Can You and Should You Appeal A Speeding Ticket?
There are some people who have never gotten pulled over for speeding in their lives, and if you are one of them, then you’ve also never felt the unique jolt you get when you know the blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror are there because of you. If, however, you have been pulled over and you are debating whether to simply pay the speeding ticket or fight it, there are a few things for you to consider.
The first is that when you pay a speeding ticket, you are doing more than making an involuntary contribution into the local economy: you are also pleading guilty to going whatever speed you were cited for. Depending upon how many tickets you have gotten in the past and how fast you were going, as well as whether there were any additional charges, this could have a significant impact on how much you have to pay for insurance. If you have previously gotten tickets and have been accumulating points, it could also put your ability to drive in jeopardy.
If you are in a situation where pleading guilty is going to have this type of negative effect – or if you are not guilty – then it makes sense for you to appeal. It may also make sense for you to hire an attorney to take care of the appeal for you. Here’s why:
- First, it takes time to appeal a ticket. You need to take time away from work or school to attend court, and the proceedings generally take hours. A speeding ticket attorney can handle the case for you, usually at less expense than it would take to both pay the ticket and lose time at work.
- A speeding ticket lawyer is experienced at addressing the particulars of traffic violations. They know the court officers and the police, and if they are unable to eliminate the ticket entirely they will likely be able to negotiate the ticket down in a way that will eliminate or lower your points and the impact that the ticket will have on your driving record and insurance.
- Though most people think that hiring an attorney costs a lot of money, speeding ticket attorneys generally charge less than it costs to pay a ticket, and certainly less than it will cost you to pay increased insurance premiums. Even if your rates go up just $25 per month, those increased fees will remain in place for years, making it well worth it to pay a few hundred dollars to an attorney.
If you are unsure whether to pay a speeding ticket or appeal it, call our office today to set up a consultation with our experienced speeding ticket attorneys.