Four Arguments Against Traffic Ticket Offenses That Almost Never Work

Even the most uncreative people have been known to get very, very creative when they decide to try fighting a traffic ticket in court. Some of these defenses have, surprisingly, been very successful. Others have failed on an epic level, and have only resulted in wasted time, money, and energy on the driver’s part. So if you find yourself with a traffic ticket and you’re wondering if it’s possible to beat your ticket in court — here are a few defenses that probably won’t work, even just a little bit:

1. “But everyone else was going that speed!” It doesn’t matter if every single car on the road is going 20 MPH over the speed limit; if you’re going 20 MPH over the limit too, and a cop pulls you over, you’re probably going to get ticketed. People who try to beat speeding tickets with this defense are usually very unsuccessful.
   

2. “At least I didn’t hurt anyone…” It kind of goes without saying that traffic laws are in place to prevent injuries, and if they’re only enforced after someone gets hurt, then they aren’t effective at all. This defense also neglects to address possible property damage, and even bodily harm that you could have inflicted upon yourself by driving recklessly.
   

3. “Sorry, I don’t live in this state and didn’t know that was the law.” As a driver, you have the responsibility of knowing the traffic laws in whatever state you’re driving in. Traffic violations and their subsequent consequences are determined by law, regardless of where you live or where you got your license. Drivers often find themselves committing misdemeanor traffic offenses, like speeding or turning right on red, when they’re driving in a state and don’t know the laws.
   

4. “The police officer was definitely picking on me.” While it’s possible to turn a traffic violations case into a race/gender/disability discrimination case, that situation is very rare and is usually only possible under advisement of an experienced attorney. More often, the court will hear this defense as “I’m blaming the person who got me in trouble,” and the judge won’t buy it.
   

When it comes to traffic violations, creativity and determination is often rewarded — but it’s often completely ignored, too. There’s a fine line between the two situations, and if you’re having trouble finding it, consulting a legal expert is always the best choice.
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