Disobeying the speed limit is not a rare crime. The truth is, many Georgia drivers do it every day for a multitude of reasons–some perhaps justifiable, and many others not. Regardless, for lead-footed motorists, when an officer pulls them over, they can usually expect a costly ticket. This can bring negative consequences to an individual’s insurance rates, and for commercial drivers, possibly detrimental effects to their career.
To be sure, speeding puts many other people at risk besides the driver who’s doing it, which is logically why penalties exist. Still, what if a driver was going over the limit because of an emergency? What if the officer’s speed determination was wrong? These are just a couple grounds for fighting a ticket, and for drivers who feel they’ve been wrongly accused, such defenses could save them from an expensive burden.
What are some reasons to challenge a ticket?
Police officers are human, and such, they aren’t immune to making mistakes. It’s possible for a speeding ticket to be issued with shaky or negligible cause, but drivers often feel that the evidence against them is faultless. This is simply not so and there are actually several reasons one could challenge a ticket:
- An emergency situation.For this defense to be effective, a driver must prove that they were speeding to dodge injury to themselves or others on the road. An example of this could be extreme weather, e.g. a tornado.
- A case of mistaken identity. It’s not unheard of for a police officer to issue a citation to the wrong vehicle. If a driver is given a ticket because a car that’s similar in appearance was speeding, that would be challengeable.
- An incorrect speed reading. It’s possible to challenge an officer’s speed determination. For this to work in court, a driver would need to prove that the officer incorrectly used their detection method.
How does someone fight a ticket?
To successfully fight a speeding ticket in Georgia, it’s critical to have a strong defense. Evidence is particularly helpful–the more the better–and that includes information about where the alleged violation occurred. Documenting the scene with photographs, and noting the time of day it happened–was it rush hour? Was traffic congestion prohibitive of speeding?–are great places to start.
This is also not a fight that’s wise to enter alone. Consulting with an experienced legal professional may give an individual a better chance at making their case. The right attorney could provide the valuable guidance a defense needs to contest a moving violation.
