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Is this traffic ticket valid?
I received a ticket for going 12 miles over the speed limit. The time was clearly 7:45AM and on the ticket I received from the office, the time of the incident is 7:06AM. I was nowhere in the area and in fact I was at home sleeping at that time. I am thinking of contesting the ticket based on this inaccurate information. Please let em know if you think I have a good chance to get this dismissed based on that time difference?
14 Answers
- BubbaBLv 41 decade agoFavorite Answer
It's a valid ticket inasmuch as it's a real ticket.
The inaccuracy, if present on the officer's copy of the ticket (and, presumedly, your copy, too), does present inaccuracies in the officer's version of the events.
If he read his watch wrong, how can we be sure he didn't read the speedometer wrong? Or the radar gun? This is what can be called "reasonable doubt"; especially if you can *TRUTHFULLY* testify that you weren't going the speed the officer cited you for. (Or, in *certain* circumstances, that the speed you were going--regardless of the posted limit--was safe because of traffic flow, weather conditions, etc....)
If you have a fair judge, you may "beat" the ticket.
On the other hand, it can take quite a bit of time to adequately make a defense against a traffic ticket. You *may* be better off just attending traffic school if you can. (Bear in mind, that in many US states, if you go to trial and lose, you will *not* have the option of Traffic school....)
- 1 decade ago
The problem with this is, you have no way of proving your case of when this incident actually took place. However, most of the time with speeding tickets where the speed you were going is not a ridiculous amount over the limit, and you contest it, you will have the ticket dismissed and simply be required to pay a small amount, probably $50 or so, to a charity specified by the court. Take a chance and contest it. The worst that can happen is you will have to pay the ticket which you would have to do anyway if you don't go to court
Source(s): personal experiance - 1 decade ago
Do you specifically remember getting pulled over? Were you speeding? 12 miles over vs. 120 miles is still speeding. The law is the law. Just because the time on the ticket is the wrong time does not mean that you weren't speeding. Is the officer's penmanship sloppy? That would not mean that it's a made up ticket. It would mean that the officer has bad penmanship. They can't get in trouble for that.
I'm sorry to rain on your parade. Take it to court if it's worth the time off of work. Hope that you get the right judge. Everyone thinks that cops are the bad guys until they need one.
- wrkeyLv 51 decade ago
There is only one question to answer here. Does the speed limit change based on time of day? For example, does the speed limit change at say 7:30 to a speed where you would not have been considered speeding? I suspect it does not.
Therefore, the judge, will rule that the time is irrelevant to the fact that you were speeding. Minor errors such as this only affect the outcome of the ruling IF there is reason to believe you would be innocent should the proper information had been recorded. Don't forget the officer most likely has a video of his conversation with you that will be presented as evidence. This tape will be 'datetime stamped' and will most likely have you admitting your guilt.
I suggest you don't try to 'fight it' but instead, request defensive driving course to remove the ticket.
Good luck!
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- 1 decade ago
If you can prove that at 7:06am you were sleeping, you can get off with it. Simply mention that if the police officer made one mistake on your ticket, how do you know he didn't make more? The officer couldn't have been paying attention.
- .Lv 41 decade ago
just tell them it wasnt you driving the car and dont tell them who was, any ticket is beatable, i think they are suppose to set speed limits by what the majority of the traffic is actually flowing or at least in that area, some places actually reduce the speed limits 15 to 20 miles per hour just to be able to write traffic tickets, talk about getting away with entrapment..then they act as if we are the criminals..lol i was under the impression a camera took a picture of your car speeding..DO NOT tell them you werent driving the car if a cop actually pulled you over..who knows maybe you can plead temporary insanity
- katerineLv 45 years ago
not all jurisdictions require you to sign a cost tag. some departments have you ever do it as a manner of recording which you won the cost ticket and are promising which you will take place in court docket, some do not difficulty with the prepare. In the two case, in case you do not obey the summons, you get a warrant out on your arrest. And it has no bearing on the fee.
- 1 decade ago
Tough to say for sure. It may depend on the judge you get in court. The judge might dismiss it due to poor reporting of facts, or might ask you if you did the deed, and say that recorded time isn't as relevant.
Good luck.
- 1 decade ago
Yea...I dont think you could win. How are you going to prove that you were at home at that time? They arnt going to believe you. It just going to cost you money for the court costs.