How to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Arizona

In the State of Arizona, traffic tickets are issued to motorists and other road users who violate the state’s traffic rules and regulations. Officers of the state’s law enforcement agency are responsible for giving traffic tickets to offenders. There are two kinds of traffic violations in Arizona:

• Civil traffic violation: These traffic violations attract less severe punishments, and offenders may not need to appear in court to resolve the traffic tickets. They include speeding, following a vehicle too closely, parking wrongly, and disobeying a traffic sign.
• Criminal traffic violation: Criminal traffic violations can lead to the suspension or immediate revocation of the offender’s license. Such violations are categorized into misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanors include reckless driving and driving under the influence (DUI). Felony traffic violations are offenses that lead to serious bodily injuries or death, such as a hit-and-run accident.

Typically, a traffic ticket contains the details of the offense committed and the penalty. Civil traffic offenses are usually resolved by paying the fines indicated on the ticket, while more severe traffic offenses may require the offender to appear in a traffic court compulsorily.

However, persons who wish to pay off traffic tickets have to plead guilty and accept the conviction which will reflect on their driving record. Certain points will also be assessed on their driving records, and the accumulation of eight or more points within twelve months will result in the suspension of the offender’s license.

Alternatively, alleged offenders can contest traffic tickets in a state court. Such persons can inform the court in writing of their intention to contest the traffic ticket they received. The court schedules a hearing for the defendants to argue their case. The defendant and prosecutor can also strike a plea bargain during the case proceedings. However, the case goes to trial if both parties cannot reach an agreement. Traffic cases may be presided by a judge/jury who gives the final verdict based on the arguments and facts presented by the prosecutor and defendant.

Is it Worth to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Arizona?

Fighting traffic tickets in Arizona requires that the alleged offender appear in a traffic court and plead not guilty to the traffic violation. However, contesting a traffic ticket might be expensive since defendants may need to hire a traffic attorney and pay the traffic ticket fine and other associated court fees if they lose the case. Persons who don’t appear in court will have a default judgment entered against them and may lose their driving privileges. If a traffic ticket does not mandate a court appearance, the motorist should settle the necessary fines and avoid further traffic convictions.

Ways to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Arizona

Alleged offenders who are not mandated to appear in court can fight such tickets by informing the court (in writing) about their intention to contest it. A court hearing will ensue before a judge or jury who gives a decision on the case. Typically, an alleged offender’s ticket may easily be dismissed if the law officer that issued it does not show up in court.

How to Fight a Traffic Ticket Without Going to Court

Arizona State currently has no provisions for persons who wish to fight their traffic ticket without going to court. Individuals who want to fight their traffic tickets must appear in a traffic court and make their case before the judge/jury. However, gathering evidence and getting statements from witnesses present at the traffic violation scene may help a defendant’s case.

How do You Get a Traffic Ticket Reduced in Arizona?

Getting a traffic ticket reduced in Arizona depends primarily on the justice court’s policy in the county area that the violation occurred. Some courts may provide alternate options for offenders to settle their tickets or monthly payment plans for persons who may not afford the fines at once. Interested individuals can inform the judge or court clerk to be informed on the available options to reduce traffic tickets.

Can you Get a Speeding Ticket Dismissed in Arizona?

Interested persons can get their speeding tickets dismissed in Arizona if the court requests that they attend a defensive driving school. The Arizona court approves the defensive driving course to dismiss minor civil traffic violations, including speeding. Upon the successful completion of a court-approved defensive driving course, individuals can have their speeding tickets dismissed. However, persons who wish to participate in such programs must meet the following criteria:

• The offense must be a civil traffic moving violation
• Must not have attended a defensive driving school within the last twelve months
• Must not hold a non-commercial driver’s license

Defensive driving programs can only dismiss one violation and prevent further accumulation of points on the motorist’s driving record.

What Happens if You Plead Guilty to a Traffic Ticket in Arizona

Persons who plead guilty to a traffic ticket in Arizona might not have to appear before a court, especially if the offense is a civil traffic violation. However, when an alleged offender pleads guilty to a ticket, it means an admission of guilt and a conviction. Such individuals will have to pay the fine levied on the ticket, and the sentence will be added as points on their driving record. The Arizona traffic point system assigns several points to offenses in correspondence to their severity. Motorists who accumulate eight points or more within twelve months may have their driving privileges suspended or revoked. Certain violations may also lead to the automatic revocation of the offender’s license.

How to Find a Traffic Ticket Attorney in Arizona

Persons who choose to fight a traffic ticket or are mandated to appear in a traffic court can hire a traffic attorney to assist them. Traffic attorneys understand the Arizona traffic laws better and can help fight a traffic ticket. Typically, the court may provide resources that interested individuals can use to find an attorney.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching more straightforward, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.