Speed limits exist for public safety, but they can seem like an arbitrary and unfair constraint on personal liberty. Quite a few drivers routinely exceed the speed limit. Especially when they are familiar with local roads or running late, they may drive faster than the law permits.
Motorists often become acclimated to speeding and exceed the speed limit without a second thought. They may trust in their own ability to maintain control of the vehicle and hope to avoid detection by law enforcement professionals.
Most people who speed do so without consequence. However, some drivers cross paths with police officers and end up receiving traffic citations. They then have to pay a costly ticket and might be at risk of secondary consequences.
How can drivers in Hawaii avoid the consequences of a speeding citation?
Drivers can defend against citations
Many people pay their tickets without considering the possible consequences of doing so. Anyone accused of breaking the law has the option of fighting the allegations that they face in court. Drivers issued citations by police officers can take the matter to court if they insist that the officer made a mistake.
Paying a citation is the equivalent of pleading guilty, and drivers can choose not to do so. They can secure legal representation and fight the ticket in court. The defense that they mount depends on the circumstances at the time of their traffic stop and their driving record. It may be easier for those without any other recent citations on their record to defend against a speeding ticket than a driver who has multiple prior citations on their record.
Factors ranging from inaccurate speed readings because of poorly-maintained police equipment to emergency circumstances that justify exceeding the speed limit could play a role in a driver’s defense strategy. Those who partner with an attorney familiar with fighting traffic citations may have the best chances of prevailing when they try to fight a speeding ticket.
Sitting down to discuss a traffic stop and state statutes with a skilled legal team can help motorists choose how they want to respond to a recent speeding ticket. Drivers who get the right support can sometimes avoid fines, increased insurance rates and other common consequences triggered by traffic citations.