How to Fight a U-turn Traffic Ticket
An illegal U-turn will almost always result in a ticket if a police officer is around to see it. If this happens to you but you feel the ticket was unjustified, you have the option to fight the ticket in court. In some situations, a moving traffic violation can drastically increase insurance costs, so fighting may be the best option. Fighting a U-turn ticket can be a long process, so you must be prepared and know what you're getting into.
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Instructions
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Check your local laws concerning U-turn traffic violations. Each area may have their own laws for U-turns, so it's important to read the laws for yourself to ensure it's worth the time to fight the ticket.
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Compare the U-turn laws with your particular situation. Break down each section of the law and determine whether or not your case violates it. For example, some states have laws that say U-turns are only illegal in residential areas, so you should not be able to get a U-turn ticket if you were not in a residential area.
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Write down your reasons for why you think the U-turn ticket was unfair. A potential excuse is that an oncoming vehicle was not near you, so it was completely safe to execute the U-turn.
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Go to the court date listed on your citation. If the date is not listed, you can call your local courthouse to find out your date. Plead "not guilty" at your court hearing, and you should be assigned a new court date. If a new court date is not assigned that day, they will send a letter through the mail.
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Explain your reasoning for fighting the ticket at your second court date. Tell the judge all the reasons why you didn't technically violate the law or present extenuating circumstances. Present your case in a calm, professional manner.
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Ask for the charges to be dropped. If the judge is not convinced you are innocent, ask if you can take a defensive driving course. In some jurisdictions, you have the option to take a driving course and have the charges dropped, but you must still pay a fee for the course.
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- Photo Credit no u-turn sign image by sonya etchison from Fotolia.com
