How to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Oklahoma
It is a beautiful afternoon in Oklahoma and you decide to take your car out for a drive. An Oklahoma police officer notices you and believes that you committed some kind of traffic infraction (speeding, failure to yield or running a stop sign). Sure enough, the officer pulls you over and issues you a ticket. You think you are innocent. Rather than pay the fine and admit guilt, you can dispute the ticket. You must plead "not guilty" and either work out a deal with the prosecuting attorney or face a trial.
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Instructions
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Examine the back of your ticket. Notice the instructions about pleading guilty, not guilty or no contest. Read these carefully so you understand what each plea means.
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Look at the front of the ticket and find the arraignment date and time. This is the time you are scheduled to appear in an Oklahoma municipal court and enter your plea.
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Arrive at the court at the scheduled arraignment time. Wait in the courtroom until the judge calls your name. The judge will read your rights and explain the penalties you face. He will then ask you to enter a plea. Enter a plea of "not guilty."
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Post a bond. According to dmv.com, people disputing tickets in Oklahoma must post a bond to ensure that they show up at the court date. As of 2010, the bond costs $35.
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Follow the instructions of the judge. The judge will set a pretrial hearing date. At this date, you will meet with the prosecuting attorney where you can negotiate a deal or, if no agreement is reached, schedule a trial date.
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Argue your case at trial. Present whatever evidence you have to indicate your innocence. If it is a bench trial, your argument will be in front of the judge and the judge will rule on your case. If it is a jury trial, a jury of your peers will deliver a judgment based on your argument and the prosecuting attorney's argument.
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References
- Photo Credit fire truck speeding image by Xavier MARCHANT from Fotolia.com
