Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Do You Have the Right to Appeal a Traffic Ticket?

It really wasn’t your lucky day. While driving on the freeway, a police officer stopped you and gave you a traffic ticket for speeding. You are baffled since you know for a fact that you didn’t break any of the traffic violations in your state. You try to air your side to the police officer, but he doesn’t listen. He lets you go, but with a ticket at hand.


This scenario may happen to everyone. If you’re wrongfully accused, you must know that you have the right to make an appeal for the traffic ticket given to you. You can make an appeal yourself or seek the help of a traffic attorney to help your case.

Before you proceed with filing an appeal, do know that every citizen has the right to file a lawsuit. You’re not breaking any laws if you do this. The court will simply decide on the merits, depending on what evidence you present and what evidence the prosecution presents.

In traffic violations cases like this, it is critical that you gather enough evidence to clear your name. This is where a traffic attorney can be of great help. They know how and where to get the evidence needed.
Now, in court, the police officer who gave you the traffic ticket will provide his testimony and present the evidence. Usually, a radar gun report is the best evidence they provide. To win the case, you either have to prove that the radar gun malfunctioned. Or, the police enforcer didn’t use it properly.

What evidences can help your case? Well, it’s anything and everything that can prove that you were driving within the speed limit. Using your cellphone, take photos of the road signs, road conditions, speed limit signs and etc. Also, investigate if the police officer really had a clear view of your car before he made you stop. Getting witnesses to confirm your story is good defensive evidence.

Dealing with traffic violations can get serious. It can result to jail time, hefty fines and revocation of license. It’s a battle that you should win, or at least, try to win, if you’re really innocent. Remember, in the court of law, you are innocent until proven guilty. So defend yourself in every way you can.
By the way, you also have the right to see what evidence the police officer has against you. As well as the police traffic ticket report filed.

Anyhow, if you’re feeling stressed about the whole situation, it is best to rely on a good traffic violations attorney to do the work. If you force yourself to make the appeal yourself, your stress may affect your ability to gather the right evidences.

Rick Silverman, P.A.
311 S Brevard Ave. Tampa, Florida 33606
(813) 871-1125

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