How to Beat a Traffic Ticket For Speeding in a Work Zone
If you were pulled over for speeding in a work zone, you would have been given a ticket and sent on your way. So it may seem like a minor crime, like a parking ticket or another speeding offense. But speeding in a work zone can carry serious penalties, including potential jail time.
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What Happens When You Are Caught Speeding in a Work Zone
The law enforcement officer will pull you over and give you a ticket for speeding in a work zone. This ticket will list:
- The offense date
- Information about the offense
- The name of the officer issuing the ticket
- Your court date
The court date listed on the speeding ticket will be for an arraignment, which is a proceeding to hear whether you intend to plead not guilty or guilty. If you plead guilty, then you will be sentenced on the spot, and the case will be closed. If you plead not guilty, then a trial date will be set.
By pleading guilty, you do not get a chance to have a trial to determine what happened and for you to plead your case. You will have to accept the penalties the judge gives you for the crime.
Penalties For Speeding in a Work Zone
The penalties for speeding in a work zone are issued depending on how far over the posted speed limit you were driving.
The mildest is driving up to 10mph over the speed limit, and you will likely only receive 2 points on your license and a fine. Once you were driving more than 10mph over the speed limit, the penalties are more severe and include things like:
- License points
- License suspension
- Fines
- Jail time
- Increased insurance premiums
If you caused an accident and hurt or killed someone, then you could face additional criminal charges.
Even a charge for speeding in a work zone that only gives small penalties can cause issues for you. Some jobs that require driving do not allow employees to have too many points on their license. A license suspension could also mean you lose your job if you need to drive as part of your role. It will also impact your ability to get to and from work and other obligations.
How to Defend Against Speeding In a Work Zone Charges
If you have been charged with speeding in a work zone, there are a number of legal defense you can use. Their effectiveness will depend on how well they apply to your situation and what evidence you can present to prove your case. Some common defenses to speeding in a work zone include:
- You were not the driver
- Lack of evidence
- There were no signs posted to inform drivers it was a work zone
- Lack of probable cause that the crime was committed
- The law enforcement officers violated your constitutional rights
- The law enforcement officers did not have enough reasonable suspicion that you were committing a crime to pull you over