Speeding Ticket Lawyer in Louisiana

Speeding tickets are the most common traffic violation. In fact, it was probably your first introduction to a law enforcement officer, and it’s almost certain that you don’t know of one driver who has not been ticketed in their lifetime. This creates the impression that getting a speeding ticket is not that serious. It is.

Why You Need A Lawyer For A Speeding Ticket In Louisiana

Speeding Ticket Lawyer in Louisiana: Having to pay the speeding fine is one thing but there are several other consequences that most people are unaware of until they arise and start making life more difficult. Some of these long-term consequences may include:

  • A driver’s license suspension.
  • Your driver’s license is being revoked entirely after numerous traffic violations.
  • Difficulty getting car insurance.
  • Increased car insurance premiums or rates.
  • Your driving record may be accessed by law enforcement agencies, the DMV as well as lawyers or employers if they have just cause.

Your driving record will show every traffic violation including each speeding ticket that you received and will reflect negatively on you. A speeding ticket lawyer can assist you in fighting the ticket to ensure that your driving record remains unblemished.

If you’ve received a traffic ticket, call us at (225) 327-1722 sooner rather than later. The longer you put off this important call, the more difficult it will be for the lawyer to provide a solid defense. In fact, if you put it off too long, we may not be able to help you at all in some jurisdictions!

If you have been pulled over for speeding, follow these steps:

  1. Provide Basic Information

    • The law enforcement officer will request your driver’s license, insurance information as well as vehicle registration to confirm your identity, that you are a licensed driver, and that the car is registered in your name. They will also ask you some questions. It is extremely important to only answer questions that provide basic information such as your name, place of residence, and if the vehicle registration is not in your name, who the vehicle belongs to.
    • They may also ask you whether you have committed any other traffic violations in the past and if you have a criminal record. It is important to be completely honest when answering these questions posed by the officer. If you feel uncomfortable answering a question, you can state that you prefer to answer in the presence of a lawyer.
  2. Ask Questions

    • Ask the law enforcement officer why you have been pulled over. They should inform you that you were speeding and by how much you were exceeding the speed limit without being asked after they have received the basic information mentioned above. However, if they don’t tell you then you should ask (preferably before the officer returns to their vehicle) and pay attention to what the officer is saying. It is important to know what the reason was for the officer pulling you over should you ever want to contest the speeding ticket or any other violation in court at a later date.
  3. Remain Silent

    • You have the right to remain silent and not to answer any questions until you have consulted a lawyer or have a lawyer present. This right is to prevent you from unwittingly implicating yourself in breaking the law or unknowingly admitting to guilt. For example, if the officer asks you if you are aware of how fast you were driving and you answer yes, you have just admitted that you are guilty of speeding,
    • Staying silent is probably one of the most important pieces of advice that any lawyer can give you. However, this does not mean that you have to be rude to a law enforcement officer. You don’t have to stay silent but can simply inform them, politely, that you prefer to answer their questions after you have consulted with your lawyer.
    • If you have any dispute regarding the traffic stop or how fast you were driving, it is best not to argue with the traffic officer. Once again, it is best to remain silent and rather take the matter up in court when you have expert legal representation from an experienced traffic violation lawyer in Louisiana.
  4. Call Us

    • Call one of our lawyers at (225) 327-1722 as soon as possible after being stopped for a traffic violation. This is even more important if the traffic stop resulted in an arrest.
Speeding Ticket Lawyer in Louisiana
Speeding Ticket Lawyer in Louisiana

It is also essential to be aware of your rights when you get pulled over by a law enforcement officer. These rights are there to protect you and provide specific rules, regulations, and procedures that law enforcement officers must follow. If they do not follow the correct procedures, then the case can be dismissed should you decide to contest the fine in court.

In order to pull you over for speeding, a law enforcement officer must:

  • Have reasonable suspicion that you were speeding.
  • Have evidence that you were exceeding the speed limit and by how much.
  • They need to inform you of the reason that you have been pulled over.
  • You have the right not to answer their questions and request legal counsel or representation.
  • You should not exit your vehicle for any reason during a routine traffic stop unless requested to do so by an officer. It is also a good idea to keep your hands visible and not give the officer any reason to suspect your actions or that you have ill intent.
  • An officer cannot search your vehicle unless they have a warrant to do so. However, in some cases, they may have reasonable cause to search.

If they fail to adhere to the correct procedure or if you dispute the speeding ticket for any reason, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

Some of the common defenses that lawyers use to get a speeding ticket over-turned in court include:

  • Show that a fundamental element of the offense does not exist. For example, if you were fined for speeding, showing that you were in fact driving reasonably within the speed limit.
  • The state cannot provide any evidence that you were speeding.
  • Challenge the subjective view of the officer. For instance, if an officer was standing at the side of the road and simply assumed that you were driving faster than the speed limit.
  • You were legitimately unaware of the speed limit in a specific area due to a lack of signage or signage that is not clearly visible.
  • Challenge the ability of the officer to correctly observe the traffic violation.
  • Provide a valid justification for your actions or that it was intended to prevent harm.
  • The officer did not follow the correct procedure or infringed on your rights in performing a traffic stop or issuing a speeding ticket. For example, if the officer had no reasonable suspicion that you were speeding but pulled you over anyway, this can be used as a defense.

There are however some defenses that simply don’t work in court and this is where the experience of a speeding ticket lawyer can be essential:

  • No knowledge of the law is not an excuse in a court of law. If you were simply unaware of the speed limit in the area where you were driving, this cannot be used as a defense. Road signs clearly depict the speed limit and it is up to you to take note of the limit and how fast you are driving. There are also speed limits that are designated for certain areas that you should adhere to if in doubt.
  • The fact that you were exceeding the limit is sufficient for a speeding fine to be issued. Using the excuse that you weren’t driving that fast is not a defense although there is some leeway that a judge will apply in certain cases.
  • Making the officer out to be the bad guy or trying to prove that you were simply being picked on is not a good defense. In fact, this can be detrimental to your defense. The court takes the approach that the officer was doing his or her duty to enforce the law and attacking this will put you in a bad light.
  • There’s a typo on your ticket.  The judge won’t care if your birthdate is wrong, or the year of your vehicle was wrong, or if your name was misspelled.

Although a speeding citation is not exactly a serious crime, the infraction can cost you down the line. Call (225) 327-1722 to get a citation overturned and save yourself the expense of a fine and the hassle that you might face in the future.

Which City In Louisiana Did You Receive Your Speeding Ticket?