How to Avoid Paying a Speeding Ticket

There are a couple rules you can follow to improve your chances of avoiding having to pay your ticket, or--better yet--avoiding receiving one in the first place.

Instructions

1. Get yourself an FOP, or "Friend of Police" card. Generally considered to be a "Get out of Jail Free" card of sorts, a FOP card can be easily obtained if you know someone on the police force. Chances are that if you don't personally know a cop, you have a friend that does, and simply asking can sometimes get you one of these cards. It won't work if you're clocked going 100 mph in a 25-mph zone, but within reason it will generally get you off with a warning.

2. Reschedule your court date to the point of annoyance. Whenever you get a ticket, you can opt to pay it right away or show up in court and enter a plea. While there, the ticketing officer has to take time out of his day to make an appearance or you will not have to pay for the ticket. On the day of your court date, call and reschedule for a later date, and continue to do this a few times. By the time you actually do show up, the officer will more than likely will have given up and decided to not show.

3. Plead your case in court. If you feel you either were not speeding or had an incredibly good reason to, show up in court and tell that to the judge. They're people, too--if you were speeding to get home to your sick mother, tell them that. They can be incredibly understanding. Just remember to bring proof with you that she was really sick.

4. Be nice to the cop. When you're pulled over, don't act like a jerk. Don't immediately start out with a "I can't believe you stopped me! Don't you have crimes to stop!?" Be nice, explain why you were speeding, and there is a chance you'll be rewarded.

5. Don't speed. You can't get a speeding ticket if you obey traffic laws in the first place. It may take you an extra few minutes to get where you're going (do the math - driving 20 miles per hour over the speed limit on the highway will only save you maximum an extra 15 minutes. Is it worth a potential $100+ fine?), but you're guaranteed to not get pulled over.