After You Get a Speeding Ticket, Learn Your Options

When you get a speeding ticket, it can be difficult to know what to do. You want to avoid having to pay fines or higher premiums on your insurance, but you also do not want to have to take time-consuming classes or see a lawyer if it is not necessary. This is why you should consider the many tactics you can take after getting cited for driving too fast.

The first thing you should find out is the fine you will have to pay. If it is rather small, perhaps due to only going a little bit over the speed limit, you can probably simply pay the citation. This is especially true if it will add zero or few points to your driver's license. You can likely find out the consequences of the speeding ticket by looking at the pamphlet that should come with the citation, or by calling the court. If it turns out that a few points will be added to your license, and you already have several on there, you might want to look at other options to avoid getting the license taken away.

One alternative to just paying the speeding ticket is going to traffic school. You can usually only take this route once every two years, so first make sure you have not taken it recently. Then be sure your citation is eligible for traffic school since some are not. You can call the court or check the facts on the paperwork given to you by the officer, as it may state if it is eligible. If it is, you should start looking for schools, making sure that the fee to take the course is less than the cost of the citation. Of course, if it happens to cost more but could keep points off your license, it may be worth it to take the class anyway. Many classes require you to spend a Saturday in a classroom, so if you are free on the weekends and have time, consider this option. On the other hand, you can usually take traffic school online, though you will have to take a test afterward. Consider your preferences before you decide which option works for you.

If you do not believe you did anything wrong, and are sure you did not speed, you can always try to fight the speeding ticket. This is often the time to get a lawyer who can figure out a good angle for your case. He or she will help you collect the evidence you need in order to win. If you do win, then your court costs will be paid for and you will not have to pay the fine, but if you lose, you will owe court costs, lawyer fees, and the fine on top of all that. So make sure it is worth your time to fight the accusation.

Clearly, you have some options when you get a speeding ticket. You do not have to simply pay the fee if you do not think you are guilty, so look into the alternatives.