You can obtain a subpoena at the Court Registry to compel your witnesses to come to court or provide them with a document to show their employer. If you want the justice to consider photos, please print them to give to the court.
Three copies are ideal, but one copy will do. You should show the photos to the police officer when you question them during their testimony. Ask them questions to identify what the photos show and bring out the evidence they depict.
The police officer may do this as well about the strength of their case or the weaknesses in your case. The decision Usually, the justice will make a decision immediately after you have you have summarized the case. If the police officer has proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt, you will be found guilty. If not, you will be found not guilty. Penalties If you are found not guilty that is the end of the matter and no fine or penalty points will be imposed.
If you are found guilty, the justice will then decide on the appropriate penalty. For many offences the justice can impose a fine lower than the one shown on your ticket.
Explain why the circumstances of the traffic offence and your circumstances justify a lower fine. See too How do I dispute a ticket and prepare for a Traffic Court hearing?
This article provides general information only and should not be used as authority in court proceedings or as a substitute for legal advice. Skip to main content. What can I expect at a Traffic Court Hearing? Posted to:. They are set by regulations.
In most situations, drivers pay the ticket and are happy to be done with the ordeal. Hopefully, that speeding ticket is your first offense and an online defensive driving course can lower or forgive your fines. Procedures for traffic court are fairly routine. You will go before a judge who will hear the arguments for the case. This is not a closed proceeding. Others will be there as an audience waiting for their cases to be heard.
Luckily the trials happen very quickly. The rundown below will give you a good idea of what to expect from the moment you arrive:. The clerk will call your name, usually saying "The State vs. Your Name " or "The People vs. Your Name ". Present your case stating the facts and any evidence you have to support your statements. However, most traffic court tickets, from speeding to jaywalking, are standard procedures that many drivers can handle on their own.
Sometimes you can give yourself an edge in the courtroom by simply knowing how to act once you get there. Follow these tips for traffic court to maximize your chances of getting a speeding ticket dropped. First impressions are everything. What you wear also sends a message about your professionalism and that you take the matter seriously. When you select an outfit for court keep these things in mind. Wearing your Sunday best is a way to show respect to the judge and make a good first impression.
That means as clean-cut as possible with wrinkle-free clothing. For example, for a stop sign ticket , a driver might want to present a photo to the court showing the sign was obscured by tree branches.
Or, if a driver was cited for a basic speed law violation unsafe speed , he or she might want to testify that road and weather conditions were good at the time of the alleged violation. Some judges might allow for closing arguments.
But, typically, traffic court judges announce the verdict—find the defendant guilty or not guilty—once the parties are done presenting evidence. In most cases, judges state the amount of the fine immediately after announcing a guilty verdict. In some states, a driver might still be able to do traffic school even after being convicted at trial. For drivers who are interested in this option, it probably wouldn't hurt to ask the judge. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site.
The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Grow Your Legal Practice. Meet the Editors. What Happens in Traffic Court? Traffic Court Is Different Than Criminal Court Although minor traffic infractions are technically considered crimes in most states, they usually aren't handled in criminal courtrooms.
How Traffic Trials Get Started On any given day in traffic court, there are usually quite a few cases scheduled for trial. The Government's Evidence In most traffic cases, the government's evidence consists of only the testimony of the officer who gave the ticket.
The Driver's Chance to Present Evidence Once the government has presented all of its evidence, the driver has a chance to present evidence. And the Verdict Is Talk to a Lawyer Need a lawyer?
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