Four Traffic Court Mistakes To Avoid

Whether it's turning without a signal or speeding, any driver can find themselves facing the law for a traffic violation. However, even with the same offense, all drivers won't face the same consequences. While there are guidelines judges must follow, your actions also play a role in determining the outcome of your case. Make sure you're prepared for traffic court to keep your consequences as minimal as possible.

Not Showing Up

Some drivers have in their mind that they're only facing a minor offense so why waste their time and show up to court. Failure to appear only makes matters worse. Not only will you still be responsible for paying the initial violation fee, you will then face court costs and failure to appear fees. These additions can easily add hundreds of dollars to a violation. Even if you don't have any way to defend your actions, simply showing up can save you.

Arguing The Wrong Way

There is a certain level of respect and decorum that must be maintained in a courtroom. While every defendant is open to argue their case in their defense, there is a wrong way to go about this. If you raise your voice, make disrespectful gestures, or interrupt the judge or prosecutor while they are speaking, you're not going about this process correctly. Be calm, be respectful, clearly state your point, and only speak when asked to.

Making Excuses

Unless you're telling the judge that you were only speeding because your pregnant wife was in car about to give birth – save your excuses. You will likely only irritate the judge and make matters worse. If you were late, you should have left earlier. If you didn't know the speed limit – you should have erred on the side of caution and drove slower. The point is that for every excuse you present, there was likely an alternative that could have helped you avoid the violation.

Saying Too Much

Whenever you're in front of a judge, less is more. Remember that the more you say and the more information you are providing, the guiltier you're making yourself look. If you don't have a prepared statement, simply only answer the questions that are presented to you and answer those questions as clearly as possible. Keep everything you say short and sweet.  

In addition to these tips, an attorney, such as Drew F Davis, can help you prepare for traffic court and argue your case so don't overlook their expertise.


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