If you’ve been pulled over and ticketed, you may think you have no choice but to pay the fine, or that it’s better to just pay and move on. But that’s not always the case—you may have solid grounds for defending yourself against a traffic ticket.
If you plead guilty right away, you are likely to face a harsher set of penalties. These can include fines, license suspension, community service, mandatory driving courses, and even jail time. It is better to dispute the ticket instead with a go to traffic court by your side.
How to Dispute a Traffic Ticket in Colorado
Traffic tickets are issued for driving infractions and offenses. An infraction is a minor traffic violation whereas a traffic offense is more serious and carries stiffer penalties. Depending on the nature of the ticket, you may face a broad range of penalties. You can contest the traffic ticket with the help of a traffic ticket attorney.
If you pay for a traffic ticket, you are pleading guilty. If you want to dispute the citation, don’t pay the fines right away. You’ll need to instead choose to go to court and defend your case. Your traffic ticket contains the name and location of the court, as well as the date of arraignment. You must enter a plea for not guilty in person or by mail on the specified date.
Pre-Trial Conference and Final Hearing
The court mandates a pre-trial conference if your traffic ticket was due to a serious traffic offense. You and your traffic lawyer are required to attend this conference. Your lawyer contests the charges against you at the pre-trial conference, seeking reduced penalties.
If an agreement is reached, your penalties may be reduced in exchange for entering a guilty plea. If no agreement is reached, a final hearing is scheduled.
For minor offenses, the first hearing is considered the final hearing. The judge hears the arguments in your defense and then makes a decision.
Guilty or Not Guilty
Once you dispute a traffic ticket, it’s up to the court to decide whether you’re guilty. The good new is that you have an opportunity to defend yourself. Many traffic tickets are not issued fairly and the officer issuing the ticket may be at fault. You can make your voice heard in a courtroom after you enter a not guilty plea.
However, it is always advisable that you enter this plea and proceed with disputing the ticket after consulting with a qualified lawyer. A traffic ticket lawyer can help you prepare your defense arguments and prove your innocence. They can also negotiate for a dismissal or reduction of charges against you.
Seek Out a Traffic Ticket Lawyer in Denver
An experienced law firm can help you contest a traffic citation and seek reduced penalties. If you are found guilty, you may face higher insurance rates in addition to all the legal penalties. Legal help can strive to help you avoid these consequences.