How to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Kansas City, MO. Whether you were caught in a speed trap on the highway, or a police officer pulled you over for a DUI stop, you’ve got a ticket. Odds are, you don’t want to pay the fine, and we don’t blame you. But what other choice do you have?
Fighting it! With a strong defense and the right Kansas City traffic ticket lawyer at your side, you can avoid fines and points on your license. And Combs Waterkotte is ready to help you do it.
In this post, we’ll outline steps to contest a traffic ticket, why you should do so, and how we can help. But if you’d like to get started with a free consult on how we can help you, just give us a call (314) 900-HELP, contact us online, or upload a picture of your ticket to the form below today.
How to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Kansas City, MO
Missouri traffic law isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but some of the consequences and court processes can sneak up on you. Fortunately, our expert traffic attorneys can help you out with anything you need to know about it. For fighting tickets, specifically, you’ll likely go through the following steps:
Step 1: Read the Ticket Carefully
Your ticket should list information about the alleged violation and the court date for you to contest it. You may or may not be required to attend court, depending on the details of the ticket. You can also look up your ticket information or driving record online if you lost it.
Step 2: Collect Evidence
If you have any videos or other recordings of the incident, gather and organize them. If there was anyone in the car with you, collect their statements, and check the visibility of the speed limit sign.
Step 3: Contact a Traffic Attorney to Discuss Options
A leading Missouri traffic attorney can evaluate your case and let you know what your options are to proceed. Be sure to ask what experience the attorney has with your specific charges. At Combs Waterkotte, we cover everything from speeding to DWIs.
Step 4: Pay the Fine, Plea Negotiations, or Court Hearing
At step 4, your paths diverge. The first option is to pay the fine without contesting it. The part many people don’t realize about this is that it will also count as pleading guilty to any associated charges. Because of this, paying the fine is never our first choice, but it may be necessary in some situations.
Traffic plea negotiations normally occur between your attorney and the prosecutor. At Combs Waterkotte, we have strong relationships with prosecutors across Missouri and can secure favorable plea deals that you’re unlikely to get on your own.
Lastly, in some circumstances, you’ll need to go to a court hearing. At this stage, you’ll typically argue your case before a judge, against a prosecutor and the police officer who issued you the ticket. Going to court can take a lot of time, and it’s hard to win on your own. Fortunately, in most cases, your lawyer can attend the traffic hearing for you, saving you time and increasing your chances of a positive outcome.
Benefits of Contesting a Traffic Ticket With an Attorney
Fighting a traffic ticket with a lawyer has many benefits in Kansas City, both for your wallet and your driving record. Our attorneys will fight to protect your license and endeavor to help your case in the following ways:
- Reduced Charges – it’s possible for speeding charges to be reduced to non-moving violations.
- Avoid Pleading Guilty – if there are criminal charges associated with your traffic ticket, fighting the ticket avoids a guilty plea.
- Provide Expert Insights – avoid hidden charges (like increased insurance costs) and consequences that come with guilty pleas on traffic tickets.
- Save Time – our team can often go to court hearings on your behalf, giving you your time back.
- Prevent License Suspensions/Revocations – Missouri uses a driver’s license point system, and paying a ticket will add points to your license. By fighting the ticket, you can reduce or eliminate these points.
How a Kansas City Traffic Lawyer Can Help You Fight Your Traffic Ticket
Do you need to hire a lawyer for a traffic ticket? While you never need to, it’s never a good idea to go to court without a lawyer. At Combs Waterkotte, we offer free consultations on traffic tickets, so there’s no harm in reaching out and seeing how we can help.
When you do hire a Kansas City, MO, traffic lawyer, we will negotiate with the prosecution to get your ticket reduced or dismissed. We use our relationships with prosecutors, but we will also build a staunch defense that they won’t want to fight against. Here are some of the defensive strategies we may use in your case:
- Claim Necessity – Perhaps you were speeding or parked illegally due to an emergency.
- Argue Faulty Equipment – Police radar guns and other equipment can break and give faulty readings.
- Show Improper Signage – If the speed limit sign or no-parking sign was obstructed, damaged, or missing, you can use this as a defense.
- Challenge Subjective Observations – Missouri law allows tickets to be issued for reckless driving, but that is a subjective measure, and can be argued.
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Want to Avoid Court, Fines, and a Traffic Record? Call Combs Waterkotte Today
Your license, your time, and your wallet are worth it. Anyone can get a traffic ticket, and it’s often a matter of bad luck that you’re the one who ended up with one today. Fortunately, you have options besides paying the ticket.
At Combs Waterkotte, we help good people in tough situations, and our experienced Kansas City, MO, traffic ticket attorneys handle thousands of traffic tickets each year.
Call us now at (314) 900-HELP or get in touch online to get an expert opinion on how we can help with your traffic ticket.
