How to Appeal a Speeding Ticket

You don't need to be a lawyer in order to appeal a speeding ticket, but it's important that your appeal is based on solid facts and presented in a logical manner. Many people believe that they can simply argue their innocence based on their own unsubstantiated opinion, and nothing could be further from the truth. Follow along to see what you need to do in order to present a strong, legitimate argument for yourself and maximize your chances of winning the appeal.

Instructions

1. Collect all of the available facts and details surrounding the incident. In some states the officer will write a separate account of what they believe happened called the "officer's ticket" and it's a portion of the citation that you are not automatically issued. This can be obtained from the violations bureau in your state, and is just one example of an extra piece of information that can benefit you. Other things include street names, pictures of posted speed limit signs, and anything else that is factual that you can obtain or present in court. All of this will help you to formulate and support an effective argument.

2. Determine where the officer was at fault and make this the focus of your argument. You need to find one point that you can prove and argue with facts that support it. It could be that the officer only visually estimated your speed or that he or she was looking at the wrong car mistakenly. If there isn't something legitimate that you can argue and you know that you were at fault, then you don't have a case and it probably isn't worth your time to try. However, if still feel that you were wrongly cited you need to be able to prove why, and formulate a solid, factual argument around that idea.

3. Schedule a hearing or court date. Some states will require that you see a hearing officer prior to assigning you an actual court date, while others will schedule you a court date without any type of mediation. Meeting with a hearing officer is slightly less formal being in court, but you will still need to follow all of the steps contained in this article in order to present an effective argument. If you are required to see a hearing officer first and you don't get the decision that you want make sure to schedule a court date so that you can continue your appeal.

4. Practice your delivering your argument before hand. This will help you to develop a smooth, steady pace and also help to keep your nerves calm during when you are actually in court. Often times it is beneficial to run through your argument with a friend or family member in order to get someone else's opinion on the matter and receive a thorough critique.

5. Arrive on time, properly dressed, and well prepared. People who don't know you will immediately judge your credibility based upon your appearance and how you carry yourself, so it's very important to look your best and appear confident. Generally speaking, any type of business attire will work well in a courtroom setting. For men this should be a dress shirt and tie, and for women this could be a pants suit or an appropriate dress. It's also very important that you are on time and are well prepared because failing to meet either of these criteria will detract from your overall credibility. Allow for enough travel time, and make sure that you aren't shuffling through messy papers or doing anything to create an unorganized, disheveled appearance.

6. Execute your argument exactly as you've planned it remaining calm and collected throughout the delivery. If you've put in the practice time you shouldn't have any trouble doing this. Don't be caught off guard if the judge or prosecutor wants to ask you any questions about your statements. Just make sure that you answer them truthfully and to the best of your ability.

7. Receive your judgment with a good attitude regardless of what it is. No matter what the verdict turns out to be, you need to act in a professional manner. Don't celebrate in the middle of the courtroom if you win, and don't act angry or upset if you lose the case. Either way, you need to conduct yourself in a professional and appropriate fashion.

Tips & Warnings

• This article is not a substitute for legal advice and is only represents the author's own point of view. If you need legitimate legal counsel you should contact a licensed attorney.