Frequently Asked Questions
Will errors on the ticket result in the charges being dropped?
Courts will often excuse minor errors on a ticket. A misspelled name, incorrect address, or difference in opinion on whether your car is aqua or green in color will not result in a dismissed ticket.
Conversely, a major error such as citing the wrong statute, radically misidentifying your vehicle or listing the wrong highway as the site of the violation should provide justification to dismiss the ticket. However, it may be advantageous to say nothing about the errors until your trial.
Let the officer use the ticket to describe the violation, location, and identification of your vehicle (they all do). After he/she has sufficiently buried him/herself with perjured testimony, you can document the errors and any legitimate court will dismiss the charges.
Can a police officer issue me a ticket if he's outside his own jurisdiction?
If the violation took place within his jurisdiction the answer is yes. If the violation took place outside his jurisdiction the answer is less clear.
There may be interagency agreements that allow police to exercise their authority outside their jurisdictions. There may also be state laws that allow inter-jurisdictional enforcement actions. One point to remember, the officer that observed the violation and issued the citation is the only person that can testify against you. The likelihood that an out-of-area officer would appear to testify against you at your trial is somewhat remote.
Does the officer have to show me the radar/laser reading?
This is not required in most jurisdictions. Also, whether the officer allows you to see the speed reading has virtually no bearing on your case. Officers can lock in radar readings and leave them on to display to any hapless victim, even though it was not their vehicle that registered the displayed speed.
What is the quickest way to learn about fighting a speeding ticket?
The authorities would love for you to just hand over your hard-earned money to them, and they're certainly going to do their best to stack the odds against you. But that doesn't mean you can't stand up for your rights. And with our help, you can.
We've done our best to make fighting your ticket a less stressful process and we don't stop at providing you with detailed, credible information. Every situation is different and sometimes more specific, personalized assistance is needed.
That's why we offer one-on-one help over the phone to NMA members. You'll be able to talk to a real person about your specific situation. Outside of hiring an attorney (which almost always costs more than the ticket itself), there's no other way for you to get this kind of high-quality assistance.
We also offer other unique benefits that you won't find anywhere else, including protection from future speeding tickets and free access to radar and laser experts. Plus, to put you at ease, we stand behind our service with a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee, available at any time during your first year of your membership.
So take a quick look at our list of membership benefits below and then take the next step by joining the NMA. You won't regret it.
Instant Access to Information.
Membership dues less than $3/month!
No Automatic Membership Renewal
How The NMA Can Help You
NMA members can call us at our national office for help with their ticket questions. We're happy to help. The phone number is (608) 849-6000 and our hours of operation are Monday-Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm CT.
In the members-only section of our website, we have premium ticket-fighting information available for use only by our members.
Where available, these dedicated volunteers can provide insight on how to best fight a traffic ticket in your state.
Some of the resources available for free to members of the NMA include several practicing traffic attorneys, experts on radar technology, experts on laser technology, and many others.
If you're fighting an out-of-state ticket, you might consider hiring an attorney to represent you. The NMA has in-house list of attorneys who specialize in traffic law available only to members.
This bi-monthly newsletter is the most informative publication on the subjects of traffic laws, motorist issues, and your rights as a driver. Keep up-to-date on the latest developments!
Traffic tickets have turned into a huge moneymaker for cities across the country. The NMA is the only organization speaking out against this misplaced focus on revenue at the expense of safety.
The NMA has partnered with MotorWatch to offer free automotive information. MotorWatch's Technical Committee is composed of over fifty of the most knowledgeable automotive experts in the world.
Great rock-bottom prices in the NMA Store on books, manuals, and guides designed to make you a winner in traffic court. The materials available are sold to NMA members nearly at cost.
As part of our Traffic Justice Program, any person who receives a speeding ticket while they are a member of the NMA, fights it in court, and loses, will have that ticket paid for by us!
The NMA's exclusive ticket fighting audio CD will tell you how to defend yourself against traffic tickets using strategies that have proven successful for other motorists, just like you.
Instant Access to Information.
Membership dues less than $3/month!
No Automatic Membership Renewal
