How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in Maryland

You got pulled over and the officer gave you a ticket...now what? Follow these steps and you should find yourself back on easy street in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Your ticket
• A court date
• Honesty and respect for the judge

Instructions

1. Do not pay your ticket. If you do not make a payment, you will automatically be sent a court date. It is very important that you show up for your court date, otherwise you will be slapped with a Failure to Appear.

2. Dress appropriately for court. You do not have to wear a business suit, but you should be presentable. For example, do not wear ripped jeans or a tube top.

3. There is a chance that the police officer will not show up to court. If the officer is not present, you got lucky because there is no way to prove that you are guilty. In this case, the judge will usually automatically dismiss you. Sometimes he or she will still ask you how you plead. If you are positive that the officer is not present, always plead not guilty.

4. If the police officer is present, you are able to be proven guilty. The best course of action is to plead "guilty with an explanation." The judge will ask you to tell your story. Always be honest and respectful. Let the judge know why you were not following the rules that day. Were there any special circumstances that the judge should know about? Perhaps you were not feeling well, you were upset, etc. You will not be making excuses in order to get out of your ticket, but you will be giving the judge some insight as to why you did what you did.

5. You may also choose to plead "innocent." If you do, keep in mind that it is your word against the officer's, and you still could be found guilty.

6. There are some things to avoid when talking to the judge. In most cases you should not say that the police officer is lying or that the radar gun was broken. Judges hear every excuse in the book, and most of the time they will take the officer's word over yours. Never insult the officer or use bad language. Never lie about your previous tickets or court dates; the judge has access to your records and will know.

7. If the judge sees fit, he or she will give you probation before judgment (or PBJ). Now all you have to do is behave yourself for the next six months and your ticket will drop off of your record!

Tips & Warnings

• These tips can also be applied to some other minor moving violations, such as running a stop sign.

• I am not a lawyer and am not qualified to offer legal advice.

• I have written this article based on my experiences in Maryland. Other states may be different.