handle the citation Read the instructions on how to pay your speeding ticket Attend defensive driving school instead of paying the fine Log-in to DoNotPay and find the Speeding Ticket product. Nothing placed upon this website is intended to be relied upon as legal advice. You mayget a judge to dismiss a speeding ticketor significantly reduce the charge if you are prepared for court and can justify the unfair ticket. Dispute Your Band C Speeding Fine Without a Lawyer and Win. A traffic lawyer costs between $250 and $350 on average nationally, according to Thumbtack, an online marketplace for service professionals. Politely ask the officer if he can move the court appearance to the county seat. Traffic Violations Providing evidence, testimony and if appropriate, witnesses The opportunity to be represented by an attorney Testimony by the officer who issued the ticket Cross-examination of the officer by your attorney Losing the opportunity to plead outright to lower charges Also, pay attention to the traffic conditions and look especially for extenuating circumstances that could have caused inadvertent speeding. The police officer, if he shows up, will be the main witness of the prosecution. Although, in Pennsylvania only the Pennsylvania State Police are permitted to use radar. Technicalities can also help you get your ticket dismissed. Sign up and well send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money. Alabama; Alaska; . Join 1,972,984 Americans who searched for Car Insurance Rates: In Pennsylvania, you must submit your plea of not guilty to the traffic court handling your case, within 10 days of receiving the traffic citation, if you wish to fight your ticket. You should sketch a diagram of the scene that includes all roads, making the width of lanes, traffic controls like lights and signs, the location of your vehicle and the officer's vehicle when you were pulled over, any buildings, power lines, foliage, fences, or other notable features of the area. If your traffic violation still appears erroneously, you could be on the hook for major fines and even license suspension. Continue to get speeding tickets and the suspensions will keep adding up. These lawyers typically specialize in DUIs and more serious cases, but some take speeding ticket cases. Speeding tickets have more penalties than just a fine. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. You need an experienced defense attorney on your side to review the ticket, your driving history, and any defenses available to you. ", answer, "No, I don't." You should also expect to pay: At Berman Law, our traffic attorneys can help you review your ticket and add up all the costs associated with your speeding or traffic violation, so you can decide whether you want to contest the ticket. For example, you could prove you were driving the proper speed or the radar reading was inaccurate. Do not sell or share my personal information. Make witness arrangements. Several hundred dollars are now being demanded from you because the camera captured your car and license plate. Speeding ticket fines are the same throughout Pennsylvania, and are set based on fast you were going, and what the posted speed limit was: If you were in a work zone at the time you were clocked speeding, your fines will be doubled. 13. You have the right to a court trial with a judge. If you are found guilty, you will also have to pay the penalties and fines. Looking for a lawyer to handle your traffic speeding ticket? Sit back and relax while we do the work. You will need to attend a mandatory departmental hearing. 1. The True Cost of a Speeding Ticket The actual cost of the ticket should not be your primary concern. Her work has been featured by USA Today, U.S. News and World Report and The Associated Press. Check with your insurance provider for more information. 2. Subscribe to our News and Updates to stay in the loop and on the road! Check the PAePay website to see if the traffic court your ticket was assigned to accepts online payments, as it varies by county. Its possible to lessen the impact of a speeding ticket or erase it, though doing so may be difficult. A few tears while explaining the circumstances and showing extreme remorse may be all that is needed. A bailiff will help conduct the ceremony of a trial. Credit card payment by telephone by calling 800-390-7151. Credit card payment online by clicking on the "Pay or Contest Violation" button below. Do not say something like, "I wasn't speeding. If you dont attend the hearing, your license will automatically be suspended until you do. Worse, being rude or uncooperative can be counterproductive. Our office accepts e-mails from parties that visit this website, but the sending of such e-mails does not create an attorney-client relationship and therefore these communications cannot be treated as privileged or confidential. A speeding ticket costs anywhere from $50 up to $2,500 in some states in the severest cases. No matter what happens, you must be polite and submissive. Immediately put on your hazard lights to show you are respectful of the safety of other drivers on the road. Learn about different traffic ticket defense strategies, from disputing the officer's presentation of evidence to arguing your ticketed driving was somehow justified. After you pass, or serve your suspension, two points will be taken off your record. Hawaii If the prosecution fails to prove the case against you, you will be found not guilty. Lacie is a NerdWallet authority on insurance products and loves data, analytics and solving SEO mysteries. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Pay PA Speeding Tickets Online 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. How to beat a Photo Speeding Ticket A notice appears in your mail telling you that you have been caught speeding or running a red light. This will help you look like a credible witness in court. If you choose to fight the ticket, you must notify the court of this decision. Research speed equipment. If you decide to contest the ticket, it is a good idea to bring a speeding ticket defense lawyer with you to that hearing. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 106,613 times. Whether you live in the PA city where you received the ticket or want to commute back to the area, pay for your speeding ticket in Pennsylvania in person by going to the court stated on your ticket. If youre convicted, a violation will: Affect your driving record, possibly resulting in suspension of your license. If you are caught speeding there, you will receive a fine and three points are added to your driving record. Get free quotes from the nation's biggest auto insurance providers. So, in response to the first letter, I mailed them back the following letter (copied and pasted): I received a letter claiming I committed a violation of a speeding law in the District of Columbia on 04/21/2012. It is possible to beat a radar speeding ticket. Subscribe to stay in the loop & on the road! [2] It has to be significant, however. Look up the method the officer used to clock your speed, note its weaknesses and prepare to present them. If the officer cant remember you, he or she might fail to recall details in front of a judge. Winning the case will result in a refund of the collateral you have paid and protect your driving record. Fighting with the police officer never increases your chances of leniency. {"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":"