3 Things You May Have To Prove When Disputing A Ticket In Traffic Court
If you have just gotten a ticket for a traffic violation that you feel was undeserved, you have two choices. You can pay the amount listed on the ticket, or you can dispute it in traffic court. If you choose to fight the ticket, however, the judge may not take your side without proof. Here are some things you might have to prove in order to get your charges reduced or have your ticket dismissed by the court.
Prove the Officer Misinterpreted the Situation
Police officers are trained to use their observations to arrive at a conclusion which may lead them to issue you a ticket. However, these observations can at times be subjective. There are even times when an officer could be wrong about what they think they observed.
For instance, if you had to make a quick lane change to avoid a suddenly-braking car in front of you and the officer issued you a ticket for unsafe lane change or reckless driving, you can argue that your movement could not have been avoided at the time.
Proving that the officer misinterpreted what was happening can be difficult to prove on your word alone, but you may be able to convince the judge that there is reasonable doubt in your case.
Prove the Officer's Vision was Obstructed
Another thing to argue in traffic court is whether the police officer had a clear line of sight to you and your car at the time of the supposed infraction. For example, if you were ticketed for not stopping at a stop sign, you might be able to prove that a utility pole got in the way of the officer's view so they could not accurately tell whether you stopped or not. In these cases, it is important that you note the weather of the day in question and take photographs of the area to bolster your case.
Prove that You Had a Medical Emergency
It is possible that an emergency of some kind was the reason you broke traffic laws. For instance, if a family member in the car with you started having chest pains, you might not have been paying attention to the red light that you went through. However, in order to prove that you were dealing a real health emergency, you will need to present any hospital or medical documents that can confirm what you say.
Use the information above to build a strong case for yourself if you want to fight a traffic ticket. To feel more confident about your chances for success, enlist the help of a traffic law attorney who can guide you in the right direction. Go to site for more information.