I got a traffic ticket in Virginia. How can I fight it?

Virginia is one state with some of the strongest penalties for traffic tickets in the nation. In fact, traffic tickets are generally criminal offenses and can add up quickly to a driver’s license suspension. For that reason, it can be important to fight every traffic ticket in this state if there are any viable grounds to do so.

Since Virginia has a points system, repeat offenses can quickly result in a suspended driver’s license. Those penalties are accrued in this way:

• For 2 serious traffic violations or 18 points or more within 3 years – 60 day suspension

• For 3 serious violations or 24 points or more within 3 years – 120 day suspension

Such penalties justify fighting a traffic ticket in court, especially since there are few penalties for presenting a case for the defense.

Some of the most effective means of fighting a traffic ticket include challenging the arresting officer’s probable cause for the traffic stop or arrest, challenging the officer’s observations of your illegal actions, proving that their equipment for measuring speed or blood alcohol content were faulty, or proving that someone else was actually guilty and the arresting officer confused the cars.

Often these defenses require a great deal of expertise or research that most laymen will find difficult. A traffic ticket attorney can provide that skill and experience and provide the strongest defense possible for your traffic ticket.