We’re all guilty of “having a lead foot” some time or another in our lives (some of us more often then we’d like to admit). However, whether you are speeding to get to work on time, get your kids to their next activity, or just weren’t paying attention to your speed, etc, getting a speeding ticket is never fun. Whether this is your first time getting a ticket or your fourth, our Springfield traffic ticket lawyers can help you fight your speeding ticket the right way, so that you don’t have to worry about points being added to your license or worse your license being revoked.
Read on to learn more about what you should do after you receive a speeding ticket.
You Got Pulled Over For Speeding, Now What?
Before the speeding ticket is even issued, there are some things that you can do during your encounter with law enforcement that may persuade them to let you go with a warning. Here are some tips to follow whenever you are pulled over by the police:
- Stay calm and be respectful.
- Don’t reach for your license or registration until asked to do so by the police officer.
- You do not have to tell the officer how fast you were going, you can simply answer yes and no to their questions.
- Don’t lie to the police officer. Many times a law enforcement officer has already decided to give you a ticket or not give you a ticket before they even talk to you. Don’t give them a reason to give you another ticket.
- If the officer does decide to give you a ticket for speeding in Springfield, he or she will ask that you sign the ticket. Signing the ticket does not mean you agree to the charge it simply means that you are acknowledging that you received the ticket.
Your Options
If you do get a citation, you have some options about how to handle the ticket. These include:
- Pay The Ticket – Most people will choose this route as it seems to be the quickest way to a resolution. However, this also means that you are admitting guilt to the traffic infraction and points will be added to your driver’s license and your ticket may be suspended and/or revoked depending on how many points you already have on your driver’s license. Furthermore, you can expect your insurance to go up, especially if your speeding was excessive or considered reckless.
- Complete Traffic School – Speeding ticket fines in Missouri can be reduced or even removed in some cases if you complete traffic school. After your completion of an approved traffic school, the judge will determine whether or not your speeding ticket violation should be reduced to a nonmoving violation or dismissed entirely.
- Fight The Ticket – While this is the best option to protect your driver’s license, insurance premium, and even future or current employment opportunities (anything that would require you to have a clean driving record), few people actually fight their speeding tickets in Springfield. Why? Because it seems like too much of a hassle for many people. However, when it comes to speeding tickets, looking ahead is better than just “taking care” of the problem as soon as possible. You can fight the ticket yourself in court or give the burden to someone else like a traffic ticket attorney in Springfield. Fighting your ticket is always a good idea if you’re facing severe consequences like sky-high insurance premiums and losing your license for good.
Only You Can Prevent Speeding Tickets
At the end of the day, the best way to avoid getting a speeding ticket is to not speed. Make sure you always know the posted speed limit, that your vehicle’s speedometer is working properly, and if you’re ever unsure, err on the side of caution.
If you have received a traffic ticket for speeding in Springfield (or for any other traffic violation) call Springfield Traffic Tickets today for a complimentary consultation to find out what your next steps should be.