California Traffic Tickets Guide
Traffic citations are always a possibility each time you get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Some moving violations are avoidable, many are not. It is possible to get a speeding ticket, for example, quite unintentionally. It only takes a moment of inattention in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you cannot beat traffic ticket citation at the point of infraction, you will have to fight traffic ticket in court.
It is possible to dismiss traffic ticket violations in court, but you have to be fighting traffic ticket in front of a judge. Professional legal representation is highly recommended. Radar tickets are relatively easy to beat traffic tickets as are red light tickets based on camera evidence, however, it requires knowledge regarding the laws of evidence. Machinery and technology are both subject to effective legal attacks by the defense. Knowing how and what to attack is the trick. Only a good lawyer has a decent chance to beat traffic ticket of this type.
In the case of visual observation of the infraction by the law enforcement officer issuing the red light ticket or speeding ticket or timed aerial observation, fighting the traffic ticket requires an entirely different defense and is much harder to do. Usually, the only viable defense is going to be established by legal precedent. Without specifically trained legal consul, it is unlikely you will prevail in front of a judge. This particular type of moving violation is one of the most difficult to defend traffic citations.
DUI DWI tickets are very problematic, especially if you have been drinking prior to driving. This is a non-trivial violation and can cost thousands of dollars in fines, loss of license, loss of insurance or substantial rate increases for premiums, loss of job or security clearance on top of the cost of an adequate legal defense by an attorney in court. You will have to fight traffic ticket penalties as well as incidental defense for other aspects of the case. Fighting traffic tickets effectively is best handled with superior legal representation by an attorney.
Hit and run tickets – especially if they are felony hit and run with injury or collateral property damage – are extremely difficult to defend, as they involve a conscious choice to leave the scene of an accident. You are not going to get off easily, if at all. Your only recourse is a qualified accident defense attorney. You can count on the other side having a lawyer prosecuting their case. If accidental death is involved, it may be the state bringing criminal charges. If it is a civil case, then you are going to be facing a potential lawsuit.
Reckless driving is usually a matter of the subjective opinion of the law enforcement officer issuing the citation. It is both the easiest and hardest to beat traffic ticket. As a number of possible violations are encompassed under this general term, it is your best decision to retain adequate professional representation in court. In essence, it is your word against the officer's word, and the court is far more likely to go with the officer's account of events unless there is an egregious error on the officer's part. This defense is extremely difficult and you should be represented in court by a qualified lawyer.
Fighting traffic tickets of any kinds cannot be done effectively without the guidance and knowledge or an experienced traffic ticket attorney.