How To Fight Your Traffic Ticket

Posted on May 20th 2020
362
How To Fight Your Traffic Ticket
Jennifer Miller
By Jennifer Miller

@SpoofeeDeals

We all make mistakes on the road and are asked to pay a heavy fine and our insurance rates increase when a police officer spots us speeding or committing other moving violations.

Most people would pay off a traffic ticket without considering other options thinking it would be a hassle or there is no point. You can actually contest or dispute your citation ticket without a single court appearance.

Basically, you have a trial by writing and most police officers will not bother writing their side of the story because they don't get paid to do so. When the police officer does not respond, the ticket is wiped off your records.

Laws may be different depending on state.

When you are pulled over
1. Be polite. Roll your windows down. Have your driver's license, registration and license ready
2. Don't admit to anything
3. Ask questions. Was it a radar? How fast were you going? How long were they following you? It's better if officer is not accurate.
4. Ask for a warning. Simply asking if they could let you off with a warning may be enough for them to let you off with a warning
5. County Seat. Once you are sure you are going to get a ticket say I'd like to request the county seat This could result in your court hearing to be held further away for the officer to deal with

After the citation
1. Write down everything you can about the incident. Weather, traffic conditions, time, sun location, what the officer said in detail, and even photos of the area may help
2. Call the court for an extension before a few days before your court date. Do this many times as you can. The longer the time, the officer is likely to forget about the details
3. Written Declaration. Request to have the trial by writing. Your ticket or letter should have instructions for you
4. Once you receive the proper forms, you can use the following resources to write your written declaration

- Sample Written Declaration Template

- If you live in New York, Do Not Pay offers free templates

- If you are willing to pay, Ticket Assassin offers specific templates

Comment on this deal

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Guest
Guest #395 - 3 years ago
speeding kills so slow the f down, that someone who was let go with warning might be the one killing someone .
Guest
Guest #678 - 3 years ago
How to get out of a ticket:

Step 1: Be White
Step 2: If you’re pulled over for a DUI, be like Matt Gaetz and have daddy pull some strings.
Guest
Guest #632 - 3 years ago
Good lord people will b*tch about anything.
Guest
Guest #9875 - 3 years ago
Thanks for reposting this. Some of the comments were biased, some were insensitive, some were helpful and factual. I will glean what is useful. Thanks
Guest
Guest #567 - 6 years ago
Step 1. Follow the law.
Step 2. You're stupid if you don't follow the law.
Step 3. Pay the fine and shut your mouth if you broke the law.
Step 4. Try Step 1 again, dummy.
Guest
Guest #597 - 6 years ago
This is about the dumbest thing I've read on spoofee. It was like a 10 year old wrote it Sorry.
Guest
Guest #569 - 6 years ago
It's really easy. Just don't be black. Those guys are known criminals
Guest
Guest #431 - 6 years ago
Drive it like to stole it!
Guest
Guest #108 - 6 years ago
The deal is don't get a ticket in the first place. Been over 20 years since my last ticket and I always speed. I go 5-10 over seldom more. If I get pulled over as soon as the lights come on. Slow down, turn on blinker, Turn on interior lights, if you can get off the freeway do so. If not pull way off the road so the officer is not close to traffic. They will notice, If you get off the road pull into a parking lot and place the front of your car where you cannot drive away. So Park. They will notice. As soon as you stop. Get your DL out roll down your window and the window behind you. Place your DL and Both Hands in front of your side mirror and wait. If they come to the passenger side. Roll down both passenger windows and move hands to the steering wheel. If they walk up to your side. Place both hands on top of steering wheel and be nice. I have gotten a warning every time this way.
Guest
Guest #692 - 7 years ago
be white. that will definitely help. take it from a white guy. it's awesome. the benefits cannot be overstated.
Guest
Guest #405 - 7 years ago
CONTINUED -

For each of the provided statements from the officer there were not just inconsistencies but outright lies. He essentially watched the video and told a story of what he saw which was incorrect. only a short clip was provided showing the test not the whole reason for pulling him over. The police officer actually did a U turn on a county highway then came after him because he was the only car on the road that night, he saw the car turn around and turned off into a side road and then into a long farm drive to wait for the officer (he police lights weren't on but he suspected it was a police car coming for him). The officer sped past and actually didn't see him because the corn was just getting high. He didn't see him on the long road after the turn so the police sped back and that's when he seen my friend waiting with his driving lights on.

The officer's video testimony stated, he 'came' across my friend's car while driving and since there was only one house on that farm drive he wanted to 'see' what was going on. All that said, there was too many lies and inconsistencies in the statements to easily discredit the officer in court. However, the laywer must have already struck a deal not in my friend's favor so he was ready to go and 'settle' rather than trying to beat the case. The lawyer then started getting 'ify' and didn't want to really 'fight' it anymore and 'needed more money' so I told him, you got what you wanted but if it were me I'd fight the DUI with a different lawyer, but the decision was his. His lawyer essentially even threatened him on the 'consequences' of fighting the case so he decided to just take the plea bargain. As I said, they all watch out for each other.
Guest
Guest #405 - 7 years ago
Fighting a ticket is like fighting a whole corrupt system where the police works with courts, courts look out for the police, your attorney works with the DA on a 'deal' so that later on the DA can help him on a higher case. All the advice is good but in today's court system, it takes too much time,money,& effort to really be worth fighting in court & with a lawyer. They all look out for each other.

Now the 'fighting' part, a friend was pulled over for a DUI. I advised him it wasn't a justified reason the police pulled him over, the officer really had no proof he was drinking because he did not appear to be drunk but he 'had' been drinking. His GF was intoxicated and passed out in the seat next to him & he was driving her home. It was all noted in the ORIGINAL police report written by the officer that same day

I he got a lawyer and explained truthfully what happened, the lawyer said he was 'asking' for too little and that he could do more. All he wanted was to have the breathing thing not on the car but he was ok with paying the fines because although not impaired he was drinking that night.

When push came to shove, the police officer needed to 1) provide a phone interview withe the lawyer within days of the citation 2) provide the video of the incident 3) provide a written statement on the details of the citation. Now here is where the law becomes corrupt, the written statement the day of the officer admitted he did not appear drunk and the smell of alchohol appeard to come from the GF, the video showed he passed all of the test but stumbled once on the straight line (3AM, overweight, and he's flat footed), he had trouble following the light (has a lazy eye corrected with surgery but still wanders)
Guest
Guest #281 - 7 years ago
And of course you need to be OKay with Bending the truth or outright lying.
I crossed the Double Yellow to enter a carpool lane early. Had my son in the car, just wanted to get home.
GOT OUT OF IT, Never saw a judge.
Phisyist
Guest
Guest #281 - 7 years ago
I did this before using a service and Trial By Written Declaration is a Charm.
THE ENTIRE KEY......
Police Dont Like Extra PaperWork
SO...When you are ticketed, DO NOT give the officer ANY REASON to remember you.
Most will just go unanswered by the officer and you win by default.

ticketbuster.com is the service i used.

Phishyist to lazy to login
Guest
Guest #418 - 7 years ago
Jenifer Miller, beside this being complete idiocy you might want to be careful on what you post. Somethings are better off left alone or to yourself.
Guest
Guest #601 - 7 years ago
That's the ugliest chick I've ever seen in that pic
Guest
Guest #229 - 7 years ago
totally agree with the first part. regarding the hearing - always come prepared and ready to negotiate with a Judge or DA. Most likely you'd be offered a different citation/charge with monitory penalty and no insurance points. Or better still - don't break the law, and act dumb and really remorseful when getting pulled over. most likely the cop would pity you as you would portray yourself as such a looser, and would let you go with the warning.
morriefisher
morriefisher - 7 years ago
L20 Captain
A judge in courtroom said if you were going too fast youre guilty & 75% of the people left to pay.
Guest
Guest #397 - 7 years ago
What's this gotta do with wholesome free stuff?
Guest
Guest #347 - 7 years ago
This is just stupid. You broke the law now pay your dues. Just take a defensive driving course. The ticket will not go on your record and your insurance will (in most states) a 10% discount for up to 3 years on your auto policy (if you have not already take it in the previous year.)

This isn't even remotely a deal much less a hot deal. Those Spoofee 'girls' are really batting 1000
Guest
Guest #629 - 7 years ago
Black lies matter edition: act aggressive towards police, do not follow their commands, keep your hands out of sight (preferably on a gun). If arrested fight to the death and try and grab their gun!
Guest
Guest #398 - 7 years ago
Want to freak a cop out? Follow step one and start rummaging around looking for ins card and registration. They will see you looking for something and immediately wonder what you could be looking for. Hopefully they don't think it's a weapon and shoot you. They teach you in Drivers Ed NOT to move around after pulling over, and to put your window down, turn the car off, and keep your hands on the wheel. The less threatened a cop feels, the less likely they are to escalate anything. You may get a ticket, but never do anything that puts them on guard.
scott112
scott112 - 1 decade ago
L0 N00b
interesting
frharrell
frharrell - 1 decade ago
L11 Sergeant
I've gotten tickets where I was "guilty" and paid, but three times I felt I was unjustly accused and went to court.

Twice I prevailed, once I lost, but no fine only court costs. In finding me guilty (of following too closely - but no impact involved) judge said the state did not prove how close I was or prove what a safe distance was, but if the cop thought it was too close, it must have been too close.

Minimal fine ($85), no points, and I took three cops and a county Engineer out of their regular jobs for the day to come to court. I chose not to file an appeal based on judges "presumption of guilt" statement.
groove1
groove1 - 1 decade ago
L17 Officer
I got one ticket in the past 8 years or so. It happened about six years ago when I was driving on the interstate on my way to work in Charlotte. I was going about 90 or so (maybe a little more) in a 60 but honestly didn't realize that I was going quite that fast. There was an unmarked behind and he pulled me over. He actually wrote the ticket for 84 in a 60 since he couldnt say exactly how fast I was going and that prevented me from an automatic license revocation (25mph over the limit in NC). I went to court and they dropped it too 69 in a 60 w/no points, but it still affected my inurance. Now I only go 9mph over the limit or less.
cybermom
cybermom - 1 decade ago
L17 Officer
Reply to monkfish

[SIZE="6"] YES.




:decision:
monkfish
monkfish - 1 decade ago
Do not disturb my circles
This is like one of those moral development tests: if you break the law, but don't get punished, did you really break the law?
spazntwitch
spazntwitch - 1 decade ago
It's like d�j- vu again
A few more thoughts:

First: If you don't want a ticket, don't drive like you want one.

Second: If you get a ticket and you know it is NOT valid, then fight like two stray cats to get it off your record.

Third: In our county, we will usually write a ticket if someone is going 15 over the speed limit on the 75-MPH freeway. Under that, it depends on other driving patterns to warrant a ticket.

If you get a ticket you are going WELL above the speed limit and you DESERVE the ticket! Our county has one to two dozen fatalities per year when people drive over 90 and fall asleep at the wheel or they are just plain reckless on the freeway. I have responded to several of these fatalities and I can tell you that they need not have hastened their death by driving dumb.

Personally, I drive 4MPH over the speed limit. That is a chance I take and I will gladly go to court so that I could take a 4-hr driver's ed course so that the ticket doesn't show up on my record. I have only had one ticket in my 18+ years of driving and I went to the course. So in all honesty, I have never had a ticket hit my record.

With that said, take advantage of any driving courses or reductions if they are available; most judges and prosecutors aren't out to get you and you will save money in the long run. (Again, however, see my first point and you can save even more money.)

Fourth: If you do happen to get a ticket and choose the option to appear in court, you had better show up or pay the fine promptly. Otherwise the agency will put out a warrant out for your arrest. (And our agency will extradite from anywhere in the contiguous 48 states; think about lost work time and other fees you'll need to pay.)
solbadguy
solbadguy - 1 decade ago
L6 Recruit
In San Francisco, at least, it's worth it to do the letter and then try for a trial de novo if the written contest fails. The last ticket I got for a rolling stop (grrr), I did the written contest, failed, then tried to go to court for the de novo trial. When I got to court, there were 19 cases, 5 cops showed up. Even in the cases where neither cop nor defendant was present, the case was dropped. Of course, I was one of the unlucky 5.
Wayno
Wayno - 1 decade ago
L4 Member
I've only received a few traffic tickets in all my years of driving. I can honestly say I've earned them all, and I've owned up to each of them. With the advice I'm seeing here, I'll probably try to negotiate the next ticket I get, which will hopefully be never. If I ever felt wronged about a citation, I would definitely not take it lying down. My 2 cents.
Hot Tub
Hot Tub - 1 decade ago
L10 Corporal
Court cost to fight the ticket usually runs more then the price of the ticket. It's a lose lose situation.
spydo3x
spydo3x - 1 decade ago
A Spoofster
Reply to Uleepera


I think in FL, they are *wise* to this tactic. Here is what the cops do here. They write on the ticket like 43 in a 35. Then in the comments they write ACTUAL SPEED, 52. Presumably the 43 is "giving you a break".

If you go to court, the first thing the cop does is say "I wish to AMEND the ticket to the ACTUAL SPEED".

I sat through CASE after CASE of people fighting their tickets in traffic court, and every one of them their fine rose astronomically over just sending it in because they were all amended to MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE violations.
Ordanos
Ordanos - 1 decade ago
L11 Sergeant
I'm putting my lot in with the rest of the "do the crime, do the time/pay the fine " people. If you get caught breaking the law, it's your own fault and you need to suck it up and remind yourself not to do it. Don't bog the system down with your lies that you didn't do it. (For those that did do it.) I've had a couple of speeding tickets and I hated them, but it's my fault for speeding. This isn't a deal, this is deceit. It's kind of sad how everyone pleads not guilty for everything and doesn't take responsibility for their actions. I did it once when I got caught for underage drinking in college and I regret it.

That said, rant off. ;)
Uleepera
Uleepera - 1 decade ago
L12 Sergeant
Contrary to popular opinion you should attempt to fight any ticket you get. Anyone who says suck it up and pay the fine is a fool. Courts provide numerous ways to get tickets reduced or dismissed altogether. The easiest of which is just to talk to the prosecutor handling your ticket and attempt to negotiate it down. I have had some prosecutors willing to reduce a ticket to nothing, some who will downgrade them a non-moving violation which will not effect your insurance and others who wouldn't budge. Keep in mind for those of you with high ethical standards you aren't even pleading not guilty at this point. Just attempting to negotiate.

Thats just one of the easiest ways and there are plenty others. Keep in mind that one ticket could run you $150, and add two points on your license which insurance companies can look at for 5 years after the incident took place and could mean an additional $200-300/year for your insurance. Lets say your one of the poor people who's insurance company follows them for five years that one ticket just cost $1500 - $1650 because you just "sucked it up" and paid the ticket. It makes no sense.

Anyway sorry for the rant. Thats my two cents.
i2x
i2x - 1 decade ago
L13 Sergeant
I thought about fighting my ticket via trial by written declaration, but when I looked at the form, it takes about 1 minute to fill out, so unless you have a good defense in your actual statement, it's risky. you do however get two shots @ trial by written declaration, then trial de novo.

I decided to just go to traffic school, to avoid the hassle. 271.25 for me! and a 33 dollar court fee for traffic school on top of the tuition fee. whatever you decide, just remember time is money (and you waste time and stress with your ticket)!
ReMarqable23
ReMarqable23 - 1 decade ago
L10 Corporal
I got my first speeding ticket back in June where I clearly felt the cop was completely wrong. I was debating whether or not to fight the ticket; I was told that if I fight the ticket and lose, I will not be eligible for traffic school. So I just went ahead and paid for the ticket which was $158, with fees it was about $208. But definitely, IF I happen to get another ticket, I will do trial by written declaration.
spydo3x
spydo3x - 1 decade ago
A Spoofster
Every ticket written is NOT an automatically GUILTY driver.

I was in the slow lane, being overtaken by a middle-aged lady in a Camry. The cop pulled over me, a driver behind me in the slow lane, and the lady over-taking us.

He ticketed me (on the motorcycle), the other guy (a teen in a SCCA car) and let the lady overtaking us go. Guess she did't fit the "speeder profile" as did the teen and I, even though she was overtaking US and she was likely the one showing up on radar.

It's wacky to assume every ticketed driver is GUILTY. Cops make mistakes and have prejudices.
LiveSquid
LiveSquid - 1 decade ago
Banned
I agree fully with Spaz. IF you do the crime, you do the time. Or do the fine. Or whatever.. ITs your fault, and you should just deal with it.

In regard to speeding, if youre really, really, really not guilty you can request to see the certificate of calibration for the radar gun. If they cant produce it, or if its out of date you probably have some recourse. Im not sure if the officer is supposed to have it in his vehicle, or if its on file, or all the details.
Christophc11
Christophc11 - 1 decade ago
L2 Member
Having worked in a court in Washington, I can say that this is definitely not the case for Washington either, at least in the 3 biggest counties. For those who don't mind spending the money (as long as their insurance rates don't go up) I would recommend getting an attorney. I know some that are quite good and it's $200. Spending $200 to get your ticket dismissed is a pretty good deal if your ticket is $120-$200.
dahwang
dahwang - 1 decade ago
L7 Private
I've done this several times:

1. Write a letter to the ADA handling your case. A lot of times, you can work out a plea deal without having to go to court. I've resolved several tickets this way with no points and low fines.

2. Always show up to court. You may get hit with a bigger fine, but you will most likely get the penalty reduced to a very expensive parking ticket meaning.. no points on your license. If you dont think it's worth it, take a look at the new premium for your insurance. There are many times when the cop doesn't show up, or you talk to the ADA personally and work out a plea deal before meeting the judge. Also, I've had a few friends who went to court, talked to the cop who issued the ticket, who then talked to the ADA and reduced the speeding ticket to a parking fine. If you plead not guilty, what do you have to lose?

Besides, most towns are just trying to bring in money. They dont really care about the points unless you were really driving recklessly.
borntabbal
borntabbal - 1 decade ago
Deal-a-holic
Here in Ventura County, CA, I was allowed to attend an "online" traffic school. Took me about 40 minutes to complete (could've been faster) and one trip to the UPS store to take a 10 minute exam... too easy.

I may fight my ticket now that I've heard about this "written not guilty" method... SWEET. That is, if I get any tickets before my 18 month probationary period during which I'm ineligible for traffic school again.
lawschoolmom
lawschoolmom - 1 decade ago
L13 Sergeant
How about getting a lawyer? "He who represents himself has a fool for a client."
spazntwitch
spazntwitch - 1 decade ago
It's like d�j- vu again
You may not like me for saying this, but if you get caught violating traffic law (and you really are violating it), then suck it up. Take some personal responsibility for your actions.

In Utah you can at least have the option to go to a 4-hour driver's education class and have the ticket never even hit your driving record. (This way, your insurance rates won't go up.)
RamHawk
RamHawk - 1 decade ago
L10 Corporal
Yeah, and if you got a ticket you probably were indeed speeding and you will be lying in court. Just pay your freakin' ticket and move on unless you are truely not guilty.

I don't think this is a slick deal.
yo!
yo! - 1 decade ago
L8 Private
Yep, in other states the cops get paid to write their statement and to attend court.
Radarman
Radarman - 1 decade ago
L9 Corporal
This is only for California. I live in North Dakota where the laws are different.