Lawyer issues warning to drivers facing suspended license over speeding tickets – & gives 8 steps to cut down on fines
A MARYLAND lawyer is warning ticketed drivers to follow best practices in court from wearing appropriate clothes and taking the case seriously to fair well with the judge.
Attorney Scott R. Scherr, of Towson, has eight rules for violators fighting a hefty ticket – including telling his clients to take it to court.
GettyAttorney Scott R. Scherr advises clients to avoid just paying the fine as insurance prices will go up and instead requests leniency or go to trial[/caption]
GettyHe also advises clients to show up on time, dress appropriately, and double-check the courthouse address before leaving to avoid being late for court[/caption]
In a 2021 Avvo post, Scherr explained how drivers have 30 days after receiving a ticket to act.
“You can pay the citation which will result in between 1 and 5 points [on your license] depending on your speed and the speed limit,” he wrote.
“This is ill-advised because your insurance rates will increase.”
Drivers can take it in two other directions – requesting leniency and admitting guilt, and requesting a trial.
The latter, he argued, is “always your best option.”
If the police officer who issued the ticket does not show up to court, the driver is acquitted, according to Scherr.
Scherr has other best court practices he advises when trying to get a ticket dismissed, with two major ones being: Show up on time and dress the part.
“You are coming to court and should dress appropriately,” he wrote. “It never hurts to wear a jacket and tie, suit, dress, nice pants, or skirt. It shows respect for the court.”
He advised to stay away from “shorts, a hat, jeans, or a t-shirt.”
As for being on time, the attorney said this is extremely important because if drivers are late, a judge will “mark the case ‘failure to appear’ and excuse the officer.”
Another factor you should double-check before heading to court is which courthouse the proceedings are taking place in.
“Many counties have multiple district courts. Make sure you go to the right place,” he wrote.
However, if you’re a driver who finds themselves in the convicted category, don’t fret!
Scherr advised taking a driver’s improvement online class and presenting the certificate to the judge to prove “you are taking the case seriously.”
He also advised getting a copy of your driving record to avoid unknowingly lying about your record as the judge will have access to it in all 50 states.
“Do not ‘forget’ about the speeding ticket in New Jersey you received three months before. The judge will see it,” he said.
He also tells his clients to explain to the judge why they were speeding in the first place – but only if they have a good reasoning behind it.
Examples of good reasons include “rushing your wife to the hospital because she was going into labor.”
As for commercial license holders who drive a significant number of miles, he suggested informing the judge of how many miles they drive per year, so a “few blemishes” look less hefty on the record.
Overall, dealing with an unwanted speeding ticket can be a stressful situation that may still lead to fines and points on your license, but Scherr says following his tips can help lessen the fines and the number of points on your license.
He also advises taking his tips to avoid having your license suspended. If one does not pay the fine or go to court, a license can be suspended.
Licenses can also be suspended once a person receives a certain number of points, which varies by state.
How to fight a parking ticket
You can avoid being ticketed by following all posted laws and ordinances, but sometimes mistakes are made
Like any form of citation, parking tickets are preventable by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes are made.
Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket is a surprise to you, there are a few things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.
Carefully read the ticket. Look for errors like incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would then make the ticket invalid.
Take photos. Of the vehicle in the parking space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that weren’t cited for performing the same parking job. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with the time and date are accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or are on bent posts, or aren’t “obvious” are great things to photograph, too.
Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If not listed, the ticket is not valid.
Promptly follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have directions for appeal. Waiting until the very last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument:
“I didn’t know the law.”
“I was on my way to move my car.”
“I can’t afford this ticket.”
“I’ve been doing this for years.”
“I checked with the parking officer, who said it was OK.”
Contact a lawyer. If you’re running into roadblocks and feel stuck, it may be best to reach out to a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.
Source: Reader’s Digest
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