Three Things You Can Do To Help Fight Traffic Tickets
Here are three easy things you can do to shift the odds in your favor when fighting a Michigan traffic ticket.
1. Courtesy to the Police Officer
Your average traffic officer deals with many people in his or her typical eight-hour shift. A single officer can write a ticket every ten minutes with computerized ticket writing. Most people receiving a ticket are angry, sad or upset. That’s where some make a mistake. They make a mistake when they quarrel or, worse yet, are rude to the officer.
The key, however, is to remain calm and not offend the officer. Treat the officer respectfully and politely. It’s a good idea to relate your version of the events to the officer in a respectful manner.
Why? Getting the police officer’s cooperation is often vital to getting a good outcome for your traffic ticket. If you are discourteous, the officer may write this on the copy of the ticket forwarded to the prosecutor. If the prosecutor sees this on the ticket, or if the police officer tells the prosecutor that you were rude, the prosecutor will often not offer you a reduction. For example, the prosecutor will refuse to offer you a reduction to a zero-point infraction.
2. Fight Every Ticket
The Secretary of State keeps a database of everyone’s driving record. If you receive a traffic ticket conviction in a court, the court will, in most cases, send a record of your conviction to the Secretary of State so they can insert it to your driving record. Since your insurance company can view the Secretary of State records, this can cause costly insurance rate increases.
In my opinion, it’s important to fight every ticket. This is the only way you can possibly attempt to keep your driving record clean. Why? It’s important to recognize that prosecutors have a copy of your driving record when you go to court. If the prosecutor sees that you have received tickets on your record, she will be less likely to offer you a reduced ticket. It’s similar to individuals with criminal records. If it’s your first offense, you can often get a plea to a reduced charge. If you have prior offenses,it is harder to receive a reduced charge offer.
3. Hire an Attorney that Regularly Handles Traffic Tickets
The saying “been there, done that” certainly applies in this case. A traffic ticket attorney can be very helpful. An attorney can try to negotiate a successful plea reduction or, if necessary, argue your case to the judge.
Disclaimer: The information you obtain in this article is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. You should consult a lawyer for individual advice regarding your own situation.
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