Posted in Uncategorized

Everything You Need to Know About Traffic Court

No one wants to receive a traffic ticket. If you do receive a ticket, the police officer may tell you that you have to appear in court. This confuses a lot of people. Can’t you simply pay the fine and be done with it? It is actually a little more complicated than that, unfortunately. This guide will explain everything you need to know.

Court Appearances

Sometimes a court appearance is necessary for a traffic violation. This is usually only necessary for especially severe violations, or more serious versions of otherwise mundane violations. For example, if you break a traffic law due to intoxicated behavior, a court appearance will absolutely be necessary. Likewise, if you were speeding by more than 30 miles per hour, a court appearance will likely be necessary, even if it wouldn’t be if you were only speeding by 10 miles per hour.

Traffic Court

When you appear in traffic court, you will have two options:

• Plead guilty
• Plead not guilty

If you plead guilty, you will be told exactly how much you must pay and whether traffic school is needed. Judges commonly reduce the fine for people who plead guilty.

If you plead not guilty, you will be told the exact date of your trial. You will have to appear on that date again and argue your case. It may be wise to have an attorney for this court appearance.

Other Notes

Remember that the issuing police officer is not an authority who gets to decide if a court appearance is needed or not. Officers make mistakes and just because one tells you to appear in court, it does not mean it is accurate. The law varies from state to state, so you should research the reality of the situation for the state you received the ticket in.

Finally, your ticket may be dropped entirely. If you plead guilty, the police officer who issued the ticket must appear in court alongside you for the trial. The officer is the one who explains the evidence that you are guilty and you will be making your case against this officer. If the police officer does not appear for your trial, chances are extremely high that your ticket will be dismissed entirely, which means it is as if you never received it in the first place. You are not fined and it does not go on your record.

Remember that it is a very good idea to speak with a speeding ticket lawyer in Emporia, VA if you plan to contest your ticket.

Thanks to The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt for their insight into criminal law and what to know about traffic court.