Pleading "No Contest" means you're not contending the charges but not pleading guilty either. In Pennsylvania, the fines are based on the exact speed at a price of $2 per mile per hour past five over the limit. Look out for your traffic ticket issuer's response to discover whether you won! Fighting a speeding ticket is about 3 goals: keeping your driving record clear. Lacie is a NerdWallet authority on insurance products and loves data, analytics and solving SEO mysteries. Besides helping you win against speeding tickets in PA, DoNotPay can help you solve all your traffic ticket needs and other issues. You should get a record on the police officer to look for any previous cases he's won or lost in traffic court. I'm really angered by this and want to know what I can do to plead my case. Traffic tickets usually contain instructions on how to contest or enter a 'not-guilty' plea. The police officer, if he shows up, will be the main witness of the prosecution. Pay PA Speeding Tickets Online One of the easiest ways to pay for your speeding ticket in PA, especially if you do not live in Pennsylvania, is by paying it online. Turn your car off, and turn the. Select whether or not you want the letter mailed to the traffic ticket issuer on your behalf! Your email address will not be published. In some areas, you must request mitigation in writing. The penalties that you face may include the cancellation of your driver's license. Go back to the scene of the citation. All Rights Reserved. If you do end up accepting the speeding ticket, its crucial to compare. Now that I got the basics out of the way, I'll get into the tactics to beat your photo radar ticket. If your traffic violation still appears erroneously, you could be on the hook for major fines and even license suspension. You should review the actual vehicle code in the area where you were allegedly speeding to make sure the officer pulled you over for the correct violation. Several hundred dollars are now being demanded from you because the camera captured your car and license plate. Ask specifics. This article has been viewed 106,613 times. However, if you dont pass within 30 days, your license will be suspended until you do. When you plead not guilty, you're exercising your legal right to present your case before a judge, and implying that you: Review our page on choosing when you should fight a traffic charge for guidance. Motorists must enter a 'not-guilty' plea within ten days of being issued to fight a Pennsylvania traffic ticket. Log-in to DoNotPay and find the Speeding Ticket product. An appellate court will only look to see if any legal errors were made and whether these errors affected the final decision in the case. There are three ways to set your court date. If you decide to contest the ticket, it is a good idea to bring a speeding ticket defense lawyer with you to that hearing. Traffic Violations Providing evidence, testimony and if appropriate, witnesses The opportunity to be represented by an attorney Testimony by the officer who issued the ticket Cross-examination of the officer by your attorney Losing the opportunity to plead outright to lower charges Sometimes, just showing up means you win. Check the PAePay websiteto see if the traffic court your ticket was assigned to accepts online payments, as it varies by county. Why Fight a Speeding Ticket? How Pacing Works With this technique, the officer must maintain a constant distance between the police vehicle and the suspect's car long enough to make a reasonably accurate . At the hearing, the examiner will decide whether to implement a 30 day suspension based on the facts in your case. Get you tickets dismissed easy. The True Cost of a Speeding Ticket The actual cost of the ticket should not be your primary concern. By using our site, you agree to our. Most drivers have sped at one point or another, even if just a couple of miles per hour over the speed limit. Ensure you understand all the penalties & implications for a speeding ticket before deciding to pay the ticket. Call 855-868-1675. Find out how to fight a speeding ticket or other traffic offense, and when you should hire our speeding ticket lawyers to help you. Law Firm Website Design by The Modern Firm, Emergency medical service (EMS) surcharge: $10, Judicial computer program / access to justice account surcharge: $10, General fund surcharges: $30-300 depending on the traffic offense and your driving history, Court Costs: $37 or $45 if you request a hearing, Fourth or higher suspension = 1 year, no matter how many points, You are facing a potential suspension because of points, Your ticket is based off a VASCAR device reading (these devices must be properly calibrated and are often inaccurate), Police committed errors in tracking your vehicle, issuing the citation to the right vehicle, or performing the stop, You believe your officer may not show up to the hearing. The far greater consideration is that your insurance costs will rise. Wed appreciate if youd take a few minutes to explain where we went wrong. If youre convicted, a violation will: Affect your driving record, possibly resulting in suspension of your license. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. However, this can only be used once. Even if you think the ticket is unjustified, speeding violations are hard to beat. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. How a speeding ticket is classified depends on several factors. When you receive a traffic citation for speeding, the amount of the fine will be printed right on the ticket. If you win your case, the traffic ticket fines will be returned to you. If you choose to fight the ticket, you must notify the court of this decision. The speed limit in Pennsylvania school zones is 15 miles per hour. Unfortunately, enrolling in a defensive driving course will not reduce points on your Pennsylvania driving record. But, in order to properly pace a vehicle, the officer must take certain steps. Considering the costs, hiring a lawyer is likely worth the money if your ticket is particularly expensive or could result in the loss of your license. Fighting traffic tickets in Pennsylvania is a procedure that can be initiated by submitting a "not guilty" plea to the court that is processing your citation. This will give you more time to build your case. "Pacing" is a method often used by officers to determine whether a driver is speeding. Plan your questions. When paying online, enter all required information and use your credit or debit card to pay the fine and additional charges, such as transaction fees. There are three main types of devices that officers may use in order to determine a person's speed: Radar, VASCAR/ENRADD, and the officer's speedometer. You have the right to remain silent. You may think that your only option once you have received a speeding ticket is to pay the fine, watch your insurance rates rise, and accept the addition of points from PennDOT. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Gather information to help successfully dispute the speeding ticket. You can question the issuing officer, including about his or her memory and training with speed-clocking equipment. Check the violation and fines, and make certain that your name, address, vehicle information and license number are all correct. If you end up going to trial before a judge, you can expect the process to follow this general outline: If you'd like to pursue your case after a guilty verdict and sentencing, you can file an appeal with the PA Court of Common Pleas with the county court where you received your citation. In addition to the financial costs of a traffic ticket, you also need to consider the points assessed. Do not sell or share my personal information. For example, you could prove you were driving the proper speed or the radar reading was inaccurate. To do so, the prosecutor will usually call up the officer who issued your citation and ask him a series of questions in an attempt to establish his reliability. There is another choiceyou can go to court and fight the ticket with the help of the best Pittsburgh Criminal Defense Attorney. Looking for a lawyer to handle your traffic speeding ticket? You can also get the ticket dismissed by proving a factual error. Check the ticket to find out whether a state, county or local officer issued it and search online for traffic procedures in that jurisdiction. Why You Should Fight A Speeding Ticket Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Your sentence could include any of the following: NOTE: According the federal law, all commercial drivers MUST notify their employer of traffic charges within 30 days of conviction. Handle this PROMPTLY as your court may only accept continuances submitted within a specific time frame. Do not say something like, "I wasn't speeding. You can then choose to fight the ticket in court, negotiate a lesser penalty or pay the speeding ticket and accept the ding to your driving record and the higher insurance premiums likely to. You can pay: Online. Hawaii Comparing auto insurance rates after speeding tickets. Knowing the code well, and having good witnesses and diagrams of the crime scene, can help you win your case this way. Instruction manuals include maintenance schedules you can question the officer about, and they may note radar gun weaknesses, for example. Fight Your PA Traffic Ticket in Court The steps to fighting your Pennsylvania traffic ticket can differ from court to court, though generally, the process consists of the following: Pre-trial conference. Nobody wants to get a speeding ticket, and for good reason. If you dont attend the hearing, your license will automatically be suspended for 60 days. Mitigation is making a deal with the prosecutor and court; it saves the jurisdiction money by avoiding a hearing while lowering your penalty for the ticket. By mail Fill out the Hearing Request Form attached to your Notice of Violation and mail to: Red Light Camera Program P.O. You want to see how much a conviction would affect your insurance premiums and whether the raise would be more or less than it would be if you simply accepted responsibility and paid the fine. Show respect in your actions and words. Here are five key ways: 1. Legal Help for Moving Violations, Parking and Traffic Tickets - Speeding Tickets: 1/2 mile from my house I was clocked (Robic stopwatch) doing 49.1 MPH in a 35 zone (3.37 sec over Speeding Ticket Information (Stopwatch) - Pennsylvania Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. You should also expect to pay: At Berman Law, our traffic attorneys can help you review your ticket and add up all the costs associated with your speeding or traffic violation, so you can decide whether you want to contest the ticket. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. You can view a breakdown of Pennsylvania's traffic fines, updated in 2014, on the Traffic Injury Prevention Project website. Pull over as soon as you see the officer's lights and there is a safe spot to do so. This is an important right to be aware of. Stick to questions with short answers and avoid asking why questions. How Many Points Is a 10 MPH Over Speeding Ticket? CALL NOW: 800-874-8583; Choose Your State. Outcomes may include: You pay all or some of the ticket, but it doesnt affect your driving record. You need an experienced defense attorney on your side to review the ticket, your driving history, and any defenses available to you. However, that isnt the only cost youll be assessed. A lack of prosecution witness is an easy way to get a ticket dismissed. The officer who issued the ticket is also asked to appear in court. If you are considering fighting your speeding ticket, we have listed some strategies that might come handy: Show Up & Get Lucky As weird as it might seem, if you show up in the court as decided and the issuing officer doesn't, you'll automatically win without having to do anything at all. You could mail a copy of the citation to the courthouse, along with a request for a trial date. Credit card payment by telephone by calling 800-390-7151. Credit card payment online by clicking on the "Pay or Contest Violation" button below. How to beat a speeding ticket. After a ticket, your car insurance rates can rise by hundreds of dollars per year. We know the law. Therefore, you will incur the cost of the speeding ticket, and the PA Department of Transportation may add points to your driving record. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. As soon as you've entered your plea, begin preparing for trial. You have the right to a court trial with a judge. You can fight your traffic ticket by scheduling a court hearing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Providing evidence, testimony and if appropriate, witnesses, The opportunity to be represented by an attorney, Testimony by the officer who issued the ticket, Cross-examination of the officer by your attorney, Losing the opportunity to plead outright to lower charges, Listens to testimony from the officer citing you as well as your own testimony (Here is where your attorney can be helpful and speak on your behalf). Thankfully, there are successful ways to fight a speeding ticket. You can call in witnesses, including any passengers in the car when the ticket was issued. } Then, those points drop off: 3 points for each 12 months you have a clean driving record. Our partners compensate us. Dispute Your Band C Speeding Fine Without a Lawyer and Win. Once you get a red light camera ticket, you first need to check the instructions on the violation. Traffic attorney explains 20 ways to defend yourself if you have a speeding ticket. saving any demerit points. Instruction manuals include maintenance schedules you can question the officer about, and they may note radar gun weaknesses, for example. You have the right to cross-examine anyone who testifies against you, which usually means the officer who wrote the citation. You're only asking questions. Pleading guilty means you're accepting the ticket and paying the resulting fines, which will raise your insurance premiums. Upload a photo of your speeding ticket. If you have been stopped for speeding on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, freeways, highways, or country roads, you might be wondering what to expect, how to contest the ticket, and how much you might have to pay. If it is at night, turn on your interior lights Then place your hands on the top of your steering wheel palms up, facing your face. Take note of any weather conditions, such as rainfall or clouds, that could obscure the officer's judgment. Passing this class removes 2 points from your record. Subscribe to stay in the loop & on the road! Heres what to know about your options. How much can I save by refinancing my car? You will need to post collateral with the court, usually the cost of the ticket plus court costs or request a waiver of reduction. If you opt to represent yourself, you'll need to have some familiarity with the procedures of Pennsylvania traffic court before fighting your ticket. In a 65 or 70 mph zone, you'll pay $52.50 for driving 10 mph above the speed limit and $102.50 for driving 35 mph above. Instead, give a noncommittal answer like, "I'm not really sure.". Pleading "Guilty with explanation" means you admit to speeding but want to the court to take certain circumstances into consideration, which may result in your insurance premiums staying the same. A traffic lawyer costs between $250 and $350 on average nationally, according to Thumbtack, an online marketplace for service professionals. like I stated 20-25 is usually my average speed when traversing this short road (unless there are actually crossing guards telling me to stop, and kids are actually present, in which case I will slow and/or stop.) Call your DMV or licensing agency to see if your state has a similar program. We offer a quick and easy solution to help you win against unfair speeding tickets without the stress of a court appearance. Delay the hearing. Contact the Pennsylvania traffic court in the county where you received your citation for more specific information on how to enter your plea of not guilty. Disputing a speeding ticket on your own requires a lot of time to gather information to increase your chances of winning in court, taking time off work to attend the court hearing, and the hassle of arguing your innocence on the matter. That's it! Sit back and relax while we do the work. However, with proof of PA traffic school or defensive driving course completion, you may still be eligible for discounted car insurance rates. Your driver's license could be canceled, no matter how good your . Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania | Ticket Counsel Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania Fines and Fees Speeding 1-10 miles over: 2 - 4 points / $85 - $170 Speeding 11 - 15 miles over: 3 - 5 points / $115 - $235 Speeding 16 - 24 miles over: 4 - 6 points / $135 - $306 Speeding 25 - 35 miles over: 5 - 7 points / $160 - $380 How Long Do You Have to Pay a Speeding Ticket? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); jQuery(document).on(click, .wpcf7-submit, function(e){ Check the PAePay website to see if the traffic court your ticket was assigned to accepts online payments, as it varies by county. From raising your insurance ratesto staying on your driving recordfor an extended amount of time, getting a PA speeding ticket can cause you more of a headache than just a one-time fine and getting points added to your PA driving record. If you are facing an aircraft speeding ticket in the Columbus area, talk to one of our Columbus speeding ticket attorneys about your potential defenses and options. Super Speeder Fee: Additional charge of $200 if you're caught going at least 85 miles per hour or at least 75 miles per hour on a two-lane roadway. But you do have an option you can fight your speeding ticket. Its possible to lessen the impact of a speeding ticket or erase it, though doing so may be difficult. Remember, you're not making any arguments during cross-examination. MORE: How much can I save by refinancing my car? Always check with your insurance before fighting a ticket. If you have received a Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania, read more about the actions you can take to eliminate your speeding ticket. When the officer asks you, "Do you know why I stopped you? You want him to like you. delaying or reducing the impact on insurance. However to beat a radar speeding ticket, you must understand how the radar works. Know when to fight The time to fight that traffic ticket isn't when the officer is writing you up. Your best chances to win the argument will be if you have physical proof you werent speeding. Assigning Editor | Auto insurance, home insurance, other insurance. Its likely youre reading this because youve already gotten a speeding ticket, so file away these tips in case it happens again: Ask which method the officer used to determine you were speeding and write it down afterward. To avoid paying an exorbitant amount upfront and over time for a speeding ticket in PA, you can always fight the ticket in court. Considering the officer probably has other cases, there's a good chance he's too busy to come to court or just can't make it. Provide us with some details on why you believe the citation issued is a mistake. If you have any passenger's, take note of their names and make sure they stay silent during the exchange. Alabama; Alaska; . 2. Read more. Note that paying your speeding ticket in PA is considered an admission of guilt. A typical plea agreement would be to reduce a 5 speeding ticket to 4 points; from 4 points down to 2 points, and so on. So how do we make money? We are good at it. HOW THE POLICE CATCH YOU SPEEDING. Successfully overturning 200,000 tickets, DoNotPay understands the steps to make traffic tickets go away without paying ridiculous fees. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539, NMLS Consumer Access|Licenses and Disclosures, California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812, Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no. You can call in witnesses, including any passengers in the car when the ticket was issued. When the officer asks for your license and registration, politely explain where these documents are and ask permission to reach for them. After you pass, or serve your suspension, two points will be taken off your record. If you do end up accepting the speeding ticket, its crucial to compare car insurance quotes; some companies will raise your rates more than others. If ANY of the rules below are not followed, a driver will have a solid case against the speeding ticket. This will help you look like a credible witness in court. You will need to attend a mandatory departmental hearing. You'll receive an appeal letter that contains state vehicle codes to boost your case. Provide us with some details on why you believe the citation issued is a mistake. As the officer is exiting his car, roll down the driver's side window. 9 Best Car Insurance Companies of March 2023, The Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision Coverage, Get more smart money moves straight to your inbox. Whatever you do, dont ignore the ticket. Fighting a Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania The penalties for a speeding ticket can include fines, points on your record, and a suspended license. In most cases, pa tickets points reduction will end up with you getting between 2 to 5 points. If caught speedingwhile driving through Pennsylvania, you can expect to pay a hefty fine. When Will a Speeding Ticket Show Up on Insurance? As a writer, her work was featured in The Associated Press, The Motley Fool and U.S. News & World Report. 1999 - 2023 DMV.ORG. In some cases, you may be able to look up your traffic ticket online. We can negotiate on your behalf, reducing or even eliminating the fines and points you will be assessed. I'm a school teacher in PA and was just pulled over Friday morning for going 25 in an "active school zone" (15 mph). Overall, your strategy to beat a photo radar ticket looks like this: Avoid being served, do not respond for four months. On the other side, note your possible comments and questions to raise during cross-examination. Research speed equipment. The steps to fighting your Pennsylvania traffic ticket can differ from court to court, though generally, the process consists of the following: Consider hiring a traffic ticket lawyer PRIOR to your court appearance(s). If convicted of aggravated assault by vehicle in an active construction zone, drivers can receive up to 2 additional years of jail term. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Show up at court for the hearing date printed on your speeding ticket. If you receive a speeding ticket, the fine amount will be printed right on it. 4) Tell them who the actual driver was. Continue to get speeding tickets and the suspensions will keep adding up. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. For example, the fine for speeding is $120-$200, and the fine for careless driving is $400-$2000. When your driving privileges are on the line, it isnt just a speeding ticket. It is merely an acknowledgment that you received the citation and understand you're receiving a speeding ticket. Remember, this is not an admission of guilt. Former police officer gives you the secrets to getting a s. On this morning there were no kids along the sidewalks, none crossing the street (the patrol wasn't even in the road telling traffic to stop), and no buses had their red stop lights flashing. Make sure you choose a firm who has experience fighting traffic tickets in Pennsylvania. If he refuses, ask him to note the request. Call 610-565-9696 or contact us online to speak with an attorney today. You do have a right to an attorney but, as previously discussed, this is probably not necessary when fighting a speeding ticket. Melanie Horowitz has skilled attorney that can help you in handling your traffic citations related issues in . This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Incorrect Details on Your Ticket Before you do anything else, take a close look at the citation you were given by the officer. The first step to prepping for your defense is to make a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Her work has been featured by USA Today, U.S. News and World Report and The Associated Press. Thank you for your time. If you were speeding due to an emergency, consider pleading "Guilty with explanation," which may prevent your insurance premiums from going up. If you plead guilty, over the next six years you may end up paying close to $2500 extra, you'll be getting that much closer to . To do this, you must send a written request to the court noted on your ticket to request a hearing, and then showing up on the assigned court date. You can then choose to fight the ticket in court, negotiate a lesser penalty or pay the speeding ticket and accept the ding to your driving record and the higher insurance premiums likely to result. How Do I Fight a Red Light Camera Ticket in Pennsylvania? That lawyer can help you review your driving record, the ticket, and the potential consequences to decide if it is worth your time, money, and effort to contest the ticket. Violation payment can be made in several manners: Through mail by check, money order, or credit card by detaching the payment coupon enclosed with the violation and mailing payment for the amount due. plead guilty with an explanation. Make witness arrangements. If you are found guilty, you will also have to pay the penalties and fines. How Much Will a Speeding Ticket Raise My Insurance Premium? Depending on the practices of the presiding court, you may be able to submit your plea and schedule a trial date via various methods. You have the right to subpoena witnesses or documents. The vast majority of speeding tickets are resolved via plea agreement. If all this sounds like more than youd want to handle on your own, you can enlist a traffic lawyer to help you. Experienced Legal Advice When The Future Is At Stake. If the judge rules against you, you can appeal the case to a higher court. If there are any discrepancies in the nature of the violation, you can dispute the ticket within 30 days. 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