Cross-examining an officer in traffic court: goals, what you can ask, and how to prepare.
In most states where new trials are allowed, you will have to appear before a judge and plead your case again. Learn more about appeal rules and their consequences.
In most states, you don't have the right to a jury trial for minor traffic offenses like speeding, running a red light, and distracted driving. So, if you want to fight a traffic ticket, your guilt will likely be decided by a single judge rather than a jury.
In most of the 50 states, you do not have the right to a jury trial in a traffic ticket case, which means a judge alone decides whether or not you are guilty. In the others, you can insist on a jury trial. When only a judge is present, traffic violation trials tend to be fairly informal—certainly more
How arraignments (the first court date) works in traffic court and the choices you have for entering a plea to the charges.
In any fight, it is best to know your opponent's strategy. Fortunately, you often have the legal right to do this (called "discovery")
Requesting a postponement of a traffic ticket due date or a continuance of a traffic court trial.
If you're fighting a traffic ticket in court, it's usually a good idea to prepare to testify ahead of time rather than walking into court and winging it.
Getting a traffic officer's note before trial through a process called "discovery."
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At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.