Fight Speeding Ticket

Its not always cheap to fight your speeding ticket.  In order to flight your speeding ticket, you have to post bail.  For your routine misdemeanor, your bail could be around $150.00.  The reason I used the word “could” is because even the Judge doesn’t know the correct amount.

Here is how it works.   If you decide to fight your ticket, you have to appear at your arraignment hearing and enter your plead.  You don’t necessary have to attend the hearing.  You can mail a letter to the court and notify them that you intend to plead not guilty and ask for a trial date.  The law states that you are entitled to a trial within 30 days but because of budget limitations, it can’t be provided so you will be asked to waive your rights to the 30 day rule.

Ok lets get back to the arraignment hearing.  At the hearing, the bailot will call you up to talk to the Judge.  The Judge will tell you what you are charge with and ask you how you plead.  If you plead not guilty, he will instruct the clerk to assign you a trial date and set your bail.  The bail amount will always include a number of administrative fees that the Judge will not even know about.  He will give you a estimated amount.

If you can’t afford to pay the entire amount that day, you can ask for a limited extension.  At most the Judge can grant you about 10 days, which isn’t much.  You have to pay the entire amount if you want to go to trial.  If you fail to pay it you can get a warrant out for your arrest.

The Court is going to impose a high bail amount to get you to avoid fighting it.

If you win your case then you get your money back.  If you lose then that amount is applied to your ticket fine.