Often this argument comes down to your claim that you weren't given fair notice as to the conduct that was expected of you. For example, a judge might dismiss a ticket for running a stop sign if it was brand new. However, the judge would probably not buy this defense if:

• the sign had been up for more than a few weeks
• you had never stopped at that intersection before (and therefore shouldn't have been fooled by its sudden presence), or
• you were speeding.

4. Prove Your Conduct Was "Legally Justified"

	Must I pay a ticket for not answering the officer's racially motivated questions?

You may also successfully argue that your actions were "legally justified" considering the circumstances of your alleged violation. For example, if you were charged with driving too slowly in the left lane, it is a legal defense in all states that you had to slow down to make a lawful left turn. In this situation you do not have to deny that you were driving significantly below the speed limit and causing vehicles behind you to slow down, but you can offer the additional fact that legally justifies your otherwise unlawful action. Such defenses can be very successful because they raise an additional fact or legal point, rather than simply contradicting the officer's testimony.

Here are a couple of examples of situations in which this defense might work:

• You are forced to stop on a freeway because your car has begun to make a loud and dangerous-sounding noise and you fear you would put other drivers in danger if you continued to drive without checking it out.
• You swerved into the right lane without signaling a lane change to pull over because a hornet flew into your car through your open window.
• You had sudden and severe chest pain and safely exceeded the posted speed limit to get to the doctor, whose office was only one half-mile away.

Buy it now! Beat Your Ticket: Go to Court & Win! by Attorney David Brown.

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