If you’re a motorist, chances are you’ve been hit with a traffic ticket at least once in the time since you first got behind the wheel. It seems like, more and more; drivers are being used as a source of income for local governments, with the number of tickets being given out going up even as speed traps and awareness campaigns become more prominent.
Luckily, it isn’t too difficult to avoid those traffic tickets, first of all by obeying the rules of the road, and second by checking out these tips:
Maintain Awareness of Your Surroundings
When you’re driving, it is always important that you know what is going on around you so that you can avoid getting into an accident, but it will also help you to become aware of speed traps. If the traffic is going slower than usual in any given area, there’s a good chance that there’s a hidden speed camera or police officer nearby. Slow down!
Maintain a Low Profile
When you’re driving, if you want to avoid getting a traffic ticket, you should do your best to blend in and avoid drawing attention to yourself. If you’re driving a flashy sports car in the slow lane, and you’re perhaps not sticking to the rules as closely as you should, you’ll be more noticeable than the family SUV doing the same, so be careful!
Maintain Silence
If you do happen to be pulled over by the cops, comply with their requests to hand over your licence and registration, and any other paperwork they may require, but don’t run your mouth, As the lawyers at LawsonLegal.com.au will tell you, you’re not legally obliged to say a word. Simply ask to speak to your lawyer and stay quiet until you have the assistance you need. But, please don’t be a jerk about it – the police are just doing their jobs, and that will only make things worse.
Fight
If you are stuck with a ticket, you should always, always fight it because so many people win their appeals and have their tickets torn up that it’s so worth it. You can find out how to fight your ticket at http://www.dmv.org/fighting-your-traffic-ticket.php, but it’s always a good idea to get a good lawyer to represent you too, Different states do things differently, so make sure you build your fight on local rules.
Check the Radar
If you’re struggling, you may be able to get the calibration of the radar that caught you speeding (if that’s why you were ticketed) checked. Most of the time they are accurate, but that isn’t always the case, and if you’re confident you weren’t speeding, it could really help your case.
Record Everything
If you have a recording device (and most phones can record), it’s never a bad idea to record the conversation you have with the officer who tickets you. Then, if it goes to court and you can show any discrepancies between his testimony and what was recorded, you may be able to prove your case and quash your ticket.
Avoiding traffic tickets should be, first and foremost about good driving, but when you do get ticketed, as the above shows, you don’t have to lie down and take it!
