It may be easiest to pay any tickets for speeding that you receive while driving but why pay if you do not have to? Here is what to expect if you decide to fight your speeding tickets in traffic court.

There are serious penalties for speeding. They are based on how many kilometers over the speed limit you were allegedly traveling at, from 0 demerit points under 15 kilometers over to 6 for being in excess of 50 kilometers over the speed limit.

You can also have your license suspended for excessive speeding.

The set fines for speeding are between about $3 and $10 per kilometer, depending on how fast you were traveling. If you are charged in a school safety or construction zone with workers, fines may be doubled. Any speeding conviction will stay on your driving record for 3 years.

The idea behind going to traffic court is to protect your license points and insurance rating, and get your fine reduced as much as possible or eliminated altogether.

When you begin the process of fighting a speeding ticket, you may be asked to schedule an appearance first in order to avoid a trial. Here you may be offered a fine reduction in lieu of going to trial. If you wish to skip this meeting, save yourself some time and bother and go right to a trial, make your initial request a firm one. Check the back of your ticket to determine how to schedule a trial. It may be that you can do this online or through the mail or you may have to appear in person.

You will usually have a limited numbers of days before you must file your intention to dispute the fine. And you must indicate whether or not you want to challenge the fining officer evidence. It should take 4 to 8 weeks before you receive your court date.

Write down notes as possible after receiving the ticket. Try to recall the incident in detail, what happened, what the officer said, your version of the events in question. Do it sooner rather than later because your memory will be more detailed.

You will receive the officer notes about the event in the form of disclosure after your request for a trial is processed. You are entitled to enough time to review disclosure thoroughly before going to trial. But you may have to file a request to receive disclosure. Is so, do it immediately after your trial date is set.

When disclosure arrives, review it and perhaps other pertinent regulations or documents. You may want to take advice at this point from a paralegal or any number of paralegal services. Make very sure you know your charge, understand it and the possible penalties before thinking through your defence. If you cannot think of a strong defence, prepare to plead guilty with an explanation.

Even if you enter a guilty plea, adding a well though out explanation may result in the prosecutor or judge lessening your fine. You can speak to the prosecutor ahead of your appearance on court day and request this.

Chances are though, if you have a legitimate reason why your fine should be reduced or eliminated, it likely will be. And that could be very much worth the time and effort.

Author Bio: Getting a Traffic Ticket in Ottawa on your driving record can have serious consequences. Find the right lawyers and former police officers to help fight this Traffic ticket Cambridge. X-Copper Legal Services Professional Corporation 939 Eglinton Ave East, Toronto, ON M4G 4E8 (416) 696-6677.

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