How Can I Avoid License Suspension After A Speeding Ticket?

We understand that a speeding ticket can happen to anyone, and multiple tickets can be easier to rack up than you think. If you’ve been pulled over just three times in a single year, you may be at risk of having your license suspended depending on the charges. Therefore, many people ask us, “How can I avoid license suspension after a speeding ticket?” To clear up any confusion and provide a few answers, we have put together a list of some options for you to consider.

What to Do If You’re Stopped for Speeding

A lot of speeding charges are subjective. An officer may be in a bad mood and grab you for going one mph over the speed limit, when on other days, he may not stop you when you’re traveling 20 mph over the limit. How you handle being stopped for speeding can go a long way in helping your case.

Some of the best things you can do for yourself when you’re being stopped are:

• Question How He Determined You Were Speeding
• Don’t Admit Guilt or Say Anything That May Be Used Against You Later
• Don’t Argue About the Ticket, Since It May Make Him Remember Your Case Later
• Afterward, Write Details of Your Incident. (Time of day, location, weather, visible signs, and anything else you can remember.)

The details you have and the ticket you received may both help you fight it in court if you choose to do so.

Understanding New Orleans Speeding Violation Laws

Getting a speeding ticket is not as hard as some may think. Even skilled drivers can sometimes make a mistake. This is because the rules are a little tricky, and there are several speed regulations in place that you should know about, but many people do not fully understand. First, Louisiana is based on the idea of the “General Speed Law.” This means that you, as a driver, must drive at a safe speed regardless of what the speed limit is in that area. If it is raining or the roads are rough, you could get a ticket for speeding, even if you are following the posted limit. Beyond that, there is the “absolute limit,” which means exceeding the speed limit by even one mile per hour can put you at risk of receiving a ticket. However, driving slower than the posted speed limit may also get you a ticket, thanks to a minimum speed requirement.

Could You Lose Your License for Speeding?

In Louisiana, speeding penalties will vary based on how much over the speed limit you were driving and where the incident took place. It may also depend on how many times you have been stopped for speeding and how you have responded to prior speeding infractions.

It is never a good idea to ignore your speeding ticket!

You can respond by:

• Paying the Ticket
• Requesting a Contested Hearing

However, paying a ticket is the same as pleading guilty, which could cause a suspended license if you’ve been stopped multiple times in a 12-month period. It is important to know that you may also have issues if you’re stopped multiple times during a three-year period. Just one speeding ticket can sit on your record for three years and raise your insurance rates substantially.

How to Avoid License Suspension?

The most effective way to avoid a license suspension is to never admit your guilt. This means requesting a contested hearing for the charge, which basically shows you feel it was an error, and you’re pleading not guilty.

However, before you do this, you will want to talk to a lawyer who can help you determine if you can avoid the ticket based on:

• Proof you weren’t speeding: Were there missing signs? Were you stopped just before the speed limit sign? GPS data or Dashcam video may also prove innocence.
• Other ticket errors: Did the officer tell you how he determined you were speeding?
• Other circumstances, such as vehicle malfunction: Was your speedometer off? Was their radar battery low?

The lawyer you choose to hire can then represent you in court and negotiate with prosecutors to have the charge dropped so that it doesn’t affect your license. They may also help get other charges attached to the speeding ticket dropped if they are there so that you can avoid other fines.

We’re Here to Help You Keep Your License

Getting a speeding ticket can increase insurance costs, cause you to have a suspended license, and may ultimately put you in jail if you cannot pay it. Our lawyers can help you reduce the cost or eliminate the ticket completely. Just contact us to learn more about the steps we can take to help you keep your license.