Speed Traps – Have You Been Caught
This Blog was brought to you by the San Antonio’s Attorney for Traffic Violations Gordon Slade 210-820-3033
Speed Traps – Have You Been Caught
Some towns have a reputation for being speed traps. It’s a fair guess that most of their revenue comes from traffic violations. Most smaller municipalities are highly dependent on traffic ticket income. It’s the way it is in America. If you haven’t caught on to this, you need to get out more.
This morning while driving, I passed a limousine that had been pulled over, presumably for speeding. The passengers are undoubtedly dissatisfied, and the driver may lose his job. Life on the road. Supposedly there is no discrimination, and you rarely see a limo pulled over. However, being a professional driver, he should know his stuff and understand that if he fights his case, he’s likely to walk with the ticket getting dismissed or at the least a reduction in fines and points. There are ways to get that ticket thrown out. The odds of getting the ticket dismissed are in favor of the driver. Just because you’ve received a ticket doesn’t mean you are automatically guilty. Here are six things to know when dealing with Traffic Court.
1. Do not send a fine by mail – for any traffic violation that will give you points. If you can mail in a fine or show up in Court, you must show up in person. By fighting for your cause in person, the Court will see your sincere interest in respecting the Law. Mailing in a fine for any traffic offense automatically puts guilt on you. Points are levied without contest.
2. Be prepared with the right questions. Write them out beforehand so you don’t miss anything. It would be easy to forget essential points without notes since it’s only natural to have a little case of nerves.
3. Attack the evidence, not the police officer. There are minor procedures that are often overlooked when a ticket is given.
Some officers forget to fill in a blank, wrongly date a ticket, or mistakenly put down misinformation. These minor things can get a ticket dismissed.4. You have more to lose than just money. If you are proven guilty, your insurance premiums will take a hit. Over the years, until the offense is rendered null and void, the surcharge on your insurance could add up to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
5. You could lose your job. Making this an essential point to the Judge is critical. Losing your job depends on your work, but you could be in trouble if it involves a motor vehicle. Also, consider this when looking for future employment. If a position requires you to drive a vehicle your chances of landing the job could be in doubt. Potential employers will do a background check, and if your record shows – mainly a moving violation, don’t even bother to apply. You would be seen as a liability.
6. Be prepared and have a professional attitude. You can’t count on a dismissal, but by being prepared, you are, at the least, likely to get a reduced fine and points. There are several coaching resources to draw from to get traffic offenses dismissed but stay real. Just don’t drive irresponsibly. Even having the best legal counsel doesn’t justify putting anyone in harm’s way. Stay safe out there.