Life Event: Get a Traffic Ticket

On average every drive commits at least one traffic violation every day. Most days those moments slip away barely noticed. Other days, however, you end up with a traffic ticket to show for it. Make sure you know your rights in relation to that ticket and what to do about it whether or not you think you deserved it.

Fighting a Traffic Ticket

• The first step to contesting a ticket is to scope it out and know exactly what it says and what your state laws are.
• Get the facts about accessing your DMV records.
• Understand the pre-trial discovery process and what information you have a right to.

Speeding Tickets

• Know the difference between absolute and presumed speed limits and know which type of limit is enforced in the state you got the ticket in.
• If you received the ticket in a presumed speed limit state, know what defenses are available.
• Know what defenses are available in an absolute speed limit state.
• Work out a strategy for defending a speeding ticket.

Driving Under the Influence

• Get the facts about what it means to be driving under the influence and what the legal limits for blood alcohol are.
• Remember you are not the first person this has happened to, get answers to frequently asked questions about driving under the influence.
• Understand your rights when it comes to sobriety tests and traffic stops so you can either be prepared when it happens or know what to do afterwards.
• Know what defenses to driving under the influence are available to you in your particular circumstances and what your best choices are.

What to Know When Your Vehicle is Searched

• Understand the purpose of traffic stops and roadblocks and the authority of the officers on scene.
• Understand that officers can engage in a plain view search of your car so if you don't want it seen, don't leave it out in the open.
• Know what kinds of searches officers can perform at a traffic stop including using dogs trained to sniff out illegal substances.

Consequences of Traffic Tickets

• Whether you've decided to accept your ticket or fight it, you need to at least be aware of the consequences of a ticket if it stands.
• Understand how point systems work on your driver's license and what they mean to you.
• If at all possible take traffic school if it is offered to keep from getting points on your record.
• Know under what circumstances you can end up with limited driving privileges.
• Don't drive on a suspended or revoked license because it will only cause you even more trouble than you already have.
• Understand the nature of reckless driving and the nasty consequences it can have.
• If you have been convicted of driving under the influence or have had your license suspended or revoked your name will end up on the National Driver Registry and an application for a driver's license in a different state may be denied.