Most traffic courts don't require that you have an attorney present unless your traffic offence is an actual crime... If your offence is a crime, then you really should have an attorney with you. You don't want to wind up doing any time or loosing your drivers licence because your case wasn't presented correctly...

If your traffic offence isn't a crime, but a violation of the vehicle and traffic laws, you should still get an attorney, but you can in most cases represent yourself in a court of law..

90% of the time the police officer is rewarded with a conviction on your part but not always. If you have a good argument or a stong case, you could wind up with an equittal of your traffic offence..

Is it worth arguing about the circumstances of an emergency that force you to make a parking violation or jump a light? There are times when you feel that you are being stalked and have an urge to flee. How do you convince a judge or jury about such things?

Hi all,

Whats the Traffic / Ticketing situation like over in America?

im UK based here the Traffic wardnes are like Swarms of locusts and all try and catch you at every single opportunity,

I had a Ticket once well i got fined £60 which was like 11:30pm in the middle of the Night, I got wrongly ticketed apparently i was parked on a Restricted zone which i wasnt cos there was no Signs saying that and all

So i wrote a letter and complaint they rejected my appeal

You know what happened then?

They goes if you want to Appeal against the rejection you will have to take it up in court

basically i was left STUMPED!

ITs liek a dead end situation in the end i gave up and had to pay the £60 or else i would have had to go to court and contest this which to be honest i did not have the time..and you know what else they said? If your court appeal is rejected too you will have to pay around 5X the origianal Cost!

Quite pathetic if you ask me

it sems as if we are indirectly held to ransom

Generally here in the US, you can take anything to court quite easily.... Sometimes you may have to put up a cash "Bond", so they know your coming back or there getting paid...

hmm well thats teh good thing about US u can sue for basically anything LOL........

Whats a Cash bond?

thanks

The US is very tough on traffic laws and ticketing and you could quite easily have a repetition of the experiences that you have mentioned from the UK. State laws can vary quite a bit, and you should read Traffic Department sites and handouts on 'dos and dont's' before you drive in each State. These guides are well written and comprehensive and you can stay out of trouble if you adhere strictly to the rules.

You have to deposit money in advance, so that your attorney is sure of being paid for his or her services.

The bond is unlikely to cover all of your expenses, so have deep pockets if you get involved in a legal court process!