5 Steps For Handling A Speeding Ticket In Chapel Hill

Here in Chapel Hill, NC and the surrounding Triangle area, it’s a regular occurrence to run into friends, family or coworkers who have just received a traffic ticket. Most of us understand that unfortunate feeling when the officer pulls away and you’re holding a fresh problem for you to deal with on top of a busy life. At the Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski, we want to take the stress out of this process for you by providing a full service answer to an annoying new problem. From speeding tickets to seat belt violations, the Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski has your back.

1) Stay Calm, Stay Safe

Don’t do anything silly, it will only make matters worse. When the police officer signals for you to stop, turn on your turn signal and find a safe place to pull over out of traffic. Once you’ve stopped, turn on the hazard lights and stay in the car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises that you keep your seatbelt fastened until the officer has seen you wearing it to avoid also possibly getting a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt.

While you are waiting for the officer to approach your car, stay calm, keep your hands on the steering wheel, and ask everyone in the car to keep their hands in plain sight, too. If you’re asked to get out of your vehicle it is in your best interests to comply and to do so slowly as to not make the officer feel uncomfortable with rapid movement.

2)  Be Civil & Respectful

Once you have stopped and the officer begins approaching your car, remember to be civil, he/she is human too. Answer any questions they may have and be civil. Don’t argue, as it will accomplish nothing. Save your statements for a judge. Additionally, it is important to note that you should only answer the questions the officer is posing to you and shouldn’t admit to anything that could be used against you in court.

In most states, you’ll be asked to sign the citation, which means you received it, not that you admit any wrongdoing, the NHTSA says.

Myth Alert! It is a myth that if you do not sign your citation you can claim you never received one from the officer in court.

3) Review The Ticket

Upon receiving the speeding ticket, immediately take a few moments to review the information on the citation, and check for possible mistakes. A small mistake, such as two letters in your name transposed, doesn’t necessarily mean a violation will be dismissed. Furthermore, you want to confirm that charge you are being accused of is specifically stated on the ticket and nothing more or less.

It is important to note however that sometimes cumulatively three or four small errors could perhaps be a sign of inattention by the officer which are grounds for dismissal of the speeding ticket.

4) Research & Understand

Research the nature of what you’re charged with. You might not be a lawyer yourself but you can still inform yourself as best you can via research. You will want to delve into the specific language of the statute in regards to your speeding ticket accusation. There will be a series of requirements that have to be met for you to be guilty. Thus, upon finding these requirements, you need to ask yourself, ‘Did I do all these things, and I can I provide information/proof that didn’t do all these things?’

An inexperienced officer might charge you with the wrong thing or might not know the letter of the law.

5) Consider Hiring An Attorney.

Upon review of the speeding ticket and doing your own research; if you are uncomfortable with your level of understanding now is the time to consult a lawyer. For your garden-variety speeding ticket, it depends on the individual’s ability/comfort level to do this on his or her own. On the other hand, some people simply don’t have the time to do the research that’s necessary and need a lawyer to assist them. Regardless of your situation, the Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski has you covered.

Why Should I Choose the Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski

Over the years Matthew has defended hundreds of speeding violation cases both in District and Superior Courts throughout the state. As such, Matthew has the skill set and experience necessary to handle your Speeding Ticket case. Give the Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski, PLLC a call today to discuss your case at (919) 619-3242 or visit our Traffic Law page for more information.