Things You'll Need:
- Copy of ticket
- Pictures
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Step 1
Be polite when the ticket is issued to you and do not say anything that can be used against you in a court of law. Being irate or belligerent may actually land you in jail instead of just getting a speeding ticket. When the officer asks, "Do you know why I pulled you over?," shake your head no and say, "No, Officer." You are innocent until proven guilty. If you say that you knew you were speeding, you will be held guilty in a court of law.
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Step 2
Read the ticket to gather as much information as you can. On the back of the ticket it will give you instructions on how to plea. Most traffic tickets are standard in how they are to be addressed. Since you are fighting the speeding ticket, you need to check the "not guilty" box and follow the instructions for mailing in that plea. Once you mail in the plea, the municipality will issue a court date for you to appear before the judge. The cop who issued the speeding ticket may also be present.
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Step 3
Write a letter to the Department of Motor Vehicles to find out what the status of your driver's license is. You will want this information when you go to court to fight the speeding ticket in Pennsylvania. A standard letter stating that you are making a formal request for the status of points accumulated on your license with your license number can be sent to PennDOT P.O. Box 688 18 Harrisburg, PA 17106-8618. The information you receive from the DMV will help you in fighting the speeding ticket or reducing it so that more points do not appear on your license.
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Step 4
Take pictures of the site where the traffic stop occurred and the ticket was written. This is an optional step but can be to your benefit, especially if you claim you were not speeding. If the traffic speed limit sign is hidden and you did not know the speed limit, the picture will prove to the judge that you could not have known that you were speeding since the limit was not clearly posted.
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Step 5
Consult with a lawyer so you know your rights. You do not need to pay a lawyer to fight a speeding ticket in Pennsylvania, but it is in your best interest to consult with one who knows about traffic laws in the state. Retain the lawyer if you feel he can do a better job of fighting your speeding ticket than you could yourself.
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Step 6
Appear in court and be honest when the judge questions you. Perjury is a criminal offense in Pennsylvania and you can get jail time if you get caught lying in the courtroom. Show the judge your driving record, along with any other documentation (photos) to make your case. The ticket may not get dismissed, but it is more than likely that since you took the time to appear in court, gather documentation and fight the ticket that the charges on the ticket will be reduced.
