Nobody likes getting a traffic ticket. From the minute you see the lights in your rear view mirror, you know it’s bad news and it’s going to cost you money. With the rising costs of fines in California traffic courts, your ticket can easily cost you over $1000.  So without further delay, here are the top 5 best ways to save money in traffic court from California traffic lawyer Mark A. Gallagher.
1-Correctable violations.  Under CVC 40610 certain violations are deemed correctable and these violations will be dismissed for $25 upon proof of correction.  Always make corrections when possible. Even if a violation is not marked as correctable on your citation or under the code, Judges will often allow for dismissal when proof of correction is provided in court.
2-Officer no shows.  In many situations it’s a good idea to set your traffic ticket for trial. If the officer fails to appear on trial date all charges will be dismissed and you will not owe a penny.  If you aren’t sure if it’s a good idea to fight your ticket or not, email me at attorneygallagher@gmail.com for a free consultation.
3-Plea bargains.  This one varies greatly from court to court. Some traffic judges love to play “let’s make a deal”, other judges are more by the book.  To know the score before you appear on your ticket, talk to a local traffic lawyer with experience dealing with the Judge in question. If your case is any where in Southern California, I’m happy to give you the low down, just call me at 800-797-8406 or email.
4-Avoid points for moving violations.  Points are the true hidden cost in traffic court. Too many people make the mistake of focusing on the dollar amount or fine total instead of paying attention to the points that are assigned to your driving record from the result of traffic court. Once these points are reported to the DMV, your insurance rates will skyrocket.  To avoid this nightmare scenario, you should always fight moving violations at trial, seek an amendment in a plea deal, or attend traffic school if you are eligible.
5-Ask the Judge! This one sounds obvious but it’s worth mentioning. Every day I watch hundreds of people appear in traffic court on their tickets. People always want to give the judge “their story” about why they need a fine reduction, or why they didn’t deserve the ticket, or why the officer was unfair, etc. Trust me when I say that the Judge does not want to hear your story. Number one, the Judge hears lies all day so he or she is unlikely to believe your story. Number two, the time and place for presenting “your story” is at the trial when the officer is present to testify as well. So when you try to get into the details at your arraignment, the Judge is almost always going to tune out, and then cut you off.  If you would like your fines reduced, simply ask the Judge to reduce your fines. Do not give your story, just ask for the reduction. Be direct but polite. “Your Honor, can you reduce the fine for this ticket?” is way more effective than any explanation you could ever give the Judge.
