If you’re reading this, chances are you are part of the one out of every ten Americans who gets pulled over for a speeding ticket annually. Whether you’re rushing to get the kids to school on time, aren’t sure what the posted speed limit is or just happen to have a “lead” foot, getting a speeding ticket is not something any of us want to deal with. However, if you do find yourself facing a speeding ticket, the best course of action is to take action and fight the ticket rather than just pay it. When you decide to fight your speeding ticket the odds will be in your favor if you hire an experienced speeding ticket lawyer. Speeding ticket lawyers in Springfield, MO will use their years of training and expertise to either reduce the traffic citation or dismiss the speeding ticket altogether. Let the professionals at Springfield Traffic Tickets help you avoid getting points on your license and any additional fines by getting you out of this mess.
Continue reading for more information on how much pleading guilty to a speeding ticket will really cost you and legal defensive strategies that can help get you out a speeding ticket in Missouri.
The True Cost of a Speeding Ticket in Missouri
Many people who receive speeding tickets, will pay the ticket not knowing that they could actually fight the citation and win with the help of speeding ticket lawyers in Springfield. Speeding tickets in Missouri can range anywhere from $80 to $400, depending on how fast you were going and where you were speeding, such as a school zone or construction zone. Here is a current* list of what you can expect your ticket to cost if pulled over for speeding:
- 6-10 MPH over the speed limit: $83
- 11-15 MPH over the speed limit: $108
- 16-19 MPH over the speed limit: $133
- 20-25 MPH over the speed limit: $208
- 25 MPH and over: You will be required to make a court appearance in addition to fines.
*The price of speeding tickets are subject to change and may be more or less than the numbers listed above.
In addition to admitting guilt when you pay the ticket, your insurance premiums will most likely increase and in some cases they could even double. Overtime, increased insurance rates could end up costing you a lot more than just a $75 speeding ticket. Furthermore, Missouri implements a point system law. This means that when you pay your speeding ticket points will be added to your driver’s license. For speeding tickets you will most often receive either two or three points. Once you receive 8 points within an 18-month period, your license will be suspended for 30 days. 12 or more points within a 24-month period will result in license revocation for one year. Since one speeding ticket can cost up to three points, you would only have to receive a ticket three times within a year and a half to have your license suspended.
Getting A Missouri Speeding Ticket Dismissed
Whether it’s your first traffic citation or your third, avoiding getting points tacked on your license and having your insurance know about your ticket are often worth the extra money you may spend on hiring a speeding ticket lawyer in Springfield. Most people choose not to hire an attorney to fight seemingly minor traffic violations because of the assumed cost of an attorney. In fact, only 5% of people contest their traffic tickets. However, hiring a Springfield traffic citation lawyer isn’t as expensive as you may think and many law firms offer free, no-obligation consultations before you have to commit to anything.
Here’s what you need to do to have the ticket either reduced or dismissed:
- First, if you plan on pleading “not guilty” to the speeding ticket you must request a contested hearing by checking the appropriate check-box on your ticket and then mailing it to the court.
- Next, you’ll need to contact Springfield traffic ticket lawyers and find the right attorney for you and your current legal and financial situation.
- Once you have hired an attorney, he or she will essentially take over from here. Meaning that your lawyer will take care of all of the paperwork and can even show up to court on your behalf.
- Your attorney may argue against the facts of the case, especially if there are any discrepancies. Even though a speeding ticket is a civil violation the burden still falls on the prosecutor to prove that you actually violated the law.
- If there are no discrepancies and this a straight-forward case many times a speeding ticket attorney will negotiate to have your charges dropped or reduced by means of pleading guilty to a non-moving violation, attending traffic school, or agreeing to unsupervised probation for short period of time.
- In some speeding ticket cases, police officers have been to not show up to court. In this scenario your ticket will automatically be dismissed.
Get Help Today
While paying your ticket may seem like the smartest and fastest way to move on from your traffic violation, in all reality, paying your speeding ticket means that it will follow you around longer. To contest a speeding ticket or any other traffic violation you may have received in Springfield or the surrounding areas contact Springfield Traffic Tickets today.