}); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); All of the information on the Colgan & Associates, LLC web site is for informational purposes only. When you receive a speeding ticket or traffic citation, you always have the option to pay the fine and accept the points. Wed appreciate if youd take a few minutes to explain where we went wrong. Do not sell or share my personal information. This is an important right to be aware of. 1) Admit guilt and pay the fine, 2) Attend a defensive driving class (at your expense) 3) Request a trial be set by mail. How to beat a speeding ticket. There are three ways to set your court date. A traffic lawyer costs between $250 and $350 on average nationally, according to Thumbtack, an online marketplace for service professionals. If you ask for a hearing, plan to make your case and be questioned before a judge. Sometimes, just showing up means you win. In most cases, pa tickets points reduction will end up with you getting between 2 to 5 points. 1999 - 2023 DMV.ORG. You have 10 days to respond to the citation. At Berman Law, our Media, PA attorneys represent drivers in Chester County, Delaware County, and Philadelphia County. What can we do for you? Motorists must enter a 'not-guilty' plea within ten days of being issued to fight a Pennsylvania traffic ticket. If you are considering fighting your speeding ticket, we have listed some strategies that might come handy: Show Up & Get Lucky As weird as it might seem, if you show up in the court as decided and the issuing officer doesn't, you'll automatically win without having to do anything at all. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Generally, you must inform the court in person if you plead not guilty. In addition to the financial costs of a traffic ticket, you also need to consider the points assessed. However, with proof of PA traffic school or defensive driving course completion, you may still be eligible for discounted car insurance rates. That way you can decide whether to contest the ticket or pay the fine. Although, in Pennsylvania only the Pennsylvania State Police are permitted to use radar. If you don't feel comfortable representing yourself or want legal advice to see the best way to fight the ticket, enlist the help of a traffic attorney. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. Nobody wants to get a speeding ticket, and for good reason. A jury will usually not be called in for traffic court. You may be able to request a negotiation before or at your hearing, but its the courts decision, so check on the courts website or call to be sure. After pleading not guilty to the traffic violation(s), the court will assign you a date to return for a pretrial conference OR trial before a judge. MORE: Comparing auto insurance rates after speeding tickets. return false; You will need to attend a mandatory departmental hearing. Now that I got the basics out of the way, I'll get into the tactics to beat your photo radar ticket. Instruction manuals include maintenance schedules you can question the officer about, and they may note radar gun weaknesses, for example. Most speeding. Making it appear that the witness does not remember facts correctly casts doubt in the judge's eyes. Going to court to contest a speeding ticket or traffic offense may be worthwhile if: Our Pennsylvania traffic attorneys will stand by your side throughout the process of contesting a speeding ticket or traffic violation. After you pass, or serve your suspension, two points will be taken off your record. 1. However, a traffic ticket can end up costing you a lot more money in insurance premiums, and winning your case may be easier than you think. Call a Traffic Ticket Attorney It makes sense to call someone who does this for a livingwhose job is to fight traffic violations for people like you. The options that the traffic court gives you are: pay the ticket. Log-in to DoNotPay and find the Speeding Ticket product. I am preparing to dispute this fine, as I firmly believe that I was not moving at such a rate of speed that could be considered dangerous/reckless by any means. You can submit a discovery subpoena to the court to get certain documents that may help your case. You'll receive an appeal letter that contains state vehicle codes to boost your case. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you have received a Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania, read more about the actions you can take to eliminate your speeding ticket. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. Exceeding a speed limit by at least 26 miles per hour. As a writer, her work was featured in The Associated Press, The Motley Fool and U.S. News & World Report. A speeding ticket costs anywhere from $50 up to $2,500 in some states in the severest cases. Sit back and relax while we do the work. traffic school or defensive driving course. like I stated 20-25 is usually my average speed when traversing this short road (unless there are actually crossing guards telling me to stop, and kids are actually present, in which case I will slow and/or stop.) Violation payment can be made in several manners: Through mail by check, money order, or credit card by detaching the payment coupon enclosed with the violation and mailing payment for the amount due. HOW THE POLICE CATCH YOU SPEEDING. In Pennsylvania, the fines are based on the exact speed at a price of $2 per mile per hour past five over the limit. plead guilty with an explanation. You can pay: Online. Make sure you choose a firm who has experience fighting traffic tickets in Pennsylvania. The True Cost of a Speeding Ticket The actual cost of the ticket should not be your primary concern. Its likely youre reading this because youve already gotten a speeding ticket, so file away these tips in case it happens again: Ask which method the officer used to determine you were speeding and write it down afterward. Pennsylvania's speeding ticket fees Excess of legal speed limit Fee imposed for breaking the legal speed limit Every mile over 5 mph $35 + $2 per mile over the limit Every mile over 65 mph $42.50 + $2 per mile over the limit If excess over 11 mph (school zone) Up to $500 How Pennsylvania speeding tickets are calculated You do not want to pull over in an intersection or anywhere else you might obstruct traffic. A sympathetic officer may be more likely to issue a warning instead of a ticket. By using our site, you agree to our. In addition to the speeding fine, drivers also must pay a surcharge based on the mph over the Maximum Speed Limits outlined in the table below. You can call in witnesses, including any passengers in the car when the ticket was issued. Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania | Ticket Counsel Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania Fines and Fees Speeding 1-10 miles over: 2 - 4 points / $85 - $170 Speeding 11 - 15 miles over: 3 - 5 points / $115 - $235 Speeding 16 - 24 miles over: 4 - 6 points / $135 - $306 Speeding 25 - 35 miles over: 5 - 7 points / $160 - $380 You're only two minutes away from getting your PA speeding ticketdismissed using these steps: It's really that simple! If served, set a hearing, pleading "Not responsible." Disprove the plaintiff (private company) in court; win. If the officer says he will get a search warrant, politely tell him to do so and continue to refuse a search. The state of Pennsylvania bases the amount of your speeding fine on how fast you were going and what the speed limit was in the area where you were caught speeding. Although all this may seem like a lot of hassle for a $50 ticket, getting a PA speeding ticket dismissed can save you hundreds over time from increased insurance rates and accumulated driving points. How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in PA When you receive a speeding ticket or traffic citation, you always have the option to pay the fine and accept the points. Her work has been featured by USA Today, U.S. News and World Report and The Associated Press. A typical plea agreement would be to reduce a 5 speeding ticket to 4 points; from 4 points down to 2 points, and so on. Notice of Intended Prosecution Loopholes You Have to Know, How to Pay Your Houston Water Bills Online Hassle-Free, How to Remove My Case From The Internet Instantly, How to Recover Your Forgotten Workday Password Hassle-Free, How to Stay In Touch With Inmates at Clements Unit, Sending Money to an Inmate Has Never Been Easier, How to dispute seatbelt tickets in any state, Learn about filing a complaint against any company, Renew your car registration the quick and easy way, PA commercial drivers driving "carelessly" or "recklessly". The vast majority of speeding tickets are resolved via plea agreement. However, try not to wait more than 30 seconds to find a safe spot. But you do have an option you can fight your speeding ticket. Submit a request for certain public records. Pleading "Guilty with explanation" means you admit to speeding but want to the court to take certain circumstances into consideration, which may result in your insurance premiums staying the same. Whether you live in the PA city where you received the ticket or want to commute back to the area, pay for your speeding ticket in Pennsylvania in person by going to the court stated on your ticket. You will need to attend a mandatory departmental hearing. You should probably avoid testifying against yourself while fighting a speeding ticket as it is unnecessary and could make you look bad. If you ignore it, you may have to pay additional fines and your driver's license can be suspended. Doctor of Law, University of Wisconsin-Madison. These methods include Pacing, Aircraft Speed Detection, Manual Distance Timing ( VASCAR ), Laser and/or electronic Distance Timing (ENRADD) and Radar. You should get a record on the police officer to look for any previous cases he's won or lost in traffic court. After a ticket, your car insurance rates can rise by hundreds of dollars per year. 2. If you do end up accepting the speeding ticket, its crucial to compare. Ask specifics. Your day in court resembles most other types of hearings. I've never had an issue until this particular morning, and I assume I was just severely unlucky this day. , possibly resulting in suspension of your license. Select whether or not you want the letter mailed to the traffic ticket issuer on your behalf! If you're searching for an easy way to get out of a speeding ticketin Pennsylvania or any other state, DoNotPay can help. if( jQuery(.ajax-loader).hasClass(is-active) ) { Select whether or not you want the letter mailed to the traffic ticket issuer on your behalf! That's it! From raising your insurance ratesto staying on your driving recordfor an extended amount of time, getting a PA speeding ticket can cause you more of a headache than just a one-time fine and getting points added to your PA driving record. 13. Number two: If you get charged with a criminal offense such as reckless or negligent driving, DUI, vehicular homicide or hit-and-run, hire an attorney. Why Fight a Speeding Ticket? Log-in to DoNotPay and find the Speeding Ticket product. If you anger or otherwise frustrate the officer, he will probably remember you and be more likely to have specific memories and notations that can help the prosecution during trial. Compare over 50 top car insurance quotes and save. If the Pennsylvania judge decides you're not guilty of the traffic violations, congrats! If all this sounds like more than youd want to handle on your own, you can enlist a traffic lawyer to help you. Exceeding a speed limit by 16 to 25 miles per hour. You need to address the ticket and start fighting it right away. Visit 800 Spring Garden St. on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. I'm really angered by this and want to know what I can do to plead my case. If you plan to fight the ticket, youll have to go to court, where a prosecutor will have to prove you were speeding. Fighting a Camera Speeding Ticket in Maryland Responding to a Photo Enforced Speeding Ticket Reasons to Challenge the Citation Avoid the $40 Fee and Fight the Charge Responding to a Photo Enforced Speeding Ticket Maryland drivers have three options for responding to a traffic ticket. As soon as you've entered your plea, begin preparing for trial. That's it! Traffic tickets usually contain instructions on how to contest or enter a 'not-guilty' plea. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. This stretch of road is right around the corner of my house and I drive it every morning to work in another district, so I'm familiar with the protocols when children are crossing the street to the school on the other side. If you end up going to trial before a judge, you can expect the process to follow this general outline: If you'd like to pursue your case after a guilty verdict and sentencing, you can file an appeal with the PA Court of Common Pleas with the county court where you received your citation. So, in response to the first letter, I mailed them back the following letter (copied and pasted): I received a letter claiming I committed a violation of a speeding law in the District of Columbia on 04/21/2012. Look up the method the officer used to clock your speed, note its weaknesses and prepare to present them. If youre convicted, a violation will: Affect your driving record, possibly resulting in suspension of your license. Call your DMV or licensing agency to see if your state has a similar program. If the officer does not show, which happens sometimes, you will be found not guilty. Many speeding tickets result from the police officer following or "pacing" a suspected speeder and using his or her own speedometer to estimate the suspect's speed. How Many Points Is a 10 MPH Over Speeding Ticket? Using DoNotPay is a simple way to avoid paying unfair speeding tickets and dealing with higher insurance rates for several years after getting convicted of speeding in Pennsylvania. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. These lawyers typically specialize in DUIs and more serious cases, but some take speeding ticket cases. Traffic Tickets - Getting an Attorney's Help Depending on the judge's verdict, there are a variety of consequences to fighting your traffic ticket in Pennsylvania. Reviewing Your Ticket 1 Check your ticket for accuracy. Turn your car off, and turn the. If the officer cant remember you, he or she might fail to recall details in front of a judge. Take note of your precise location and try to get an approximate sense of where the alleged violation took place. Check the PAePay website to see if the traffic court your ticket was assigned to accepts online payments, as it varies by county. The speed limit in Pennsylvania school zones is 15 miles per hour. For more tips from our Legal co-author, like how to prepare for your speeding ticket trial, read on! You have the right to cross-examine anyone who testifies against you, which usually means the officer who wrote the citation. Box 597 Baltimore, MD 21203-0597 Work Phone: By phone How much can I save by refinancing my car? Lacie Glover is an insurance editor and writer and a NerdWallet authority on insurance. % of people told us that this article helped them. How Long Do You Have to Pay a Speeding Ticket? Radio Detection And Ranging or radar as it is popularly known works by emitting radio waves. Remember, only 50% of people who fight traffic tickets get their tickets dismissed. If there's anyone who can verify you were not speeding, call them in to testify. Although this option is said to result in this matter . If he refuses, ask him to note the request. Fighting a speeding ticket is about 3 goals: keeping your driving record clear. If the officer, for example, does not remember it was raining and a Tuesday he might not look like a less reliable witness. Read more. Other ways an officer can clock your speed are using a timing device such as a stopwatch or VASCAR, or following behind you clocking your speed using their speedometer. Your job is to present your case in order to prove you are innocent. [2] It has to be significant, however. Make sure you're fully aware of how traffic citations can affect your auto insurance rates BEFORE agreeing to a plea bargain. Politely ask the officer if he can move the court appearance to the county seat. 1. Speeding ticket fines are the same throughout Pennsylvania, and are set based on fast you were going, and what the posted speed limit was: If you were in a work zone at the time you were clocked speeding, your fines will be doubled. All this said, can I counter argue this citation, especially given my status as a teacher? How much trouble depends on your state: You could be arrested or have to pay larger fines, or your license could be suspended. If caught speedingwhile driving through Pennsylvania, you can expect to pay a hefty fine. This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Dispute Your Band C Speeding Fine Without a Lawyer and Win. How to Fight a Speeding Ticket - What to Do in 10 Steps Contents Remain calm and respectful Sign the paper copy of the ticket Check your contact information on your ticket copy Make sure you know how to handle the citation Read the instructions on how to pay your speeding ticket Attend defensive driving school instead of paying the fine If you decide to contest the ticket, it is a good idea to bring a speeding ticket defense lawyer with you to that hearing. If the officer asks to search the vehicle, you have the right to refuse. Look out for your traffic ticket issuer's response to discover whether you won! Former police officer gives you the secrets to getting a s. If you choose to plead guilty to a speeding ticket in Pennsylvania, there are several ways to pay the fine within the deadline stated on your ticket. Law Firm Website Design by The Modern Firm, Emergency medical service (EMS) surcharge: $10, Judicial computer program / access to justice account surcharge: $10, General fund surcharges: $30-300 depending on the traffic offense and your driving history, Court Costs: $37 or $45 if you request a hearing, Fourth or higher suspension = 1 year, no matter how many points, You are facing a potential suspension because of points, Your ticket is based off a VASCAR device reading (these devices must be properly calibrated and are often inaccurate), Police committed errors in tracking your vehicle, issuing the citation to the right vehicle, or performing the stop, You believe your officer may not show up to the hearing. have a meeting with the prosecutor. You could mail a copy of the citation to the courthouse, along with a request for a trial date. To do so, the prosecutor will usually call up the officer who issued your citation and ask him a series of questions in an attempt to establish his reliability. For example, the fine for speeding is $120-$200, and the fine for careless driving is $400-$2000. For example, depending on where you live: Your state may waive your first moving violation if you take a driving course. Most drivers have sped at one point or another, even if just a couple of miles per hour over the speed limit. No matter what happens, you must be polite and submissive. Each traffic offense carries 2-5 points. Persons who choose to dispute the ticket may need to make an appearance in court to enter this plea. When you receive a traffic citation for speeding, the amount of the fine will be printed right on the ticket. Required fields are marked *. However to beat a radar speeding ticket, you must understand how the radar works. To do this, you must send a written request to the court noted on your ticket to request a hearing, and then showing up on the assigned court date. Do what the officer asks of you without arguing or getting defensive. Fight Your PA Traffic Ticket in Court The steps to fighting your Pennsylvania traffic ticket can differ from court to court, though generally, the process consists of the following: Pre-trial conference. Lacie Glover spent more than five years covering health care costs and all types of insurance as a NerdWallet writer before becoming an assistant assigning editor in 2019 and later an assigning editor on the insurance team. Pleading guilty means you're accepting the ticket and paying the resulting fines, which will raise your insurance premiums. Look up the method the officer used to clock your speed, note its weaknesses and prepare to present them. Contact the Pennsylvania traffic court in the county where you received your citation for more specific information on how to enter your plea of not guilty. If you've lost your ticket, contact the county court for information. If you recently received a traffic ticket in Pennsylvania, and have the means to prove it was issued. Besides paying the initial fee, after a ticket, your car insurance rates can rise by hundreds of dollars per year. If the officer doesnt show up at the hearing, you could be off the hook, but dont rely on that. 5 points. If the officer that issued the ticket doesn't show up, it's almost automatically a win for you. OK92033) Property & Casualty Licenses, NerdWallet | 55 Hawthorne St. - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. When the officer asks for your license and registration, politely explain where these documents are and ask permission to reach for them. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. You take a driving course instead of paying the speeding ticket. Do not say, "I was going 62 in a 55 zone," for example. However, this can only be used once. In order to fight the traffic ticket, the driver must appear before a judge. Keep in mind, missing ANY of your court dates could result in: If you cannot make it to your assigned court date, usually you can request a continuance in writing or in person at the applicable PA traffic court. Gather evidence. Provide us with some details on why you believe the citation issued is a mistake. If you plead "not guilty," focus your defense on either challenging the officer's means of measuring your speed or his identification of your automobile. I'm a school teacher in PA and was just pulled over Friday morning for going 25 in an "active school zone" (15 mph).
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