Thursday, August 2, 2007

How To Read A Speeding Ticket

A speeding ticket is one thing that almost anyone would like to avoid, but there are always consequences whenever a law is broken. Even though some feel they need to speed in order to get to work on time or to pick a child up from school, speed limits are set for the safety of all drivers and they must be abided by. Driving only one mile over the posted speed limit is against the law, but most cops will usually be lenient and only issue a ticket if the driver is at least five miles over. The consequence for speeding is a ticket, which normally involves a negative mark on your driving record and a pretty expensive fine.

A speeding ticket may just seem like a headache to some, but it contains a great amount of important information that should not be looked over. It is a citation presented by a police officer, which by law has authority over lawbreakers. The police officer will include information about the defendant, all of which is included on a valid drivers license. Additional citations will be issued to drivers without a valid drivers license. It is important to make sure the officer has copied down all correct information on the ticket, in case any court documents need to be mailed to you. Information about the car will also be noted, which is necessary in case the car needs to be identified for any reason. The color, make, model, year, and license plate number will be recorded, along with the registration information that is required in most states.

The police officers also must record information about the violation that occurred, including information about the location and offense. The cop will note why the citation is being issued, and how many miles over the speed limit the defendant was driving. The location that the defendant was caught speeding will also be noted, since locations near schools or areas with construction sometimes come with higher consequences. The time of the incident will be noted, along with the speed limit of the area. All of this information is crucial to bring to court, because even when a citation is issued some drivers try to fight it.

The most important information included on the speeding ticket is the information about what to do next. Most states will require that a fee be paid for each speeding ticket, and the amount should be enclosed in documents sent through the mail. Defendants may also choose to appear in court and pay the fine prior to receiving the court documents, but it must be done before a certain time set out by the court. The ticket will contain the timelines set out for the procedures the defendant must follow, and also information about who to contact about any questions or concerns.

The bottom of the ticket is a very important part to not look over, because it requires a signature that creates a legal document. You are required to sign each speeding ticket that you are issued, even if you feel that you did not break any laws. Signing the ticket does not mean that you are admitting guilt to the violation that you are being charged for, but that you are promising to abide by the procedures set out on the ticket. Failing to appear in court or pay fines will result in further punishment. The police officer is also require to sign the ticket, in order to certify that he or she properly explained the reason of the citation and also provided a copy of the ticket to the defendant.

A speeding ticket contains a great amount of information, and should not be passed off as just another piece of paper. It contains crucial information about your rights as an American, as well as obligations that you have to your country. If you are issued a speeding ticket, make sure you read the entire ticket over to prevent any further consequences.

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