Avoid traffic tickets: a few tips you should keep in mind.
Traffic stops are inconvenient at the least and unnerving at worst. It gets worse when the officer tells you about your outstanding warrant while he puts the cuffs on you. Now you remember you should have paid ticket you meant to take care of but just couldn’t find the time. Ooops!
People don’t realize that judges can issue warrants to arrest them if they don’t appear in court. You can get arrested if you don’t appear in court on a minor traffic violation.
THE FOLLOWING ARE A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID TRAFFIC TICKETS.
- Always be polite and respectful. You can’t avoid traffic tickets by being a jerk.
- Don’t begin by asking the cop why he stopped you. He will likely ask you if know why he stopped you. The best answer if he does ask is “I don’t know.”
- Try not to argue the about why he stopped you. Argue the reason for the stop in court.
- You will never avoid traffic tickets by arguing with the officer.
- Just say, “sorry I didn’t realize I was speeding.” you are not admitting guilt and not disagreeing with him.
- Provide your license and insurance. You can and will get a ticket if you don’t provide this information.
- Don’t drive on a suspended or expired license. You can get arrested for this. So being nice helps. The officer can let you off with a warning and a promise by you to get it fixed ASAP. Arresting someone for a suspended license is a pain for the cops. It’s a ton of paperwork. Don’t argue with him. this will give him a reason to go the extra mile and arrest you.
- Get out of your card If he asks you to. Cops do this for their own safety to keep you from grabbing a gun from your car and shooting them. Cops, especially of late, worry about this possibility.
- If you do get a ticket, sign it. It is only a notice to appear in court at a later date. Your signature serves to prove you are aware of the court date and nothing more. Not signing it can get you arrested. If you refuse to sign, the traffic stop becomes a real nightmare.
- Finally, being polite and respectful might get you out of the stop with only a warning. A warning means nothing. No court, no fine, nothing. Thank your lucky stars you did not get a ticket and get on with your daily business.
Final thoughts on how to avoid traffic tickets.
You can also avoid traffic tickets stop by being nice, polite and respectful, even if the officer is not. Likewise, it never helps to argue with the cop. Just because he is a jerk, doesn’t mean you have respond in kind.
But arguing and complaining will get you a traffic. The officer will make a written note that you were a jerk at your traffic stop. Thus when he goes to court, he will remember you and go out of his way to get you convicted of your speeding ticket.
Also traffic stops can be a minor inconvenience or a real pain. Being nice can you get back to your day within minutes without a ticket. But being a jerk, can get you a traffic ticket. Thus being nice can put on your way with citation in hand and an order to appear in court later. This of course will lead to more inconvenience. But a good traffic ticket attorney can help you out. And you can avoid a conviction on your driving and insurance record.
Being stopped for a traffic violation is inconvenient. But wait until you get to traffic court in downtown Houston. At 8:00 a.m.. The court bailiff usually prepares everyone with “expect to be here most of the day.” And of course the officer you argued with will give you a polite smile as he walks by and recognizes you.
It’s your choice. This is by no means a guarantee to avoid traffic tickets. But it’s one of the best ways I know of and it has worked for me..
HAPPY DRIVING
By Andrew Williams, board certified criminal defense lawyer.
