10 Tips To Beating a Ticket in GA

10 Tips To Beating a Ticket in GA

Georgia is tough on drivers.  If you are stopped for any type of offense, there are things you can do to mitigate your chances of getting a ticket or being arrested or both.  Here is a list of things you can do to help if you get pulled over.

1. Don’t be a jerk to the police officer. Show your driver’s license and other paperwork without giving the officer a hassle. He’s more likely to give you a warning.
2. Request a Court Date. On your ticket, you can pay or you can choose to go to court. While you may be tempted to simply choose to pay, that is a guilty plea. Do not do this.
3. Consider Your Driving Record. If you have a clean driving record, you are more likely to succeed.
4. If you get the ticket and go to court, be sure to get to Court ON TIME. This is critical. You want to be there and be ready when your case is called the first time.
5. Silence Your Cell Phone. Another practical, common sense thing but everyone seems to forget this one. It bears repeating. Silence it, or turn it off if you need to do so.
6. Guilty or Not Guilty – When the judge asks which way you plead, he isn’t looking for a story. He doesn’t want any excuses.  He needs only the answer to that question so he knows if he needs to sentence you immediately (fines, etc) or whether to have your case heard.
7. Is the Witness There? Often the police officer is the only witness against you. If he is not there, you have a much better chance of the case being dismissed. However, do not ask this when the judge asks whether you plead guilty or not guilty. This is likely to annoy the judge or alert someone to go find the officer. This is one of the big reasons that having a lawyer with you matters. He can find out about the police officer quickly and do it where it’s less likely to cause an issue.
8. Does the cop remember you? Back in the first point, I suggested not being a jerk to the officer. Not only does this help overall but here is where it really plays out. If you were just an average person, another ticket on the street, he is likely to have forgotten you, which plays in your favor. Another reason to have a lawyer at this point is that he will know exactly how to determine this by asking the right questions.
9. Can a Motion Be Made for Dismissal? Sometimes there are issues with the ticket itself, or even the process. An experienced traffic lawyer can point these out.
10. Don’t Wait to Get a Lawyer. Having a lawyer on your side is money well spent when protecting your driving record. If you feel you want to fight the ticket but aren’t sure about any part of the process, seek out an experienced lawyer who can give you a free review.