Boston Injury Attorney Blog
You might be questioning whether contesting a traffic ticket is worthwhile. While it can be, it’s essential to understand that it often demands a significant investment of time and effort, even though you could eventually come out victorious.
For instance, you’d need to take a day off work to attend your hearing, and that alone could exceed the cost of the traffic ticket itself!
However, if that ticket implies a substantial increase in your insurance premium, it becomes logical to consult a Boston traffic attorney to contest it on your behalf.
Here are some insights to guide your decision about contesting traffic tickets:
Understanding the Alleged Violation
It’s crucial to comprehend the law you’re accused of breaching and its relationship to your ticket. Generally, you may have been charged with infringing a state law or a local ordinance. If that’s the case, familiarize yourself with the state or local code that outlines the offense, as well as the specific law upon which your ticket is based.
If your ticket corresponds to a particular situation, you need to delve into the segment of the law that pertains to that context. For instance, if you’ve been cited for speeding, it’s necessary to understand the general laws on speeding and any laws specific to the area where you were stopped.
After scrutinizing the law, you can determine whether you violated it. If you didn’t, there’s no need to challenge the ticket unless it could create issues for you.
Explore Potential Defenses
It’s also essential to identify potential defenses that you can leverage to contest your ticket. When you comprehend the law you’re accused of violating, you can brainstorm potential defenses.
Possible defenses include:
- You were not the driver of the vehicle;
- Insufficient evidence for the officer to issue the ticket
- Non-violation of the law you were charged with;
- Non-violation of the law at the time of ticket issuance;
- The officer was unauthorized to issue tickets in the area they were patrolling;
- The ticket was issued based on an outdated traffic law;
- You’re a young driver who needed to drive for school, work, or another official reason.
While these are some defenses, some states or municipal codes restrict the application of certain defenses. If your jurisdiction does so, you’ll have to eliminate that defense from your list.
Paying the Ticket May Signal Guilt
Remember, paying for the ticket right away is often seen as an admission of guilt if you intend to contest it. Unless both you and the police officer agree on the ticket and you’ve signed the agreement, you either won’t be able to contest your ticket, or you’ll have to appear before a judge to do so.
Contact A Boston Attorney
Although contesting a traffic ticket can be time-consuming and challenging, it might be beneficial. However, before making a decision, it’s wise to evaluate the risks and potential outcomes of your case. If you opt to contest your ticket, your first step should be to seek counsel from a reputable Boston traffic attorney.
At Bellotti Law Group, P.C., we offer the services of an experienced Boston personal injury attorney. Contact us today to arrange your initial consultation!