Taking Your Case to Traffic Court

Cross-Examining a Police Officer in Traffic Court

Cross-examining an officer in traffic court: goals, what you can ask, and how to prepare.

Appealing a Traffic Court Ruling

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.

What Happens in Traffic Court?

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.

Trial By Judge: Understanding Traffic Court

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

Pleading and Arraignment in Traffic Court

How arraignments (the first court date) works in traffic court and the choices you have for entering a plea to the charges.

How to Request Discovery in Traffic Court

In any fight, it is best to know your opponent's strategy. Fortunately, you often have the legal right to do this (called "discovery")

Postponing Your Traffic Court Date: Getting a "Continuance"

Requesting a postponement of a traffic ticket due date or a continuance of a traffic court trial.

Preparing Your Traffic Court Testimony

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.

Traffic Court: Getting the Police Officer's Notes

Getting a traffic officer's note before trial through a process called "discovery."