Join 1,972,984 Americans who searched for Car Insurance Rates: In Pennsylvania, you must submit your plea of not guilty to the traffic court handling your case, within 10 days of receiving the traffic citation, if you wish to fight your ticket. What can we do for you? Whatever you do, dont ignore the ticket. like I stated 20-25 is usually my average speed when traversing this short road (unless there are actually crossing guards telling me to stop, and kids are actually present, in which case I will slow and/or stop.) It rarely pays to argue your case then. However, this can increase your insurance rates and put your license at risk, especially if you make money as a commercial driver. If you do end up accepting the speeding ticket, its crucial to compare car insurance quotes; some companies will raise your rates more than others. A speeding ticket can result in huge fines and an increase in your insurance premiums. All this said, can I counter argue this citation, especially given my status as a teacher? How much can I save by refinancing my car? Ask specifics. Fighting a Camera Speeding Ticket in Maryland Responding to a Photo Enforced Speeding Ticket Reasons to Challenge the Citation Avoid the $40 Fee and Fight the Charge Responding to a Photo Enforced Speeding Ticket Maryland drivers have three options for responding to a traffic ticket. How Much Will a Speeding Ticket Raise My Insurance Premium? Speeding in a highway work zone: $100 to $2000 and/or a maximum of 12 months jail time There may be additional fees depending on the judge. You should probably avoid testifying against yourself while fighting a speeding ticket as it is unnecessary and could make you look bad. Radar: ONLY State Troopers are permitted to use radar guns to clock a driver's speed. By mail Fill out the Hearing Request Form attached to your Notice of Violation and mail to: Red Light Camera Program P.O. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in PA When you receive a speeding ticket or traffic citation, you always have the option to pay the fine and accept the points. Based on your jurisdiction, your speeding offense may be considered an infraction, misdemeanor or felony. In other cases, fighting the ticket may be the best option. Go back to the scene of the citation. Fighting a Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania The penalties for a speeding ticket can include fines, points on your record, and a suspended license. If you choose to plead guilty to a speeding ticket in Pennsylvania, there are several ways to pay the fine within the deadline stated on your ticket. Your case will be given a trial date and assigned to a hearing officer or a judge depending on how severe the violation is and the possible penalties you could face. Other factors that can affect the total cost of your PA speeding ticket include: Besides fines being doubled in active construction and maintenance areas when workers are present, there are other consequences if drivers speed in work zones. Speeding in a school zone or exceeding a speed limit by 11 to 15 miles per hour. YesNo. The penalties that you face may include the cancellation of your driver's license. Traffic Citations, Speeding Ticket Attorney Plantation - Melanie E. Horowitz, PATraffic Citations, Speeding Ticket Attorney Plantation - Melanie E. Horowitz, PA Description. You take a driving course instead of paying the speeding ticket. If you have received a Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania, read more about the actions you can take to eliminate your speeding ticket. After a ticket, your car insurance rates can rise by hundreds of dollars per year. The far greater consideration is that your insurance costs will rise. dispute the ticket. If you have been stopped for speeding on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, freeways, highways, or country roads, you might be wondering what to expect, how to contest the ticket, and how much you might have to pay. In a 65 or 70 mph zone, you'll pay $52.50 for driving 10 mph above the speed limit and $102.50 for driving 35 mph above. If you choose to fight the ticket, you must notify the court of this decision. We offer a quick and easy solution to help you win against unfair speeding tickets without the stress of a court appearance. But for a civil complaint such as simple speeding - do not pay! Submit a request for certain public records. Many states have enacted legislation . Exceeding a speed limit by 16 to 25 miles per hour. That lawyer can help you review your driving record, the ticket, and the potential consequences to decide if it is worth your time, money, and effort to contest the ticket. Continue to get speeding tickets and the suspensions will keep adding up. Evidence could include dashcam video or GPS data from a smartphone app, or photographic evidence that a speed limit sign was obscured. This stretch of road is right around the corner of my house and I drive it every morning to work in another district, so I'm familiar with the protocols when children are crossing the street to the school on the other side. } You normally must appear in person to inform the court, although some are now allowing other options. Go to the Traffic Division's website at courts.phila.gov/traffic. $50 for speeding by 5-9 and $75 for speeding by 10-19). Whether you live in the PA city where you received the ticket or want to commute back to the area, pay for your speeding ticket in Pennsylvania in person by going to the court stated on your ticket. Check the PAePay website to see if the traffic court your ticket was assigned to accepts online payments, as it varies by county. The PA traffic court may also appoint you counsel if you meet the following criteria: At a pre-trial conference you (or your attorney) will meet with a Pennsylvania state prosecutor to try to work out a plea bargain. Your job is to present your case in order to prove you are innocent. saving any demerit points. You can receive points for more than one offense at the same traffic stop. Therefore, you will incur the cost of the speeding ticket, and the PA Department of Transportation may add points to your driving record. Nothing placed upon this website is intended to be relied upon as legal advice. If caught speedingwhile driving through Pennsylvania, you can expect to pay a hefty fine. How to Fight a Speeding Ticket If you get a speeding ticket, you may think your only course of action is to pay the fine, accept the points from PennDOT and watch your insurance rates go up. Stick to questions with short answers and avoid asking why questions. 4 ways to beat a speeding ticket. If the officer says he will get a search warrant, politely tell him to do so and continue to refuse a search. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Show Up To Court. Traffic Violations Providing evidence, testimony and if appropriate, witnesses The opportunity to be represented by an attorney Testimony by the officer who issued the ticket Cross-examination of the officer by your attorney Losing the opportunity to plead outright to lower charges You may also be required to pass an on-road drivers exam. Immediately after the officer gives you the written citation, make sure all the information is correct, including anything identifying you or describing your car. Be prepared to use this as your defense if the officer is not present on your court date. Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania | Ticket Counsel Speeding Ticket in Pennsylvania Fines and Fees Speeding 1-10 miles over: 2 - 4 points / $85 - $170 Speeding 11 - 15 miles over: 3 - 5 points / $115 - $235 Speeding 16 - 24 miles over: 4 - 6 points / $135 - $306 Speeding 25 - 35 miles over: 5 - 7 points / $160 - $380 Call a Traffic Ticket Attorney It makes sense to call someone who does this for a livingwhose job is to fight traffic violations for people like you. Outcomes may include: You pay all or some of the ticket, but it doesnt affect your driving record. Reviewing Your Ticket 1 Check your ticket for accuracy. To do so, alert the court within 10 days of receiving the notice that you are pleading not guilty. It is merely an acknowledgment that you received the citation and understand you're receiving a speeding ticket. Posting bail means you've already paid your fine, so if you lose your case there will be no additional fees. Because of this, you need to know EXACTLY what the officer used to measure your speed. return false; Write down the make, model, license plate and unit number of the officer's car. If you plan to fight the ticket, youll have to go to court, where a prosecutor will have to prove you were speeding. When Will a Speeding Ticket Show Up on Insurance? Pennsylvania police use a number or different methods to track vehicle speed and issue citations. 2. Provide us with some details on why you believe the citation issued is a mistake. About the author: Lacie Glover is an insurance editor and writer and a NerdWallet authority on insurance. have a meeting with the prosecutor. If you ask for a hearing, plan to make your case and be questioned before a judge. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. If you decide to fight the ticket in court. Where you have a strong defense, we can present your case to the magistrate or judge and demonstrate that the prosecutor cant prove you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In order to fight the traffic ticket, the driver must appear before a judge. Answering that you were speeding can be taken as an admission of guilt and sabotage your chances of successfully fighting the ticket. As a writer, her work was featured in The Associated Press, The Motley Fool and U.S. News & World Report. $25 fine for motorists not traveling with their headlights on in posted work zones. Before you try to fight a speeding ticket, check with your insurance to see how much your premiums will increase if you fight the ticket and lose since they might go up more than if you were to just plead guilty. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. You can also get the ticket dismissed by proving a factual error. Anything you say can be used against you if you go to court. Trial before a judge. If the officer clocks you at greater than 11 miles over the speed limit the ticket grows to $500. Plan your questions. If you are under 18 and get more than six points on your license or your Pennsylvania speeding ticket is 26 mph+ over, your PA drivers license will be suspended for 90 days and you'll be required to pass a written test and pay a reinstatement fee to PennDOT. Log-in to DoNotPay and find the Speeding Ticket product. If the officer, for example, does not remember it was raining and a Tuesday he might not look like a less reliable witness. If you are caught speeding there, you will receive a fine and three points are added to your driving record. OK92033) Property & Casualty Licenses, NerdWallet | 55 Hawthorne St. - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Our attorneys can be reached at (614) 361-2804. This article has been viewed 106,613 times. A plea bargain will require that you change your plea to guilty in exchange for reduced penalties. Persons who choose to dispute the ticket may need to make an appearance in court to enter this plea. Check the violation and fines, and make certain that your name, address, vehicle information and license number are all correct. In Pennsylvania, the fines are based on the exact speed at a price of $2 per mile per hour past five over the limit. Most speeding. Required fields are marked *. Credit card payment by telephone by calling 800-390-7151. Credit card payment online by clicking on the "Pay or Contest Violation" button below. In some areas, you must request mitigation in writing. How much trouble depends on your state: You could be arrested or have to pay larger fines, or your license could be suspended. If you decide to contest the ticket, it is a good idea to bring a speeding ticket defense lawyer with you to that hearing. The police officer will aim the radar at the target vehicle. Many speeding tickets result from the police officer following or "pacing" a suspected speeder and using his or her own speedometer to estimate the suspect's speed. Hire a Traffic Attorney. If the judge rules against you, you can appeal the case to a higher court. Besides paying the initial fee, after a ticket, your car insurance rates can rise by hundreds of dollars per year. Where you cannot win the ticket, delaying the conviction (the finding of guilt . On this morning there were no kids along the sidewalks, none crossing the street (the patrol wasn't even in the road telling traffic to stop), and no buses had their red stop lights flashing. Arguably, both are required to accurately testify to speed and identity of the correct vehicle. In-person at any local District Court or the. Over the phone by calling (800) 492-2656. How to Get a Judge to Dismiss a Speeding Ticket from Your Phone, Can You Dispute Chicago Speeding Tickets? Number two: If you get charged with a criminal offense such as reckless or negligent driving, DUI, vehicular homicide or hit-and-run, hire an attorney. I'm a school teacher in PA and was just pulled over Friday morning for going 25 in an "active school zone" (15 mph). Using DoNotPay is a simple way to avoid paying unfair speeding tickets and dealing with higher insurance rates for several years after getting convicted of speeding in Pennsylvania. Your best chances to win the argument will be if you have physical proof you werent speeding. Box 597 Baltimore, MD 21203-0597 Work Phone: By phone Here are the 16 top reasons cited for getting out of a speeding ticket, and their rates of success as determined by CarInsurance.com: I'm bringing home hot food and didn't want it to get cold (11% . Fighting a speeding ticket is about 3 goals: keeping your driving record clear. How a speeding ticket is classified depends on several factors. You do not want to pull over in an intersection or anywhere else you might obstruct traffic. Motorists can be cited for exceeding the speed limit by only one mph. Radio Detection And Ranging or radar as it is popularly known works by emitting radio waves. Missing or incorrect information on your ticket may be grounds for dismissal. The court handling the ticket should be included on the ticket. You can submit a discovery subpoena to the court to get certain documents that may help your case. The judge is the person overseeing the case, who has final authority on the rulings. 13. In other words, you do not have to testify against yourself. A speeding ticket costs anywhere from $50 up to $2,500 in some states in the severest cases. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. If convicted of failing to drive at a safe speed while driving 11+ mph above the posted speed limit or involved in a crash in an active work zone, you will automatically lose your license for 15 days. Do what the officer asks of you without arguing or getting defensive. In addition to the financial costs of a traffic ticket, you also need to consider the points assessed. Assigning Editor | Auto insurance, home insurance, other insurance. If the officer asks to search the vehicle, you have the right to refuse. From raising your insurance ratesto staying on your driving recordfor an extended amount of time, getting a PA speeding ticket can cause you more of a headache than just a one-time fine and getting points added to your PA driving record. You can also fight it or negotiate in court. The prosecution will strive to prove you're guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. So how do we make money? Winning the case will result in a refund of the collateral you have paid and protect your driving record. When you appear, the judge will; If you are found not guilty, you may still be responsible for the cost of the attorney and court costs. You could mail a copy of the citation to the courthouse, along with a request for a trial date. However, this can increase your insurance rates and put your license at risk, especially if you make money as a commercial driver. An Ohio appeals court issued an interesting decision the other day on the issue of pacing.
