Contact Springfield Traffic Tickets Today for the Legal Services You Need!
Road tripping in the summer can be a great vacation, but getting a speeding ticket in an unfamiliar state can be a huge hassle. Some drivers opt to pay the fine and accept guilt rather than attempt to fight the violation and risk having to return to the state where it occurred. However, the consequences of a ticket can follow you back to your home state, since most states now share traffic violation information. Admitting guilt to a speeding ticket in a different state still result in points on your license and an increase in your insurance rate.
To avoid this, there are a few steps you can take to fight your ticket from your home state. First, find the website for the county where the violation was issued, and search for how to contest a ticket by affidavit in that area. This may even be printed on the ticket that you are issued. An affidavit is simply a written explanation of why you feel you are not guilty of the crime you are accused of. If you submit an affidavit, make sure that you mail it in time for it to arrive before the deadline for submission. Double check the submission deadline, as it may be different from the court date printed on your ticket. Your ability to contest the citation may be limited or removed completely if you miss this deadline.
Next you should attempt to contact the local prosecutor’s office. They can give you more information on what the laws are regarding contesting a citation from out-of-state. It is also possible that they may reduce the charges and fine against you to help in settling the matter.
Finally, you should consult a traffic attorney who is licensed in the state where you received your ticket, and ideally located in the same county or city. Local attorneys are much more familiar with the local laws of an area than you can hope to become, and can be a useful resource in representing you and working to make sure you don’t have to return to the state to defend yourself.