What steps can I take to contest my traffic ticket?

If you have received a traffic ticket, you may be considering the best way to contest that ticket.  Consider some of the following techniques: 

• During the traffic stop, be polite and courteous.  You should avoid admitting or discussing the facts of the traffic stop with the officer.
• After you receive the ticket, make sure you that you write down, and even photograph the location and circumstances surrounding your citation.  You will want to take close note of posted speed signs and other signs, weather conditions, and other factors, before you are likely to forget them later.
• Submit a non-guilty plea to the court, and request that you receive the officer’s notes and the particular laws that you presumably broke with your traffic ticket.
• Prior to your court date, be sure to look up and take notes on the specifics of these laws.  If there is truly no way you could have broken the law, or been aware of that for which you are being held accountable, you must be able to prove this from the notes and evidence you gathered at the scene.
• In cases when the officer does not show up to court, the prosecutor will have a difficult time battling the details you present.  If the officer does show up, they will work from their notes, and you may have better chances if you are well prepared with facts and diagrams.

You may also wish to hire a lawyer. Your attorney can help you to defend yourself and can give you the best possible chance of successfully contesting your traffic ticket.