What to do if you've received a ticket

You've been pulled over. You hoped for the good fortune that would allow you to get away with your mistake this time. You asked the police officer to give you a warning. No such luck though, and you're left with a ticket to pay. Now you have a few different options.

You can pay the fine, which will affect your bank account and your driving record. With this decision, you're admitting fault and accepting the consequences. It will also likely affect your insurance rates in the future.

You can fight the ticket in court, which could cost time, effort, and money for an attorney. This route could result in no fine and no damage to your driving record, or it could be wildly unsuccessful and cost you much more than simply paying the fine.

If you do decide to go to court, remember that every situation is different. Your friend's story about getting their case dismissed because the reporting officer didn't show up to the court date isn't always the easy way out. The severity of the incident will increase the likelihood you need to hire a lawyer, which requires more time to look for a reputable one and more money to retain one. You may try to represent yourself, and when going down that path, physical evidence against the violation is always the most helpful. Prepare to question the officer who issued the ticket. If you cooperated and kept things simple at the time of the violation, the officer might forget key details about the incident in court. Witnesses are also helpful.

It is sometimes possible to meet in the middle by negotiating the ticket. This option is not appropriate for all cases. You're still admitting that the ticket was valid, but you concede to going to traffic school or present evidence that might convince a judge to reduce the fine associated with the ticket. Attending a defensive driving course can sometimes dismiss a ticket or at least reduce the impact of one on your driving record. Even if you don't get the ticket dismissed, mitigation can buy you extra time to pay the fine you owe.

If you attend driving school, keep in mind that:

The flip side to attempts at mitigation is that they can always be denied, which means you're still required to pay the full amount of the ticket and are at risk of future consequences on your record and insurance policies.

Practicing safe driving and obeying the rules of the road will go a long way in preventing traffic tickets, but sometimes things happen. Use your best judgment about what to do after the reported infraction, keeping in mind that the type of infraction, your driving record, and the specific circumstances will all play a role in your decision. Never ignore the ticket because that will only get you into further trouble and will reduce your options for responding to it.

This article is written for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide any legal advice.

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