Hectic schedules have everyone rushing, whether from home to work or leaving their job to make it to an appointment or event. In the race against time, exceeding the speed limit is often the last thing you’re paying attention to until you hear the Springfield police siren demanding you to pull over.

Motorists can either pay the penalty or take the issue to court to try to avoid the serious repercussions of pleading guilty to the charges.

Many pay quickly, believing taking responsibility is the most appropriate action. That might make everyone’s job easier, but driving 20 over the speed limit will leave you with ongoing expenses beyond the fine and long-term consequences that put your driving privileges at risk. Visit missouritraffictickets.com for details on contesting infractions and how to do so effectively.

How To Respond When a Speeding Ticket Is Issued

Whether you were speeding or an officer made a mistake, being pulled over leaves you feeling vulnerable and defensive. However, your behavior at the scene will be integral in determining if you receive a warning or be issued a speeding ticket.

It’s important to remember that the officer also feels intimidated but is bound to do their job. The more cooperative and respectful you are, the greater the chance of being let go. The following tips will help make traffic stops with the police go well.

• Refrain from taking your hands off the steering wheel until you’re asked to produce your driving license and registration by the police officer.
• Use a respectful approach and remain calm.
• Understand that you can answer questions with a simple yes or no response, but revealing how fast you were driving is unnecessary.
• In most cases, a decision has already been made as to whether you’ll be issued a ticket before the police approach the vehicle. It’s important to be honest; hostility or aggression can create a bigger problem.
• You will be asked to sign the ticket if one is issued and should do so. It isn’t a statement of guilt but merely acknowledges receipt of the ticket.

A few solutions are available when you receive a citation. Usually, the issuing office will review these briefly during the stop.

Paying the penalty

Speeding ticket fines vary in Missouri depending on a few variables, such as how fast over the limit you were driving and your location when violating the speed. It can vary by county, and factors like being in a school or construction zone can have a bearing. Go here to learn about the Missouri system for assessing penalties and points for a ticket.

Fines can be costly; the faster you drive, the higher the fine. The “Missouri State Fine Collection Center” indicates penalties for speeds ranging from 20-25 miles per hour faster than the posted limit will be roughly $225, and 3 points will be added to your driving license.

Incurring 8+ points in an 18-month span will result in license suspension for 30 days if it’s your first suspension. Fines broken down are as follows:

• $ 85 for 1-5 mph over
• $ 99 for 6-10 mph over
• $124 for 11-15 mph over
• $149 for 16-19 mph over

Three points are added to your license whether driving 1 or 20 mph over. If the citation doesn’t specify that you appear in court, you can pay the ticket in person, via the phone or mail, or by going online.

By choosing to pay, you are admitting guilt for the infraction. A court appearance is required when driving in excess of 25 mph over the speed limit.

Traffic school

If you agree to attend traffic school, the penalty for speeding tickets can be reduced or dismissed in Missouri. Once finished with the program, the judge will decide whether to reduce the infraction to a nonmoving violation or dismiss the ticket.

Contest the ticket

Few people in Springfield contest speeding tickets despite it being the best way to protect your record, license, insurance rates, and on. Most people view going to court as too much of a hassle. That doesn’t have to be the case, however, a qualified traffic ticket attorney will handle the logisitcs when brought into the case.

When the repercussions of the speeding ticket are extensive, such as permanently losing your license or a substantial increase in insurance premiums, it’s wise to take the matter to court.

Consequences Of Speeding Tickets and How to Avoid Them

When a Springfield police officer issues a speeding ticket, they provide instructions on handling the charges, such as paying the penalty. Doing so, however, deems you guilty of the violation and carries adverse consequences.

Most drivers pay quickly without understanding how pleading guilty can exacerbate into long-term repercussions.

Paying is attractive for motorists because it presents an immediate solution, while court can be an incredible hassle. Contesting the ticket, however, allows you to defend your actions in front of a judge who might find your reasoning plausible enough to reduce or even dismiss the charges.

Disputing the violation could avoid the following potential consequences of a guilty plea for a speeding ticket.

• Increased insurance premiums: Insurance rates go up when motorists present as a risk to the carrier. Speeding can result in an accident and a claim against your policy, something providers want to avoid.
• Driving record: Pleading guilty or being proven guilty for a speeding violation will appear on your driving record for upwards of five years.
• Points on your license: A guilty plea for the infraction can result in points being added to your driving license. The more points you accumulate, the greater the possibility of revoking your driving privileges.

You can contest your speeding ticket by presenting your case to the court yourself or “proceeding pro se” or hire a reputable attorney specializing in traffic tickets to represent you. Here are steps to follow before presenting your case to the judge.

• Prepare questions: You will have the opportunity to address the issuing officer and should be prepared with questions about the arrest and concerning their knowledge and expertise with speed-clocking tools and their overall training as an officer. Questions should allow short answers.
• Research: In order to present a plausible case, research the tools the officer used to track your speed. The more you know about the equipment, the better prepared you’ll be to discuss its potential defects.
• Evidence: Any physical evidence you can produce for the judge showing you weren’t speeding will play in your favor. This can include a GPS navigation data, a dashcam video, or photos leading to the arrest site proving speed limits were not posted or the sign was obscured.
• Witnesses: You can bring or call witnesses, including passengers in the car when the officer issues the ticket.
• Request a delay: It’s wise to request that the hearing be delayed to allow time for research and to establish your case.

If presenting a case seems overwhelming, a traffic ticket attorney can be effective in having the charges reduced or dismissed. A quality professional will do all the case prep work and represent the details in court on your behalf.

Most lawyers provide free consultations to discuss the violation and determine if there’s a viable case.