If you received a traffic ticket, it is natural to be very frustrated. No one likes receiving a ticket and potentially facing a fine. However, you may not have a great understanding of what happens next. This guide will explain what happens after receiving a ticket.
Determining If You Need To Appear in Court
The first thing you should do when you receive a ticket is to determine whether you need to appear in court. For minor violations, this will never be the case, but more serious violations sometimes come with a mandatory court appearance. Usually, the police officer will tell you if that is the case, and the ticket should specify clearly. However, sometimes police officers make mistakes, so you should research what the requirements for mandatory court appearances are in your home state.
If You Do Not Need To Appear in Court
Luckily, if you do not need to appear in court, resolving the ticket is quite simple. You can pay the fine online, by mail, or by visiting your county clerk’s office. You should also learn if your ticket will put a point on your license. Usually, you can remove the point by attending traffic school.
If You Do Need To Appear in Court
If you do need to appear in court, you will have the opportunity to either plead guilty or not guilty. If you do the former, the process will continue as normal, with a fine and potential point on your license. If you plead not guilty, however, you will be assigned a trial date. On this day, you must appear in court again, defend yourself, and receive a judgment.
If the police officer who issued the ticket does not appear in court with you, your case will likely be dismissed, resulting in no fine or point. Otherwise, you will either be found guilty or not guilty. It may be a good idea to hire an attorney to assist you if your ticket is going to trial.
Out of State Tickets
If you receive a ticket in a state or county other than the one you live in, and you have to appear in court, you cannot handle the ticket in your local courts. You must travel to the state or county which issued the ticket to appear in court. This is unfortunate and inconvenient, but that is simply the way it is.
If you have any questions about your case, you should feel free to speak with a Wythe County, VA speeding ticket lawyer.
Thanks to The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt for their insight into traffic law and what happens after getting a ticket.