If you receive a citation for a serious traffic offense, such as excessive speeding, you might be wondering about the impact it could have on your future. Such an offense could have severe consequences, potentially including the suspension of your license, which can affect your life in numerous ways.
Like many others, you may rely on your driving privileges to make it to work or other important destinations. You might wish to challenge the ticket in court and protect this area of life, but with little to no experience in this area, the process can be complex.
Preparing for your day in court
With the potential gravity of the outcome of your hearing, you could be feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the process. However, you may be able to alleviate a great deal of your stress if you take the time to prepare for your day in court, and some factors to help you along the way could include the following:
- Timing: While a court date may already be set, you might find it beneficial to request a temporary stay in your hearing. The more time you have with which to prepare for the situation, the better off you may be.
- Evidence: When preparing for your hearing, you might want to take the time to gather any evidence that could help you challenge the ticket, and bring this with you when your day in court arrives.
- Equipment: The equipment officers use to determine speed may require frequent calibration and maintenance. Since their results are hardly infallible, you may be able to question their validity during your hearing.
- Witness: In some cases, the testimony of a witness can also prove invaluable during a hearing, and if anyone was with you during the traffic stop, you might want to consider requesting his or her presence in court.
In addition to the potential suspension of your license, a conviction for excessive speeding may also cause an increase in your insurance rates, which can be just as devastating.
Obtaining assistance
Chances are, you may wish to have a plan in place before moving into your hearing. However, covering every aspect of the process can be challenging, and it might be in your best interests to seek assistance in the initial stages. By obtaining guidance from someone with extensive knowledge in Pennsylvania state laws surrounding your situation, you could find yourself in a much better position to protect your driving privileges during subsequent court proceedings.
