Our opinions are our own. Here are five key ways: 1. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. You can appear before a judge and enter a Not Guilty plea as well as a request for a court date. You need to gather evidence as well as witnesses in the case. To do so, the prosecutor will usually call up the officer who issued your citation and ask him a series of questions in an attempt to establish his reliability. Someone at the DMV should be able to help you print your driving record for a small fee. Looking for a lawyer to handle your traffic speeding ticket? For example, speeding up to 10 miles over the speed limit is a 2-point violation. On average, a 40-year-old driver with good credit and minimum coverage will pay $148 more per year with one speeding ticket on their record. Politely ask the officer if he can move the court appearance to the county seat. Assigning Editor | Auto insurance, home insurance, other insurance. In other words, you do not have to testify against yourself. Write down the make, model, license plate and unit number of the officer's car. Lacie is a NerdWallet authority on insurance products and loves data, analytics and solving SEO mysteries. When issued , most people simply pay the lower fine; however, if facing the larger ticket or the accumulation of points will cause your license to be suspended, fighting the ticket may be worthwhile. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. HOWEVER, some PA traffic courts may allow you to notify them: After informing the court of your plea, you must post collateral. Log-in to DoNotPay and find the Speeding Ticket product. You should review the actual vehicle code in the area where you were allegedly speeding to make sure the officer pulled you over for the correct violation. Call 855-868-1675. Our office accepts e-mails from parties that visit this website, but the sending of such e-mails does not create an attorney-client relationship and therefore these communications cannot be treated as privileged or confidential. You usually have to post bail in the amount of the fine, so check with the court to make sure you have the proper amount and proper payment method. Outcomes may include: You pay all or some of the ticket, but it doesnt affect your driving record. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. A speeding ticket in PA will cost $42.50 for going 5 miles per hour or less over the limit in a 65 mph zone, and $35 for going 5 miles per hour or less over the limit in any other . Remember, you're not making any arguments during cross-examination. Trial before a judge. You should also get some information on the patrol car regarding any recent repairs or damages to the car. Many speeding tickets result from the police officer following or "pacing" a suspected speeder and using his or her own speedometer to estimate the suspect's speed. How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record? If, for example, you're trying to prove the officer pulled over the wrong car ask if he remembers that there were two other blue Honda Civics on the highway that morning. 13. Your citation should include the address to remit your PA speeding ticket payment via mail. Try the waterworks. If you dont attend the hearing, your license will automatically be suspended until you do. You can question the issuing officer, including about his or her memory and training with speed-clocking equipment. Research speed equipment. Pull over as soon as you see the officer's lights and there is a safe spot to do so. Gather information to help successfully dispute the speeding ticket. Generally, you must inform the court in person if you plead not guilty. Keep in mind, missing ANY of your court dates could result in: If you cannot make it to your assigned court date, usually you can request a continuance in writing or in person at the applicable PA traffic court. Call a Traffic Ticket Attorney It makes sense to call someone who does this for a livingwhose job is to fight traffic violations for people like you. Providing evidence, testimony and if appropriate, witnesses, The opportunity to be represented by an attorney, Testimony by the officer who issued the ticket, Cross-examination of the officer by your attorney, Losing the opportunity to plead outright to lower charges, Listens to testimony from the officer citing you as well as your own testimony (Here is where your attorney can be helpful and speak on your behalf). If convicted of vehicular homicide in an active work zone, drivers will be given up to five additional years of jail time. If you plead "not guilty," focus your defense on either challenging the officer's means of measuring your speed or his identification of your automobile. Even if you were clocked at 26 miles per hour, the ticket is under $50. When you receive a speeding ticket or traffic citation, you always have the option to pay the fine and accept the points. Instruction manuals include maintenance schedules you can question the officer about, and they may note radar gun weaknesses, for example. How Pacing Works With this technique, the officer must maintain a constant distance between the police vehicle and the suspect's car long enough to make a reasonably accurate . Melanie Horowitz has skilled attorney that can help you in handling your traffic citations related issues in . Once again, it's not an admission of guilt and refusing to sign it will not make you look favorable in the officer's eyes. Although paying a $50 ticket might not seem that bad, consider the true cost of a speeding ticket. Your sentence could include any of the following: NOTE: According the federal law, all commercial drivers MUST notify their employer of traffic charges within 30 days of conviction. Considering the costs, hiring a lawyer is likely worth the money if your ticket is particularly expensive or could result in the loss of your license. You can try representing yourself or retain an attorney to negotiate on your behalf or fight the ticket. Comparing auto insurance rates after speeding tickets. How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket In Florida? You can also fight it or negotiate in court. The simplest way to deal with a speeding ticket is to go ahead and pay the fine. If you decide to contest the ticket, it is a good idea to bring a speeding ticket defense lawyer with you to that hearing. Turn your car off, and turn the. Youll pay the speeding ticket and any court fees. If you don't feel comfortable representing yourself or want legal advice to see the best way to fight the ticket, enlist the help of a traffic attorney. This will give you more time to build your case. However, this can only be used once. if( jQuery(.ajax-loader).hasClass(is-active) ) { , possibly resulting in suspension of your license. However, this does not influence our evaluations. A sympathetic officer may be more likely to issue a warning instead of a ticket. Making it appear that the witness does not remember facts correctly casts doubt in the judge's eyes. Look up your states motor vehicle code, carefully read the speed law you allegedly broke and prepare to argue that you didnt. On this morning there were no kids along the sidewalks, none crossing the street (the patrol wasn't even in the road telling traffic to stop), and no buses had their red stop lights flashing. Also, pay attention to the traffic conditions and look especially for extenuating circumstances that could have caused inadvertent speeding. All Rights Reserved. The prosecution will strive to prove you're guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If you end up going to trial before a judge, you can expect the process to follow this general outline: If you'd like to pursue your case after a guilty verdict and sentencing, you can file an appeal with the PA Court of Common Pleas with the county court where you received your citation. However, this can increase your insurance rates and put your license at risk, especially if you make money as a commercial driver. Continue to get speeding tickets and the suspensions will keep adding up. After pleading not guilty to the traffic violation(s), the court will assign you a date to return for a pretrial conference OR trial before a judge. From raising your insurance ratesto staying on your driving recordfor an extended amount of time, getting a PA speeding ticket can cause you more of a headache than just a one-time fine and getting points added to your PA driving record. Fighting a Speeding Ticket In Texas And Winning! If you have received a Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania, read more about the actions you can take to eliminate your speeding ticket. So how do we make money? There are three main types of devices that officers may use in order to determine a person's speed: Radar, VASCAR/ENRADD, and the officer's speedometer. 3 Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles. Upload a photo of your speeding ticket. Before hiring a lawyer, ask if it will cost you more money to hire a lawyer than if you were to just pay the ticket. This video describes 20 speeding tickets defenses and how to beat a speed. You normally must appear in person to inform the court, although some are now allowing other options. And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free. However, with proof of PA traffic school or defensive driving course completion, you may still be eligible for discounted car insurance rates. Gather evidence. "Pacing" is a method often used by officers to determine whether a driver is speeding. Winning the case will result in a refund of the collateral you have paid and protect your driving record. (null!=i&&i!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][n]=r)}}); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); View Our Disclaimer | Privacy Policy Law Firm Website Design by The Modern Firm. Most speeding. You take a driving course instead of paying the speeding ticket. Radar: ONLY State Troopers are permitted to use radar guns to clock a driver's speed. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. Go to the Traffic Division's website at courts.phila.gov/traffic. % of people told us that this article helped them. If he asks how fast you were going, you do not have to answer the question. He will have a court clerk, who is his assistant. Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant, / h a r m ju l s i z / HY-rm yoo-LISS-eez; April 27, 1822 - July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. At the hearing, the examiner will decide whether to implement a 30 day suspension based on the facts in your case. Now that I got the basics out of the way, I'll get into the tactics to beat your photo radar ticket. How to Contest NYC Speeding Camera Tickets and Win. Theres nothing fun about the feeling you get when those blue lights flash behind you on the highway. Over the phone by calling (800) 492-2656. There are other possible ways your speeding ticket can shake out. e.preventDefault(); We use cookies to make wikiHow great. How to pay a speeding ticket in Maryland. If the Pennsylvania judge decides you're not guilty of the traffic violations, congrats! Whatever you do, dont ignore the ticket. Alabama; Alaska; . Provide us with some details on why you believe the citation issued is a mistake. If the officer says he will get a search warrant, politely tell him to do so and continue to refuse a search. Please tell us about what went wrong (required), If we were able to correct this bad experience, would you refer us to friends and family? The penalties you'll face after a guilty verdict will depend on the severity of the traffic charges brought against you. Penalties for Speeding Tickets in Ontario: 0 - 6 demerit points; Fine payable according to table victim fine surcharge to be added; A conviction for speeding will stay on your driving record for 3 years; Possible increase of car insurance premiums with 0 to 3 points with a duration of up to 3 years; Definitely increased insurance premiums . The options that the traffic court gives you are: pay the ticket. } Many people don't bother fighting a traffic ticket because it may not seem worth the time and effort. When Will a Speeding Ticket Show Up on Insurance? traffic school or defensive driving course. If you plead guilty, over the next six years you may end up paying close to $2500 extra, you'll be getting that much closer to . Contact the Pennsylvania traffic court in the county where you received your citation for more specific information on how to enter your plea of not guilty. If you plan to fight the ticket, youll have to go to court, where a prosecutor will have to prove you were speeding. HOW THE POLICE CATCH YOU SPEEDING. If ANY of the rules below are not followed, a driver will have a solid case against the speeding ticket. Therefore, you will incur the cost of the speeding ticket, and the PA Department of Transportation may add points to your driving record. You're only asking questions. If you would like to request a hearing within 30 days of the date of your Notice of Violation, you have two options. Call 610-565-9696 or contact us online to speak with an attorney today. 5 Ways to Effectively Fight Traffic Tickets Five strategies for fighting a traffic ticket. A few tears while explaining the circumstances and showing extreme remorse may be all that is needed. Pay PA Speeding Tickets Online One of the easiest ways to pay for your speeding ticket in PA, especially if you do not live in Pennsylvania, is by paying it online. Pleading "Guilty with explanation" means you admit to speeding but want to the court to take certain circumstances into consideration, which may result in your insurance premiums staying the same. Check the PAePay website to see if the traffic court your ticket was assigned to accepts online payments, as it varies by county. The steps to fighting your Pennsylvania traffic ticket can differ from court to court, though generally, the process consists of the following: Consider hiring a traffic ticket lawyer PRIOR to your court appearance(s). Exceeding a speed limit by at least 26 miles per hour. Afterward, write down everything about the incident, including the time of day, location and anything that might have affected the circumstances, such as obscured or missing speed limit signs. Mitigation is making a deal with the prosecutor and court; it saves the jurisdiction money by avoiding a hearing while lowering your penalty for the ticket. Call (614) 361-2804. In addition to the speeding fine, drivers also must pay a surcharge based on the mph over the Maximum Speed Limits outlined in the table below. You could go to the County Clerk's office and request a trial date. You may think that your only option once you have received a speeding ticket is to pay the fine, watch your insurance rates rise, and accept the addition of points from PennDOT. Stick to questions with short answers and avoid asking why questions. You should sketch a diagram of the scene that includes all roads, making the width of lanes, traffic controls like lights and signs, the location of your vehicle and the officer's vehicle when you were pulled over, any buildings, power lines, foliage, fences, or other notable features of the area. Your job is to present your case in order to prove you are innocent. Drivers who rack up too many points face consequences like having to take a driver improvement course and license suspension. You can view a breakdown of Pennsylvania's traffic fines, updated in 2014, on the Traffic Injury Prevention Project website. Nothing placed upon this website is intended to be relied upon as legal advice. The vast majority of speeding tickets are resolved via plea agreement. When the officer asks you, "Do you know why I stopped you? If the officer, for example, does not remember it was raining and a Tuesday he might not look like a less reliable witness. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. If you win your case, the traffic ticket fines will be returned to you. Considering the officer probably has other cases, there's a good chance he's too busy to come to court or just can't make it. Luckily, disputing speeding tickets in Pennsylvania is simple with DoNotPay. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. You will need to attend a mandatory departmental hearing. Prepare to achieve this goal. Pay attention to your shirt color, any small dents or cracks in your car, and any noticeable physical characteristics of the officer. If you plan to testify in your own defense, you might want to practice your testimony until you feel comfortable telling your story. If you are clocked at 11 miles over the speed limit, the fine is $35 plus $2 for each mile greater than 5 over the speed limit. The penalties that you face may include the cancellation of your driver's license. Unfortunately, enrolling in a defensive driving course will not reduce points on your Pennsylvania driving record. A trial gives you an opportunity to fight the traffic ticket in front of a judge or jury, and most people prefer to hire a traffic ticket . How to Get a Judge to Dismiss a Speeding Ticket from Your Phone, Can You Dispute Chicago Speeding Tickets? First, look over your citation. Learn about different traffic ticket defense strategies, from disputing the officer's presentation of evidence to arguing your ticketed driving was somehow justified. Hire a Traffic Attorney. If the judge rules against you, you can appeal the case to a higher court. Although this option is said to result in this matter . Your best chances to win the argument will be if you have physical proof you werent speeding. Be polite, dont argue, and try to be unremarkable. ", answer, "No, I don't." How to beat a Photo Speeding Ticket A notice appears in your mail telling you that you have been caught speeding or running a red light. If you dont pass that exam, your license will be suspended for 15 days. Be prepared to use this as your defense if the officer is not present on your court date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. Your best chances to win the argument will be if you have physical proof you werent speeding. How Do I Fight a Red Light Camera Ticket in Pennsylvania? Answering that you were speeding can be taken as an admission of guilt and sabotage your chances of successfully fighting the ticket. If he refuses, ask him to note the request. You could receive a deferral, in which case typically youll pay a fine and your ticket will be dismissed after a period of time if there are no further offenses. $50 for speeding by 5-9 and $75 for speeding by 10-19). After a ticket, your car insurance rates can rise by hundreds of dollars per year. If you ask for a hearing, plan to make your case and be questioned before a judge. Although, in Pennsylvania only the Pennsylvania State Police are permitted to use radar. After you pass, or serve your suspension, two points will be taken off your record. Your day in court resembles most other types of hearings. like I stated 20-25 is usually my average speed when traversing this short road (unless there are actually crossing guards telling me to stop, and kids are actually present, in which case I will slow and/or stop.) I've never had an issue until this particular morning, and I assume I was just severely unlucky this day. However, this can increase your insurance rates and put your license at risk, especially if you make money as a commercial driver. Evidence could include dashcam video or GPS data from a smartphone app, or photographic evidence that a speed limit sign was obscured. No matter what happens, you must be polite and submissive. 1. Know when to fight The time to fight that traffic ticket isn't when the officer is writing you up. Violation payment can be made in several manners: Through mail by check, money order, or credit card by detaching the payment coupon enclosed with the violation and mailing payment for the amount due. Box 597 Baltimore, MD 21203-0597 Work Phone: By phone You want him to like you. A speeding ticket costs anywhere from $50 up to $2,500 in some states in the severest cases. By using our site, you agree to our. Show respect in your actions and words. No bawling is necessary. How to Fight a Speeding Ticket If you get a speeding ticket, you may think your only course of action is to pay the fine, accept the points from PennDOT and watch your insurance rates go up. If this is your first time ever receiving a speeding ticket, some states like New York are willing to dismiss your ticket if you complete a defensive driving course, usually offered in driving schools. Successfully overturning 200,000 tickets, DoNotPay understands the steps to make traffic tickets go away without paying ridiculous fees. NerdWallet writer Philip Reed contributed to this report.