Fight Your Florida Speeding Ticket
Protect Your License, Avoid Points & Insurance Hikes
Experienced Defense for All Speeding Violations
Request a Free ConsultationWhy Fight Your Speeding Ticket? The Real Costs
Consequences of Paying the Ticket:
- **Conviction:** Paying is an admission of guilt and results in a conviction on your record.
- **Points:** Points are added to your license (typically 3, or 4 if 15+ mph over).
- **License Suspension:** Accumulating too many points leads to license suspension, impacting daily life and work.
- **Insurance Hikes:** Expect drastic increases in auto insurance premiums (potentially $800+ per year in FL). Insurers may even drop coverage for multiple tickets.
Serious Speeding Offenses Require Defense:
- **30+ MPH Over:** Treated severely like reckless driving. Penalties include license suspension, 4 points, large fines, mandatory court appearance (no traffic school option).
- **50+ MPH Over:** Carries potential long-term license revocation and steep fines, even for a first offense. Critical to fight.
- **School Zone Speeding:** Fines are doubled and increase significantly based on speed (up to $2,000 for 50+ mph over).
Benefits of Legal Representation:
- Experienced attorneys understand traffic law complexities, procedures, and evidence rules.
- We can identify defenses, negotiate with prosecutors for reduced charges/fines or dismissal, and challenge weak evidence.
- Specialized traffic lawyers know the local courts, judges, and prosecutors, improving negotiation leverage.
- We can often attend court on your behalf, saving you time and stress.
- Crucial for CDL holders to protect their livelihood, even for tickets in personal vehicles.
Our Approach to Fighting Speeding Tickets
Fighting a speeding ticket involves more than just arguing about how fast you were going. It requires a strategic legal approach. Here’s how we build your defense:
Initial Case Analysis:
- Free consultation to review your ticket and discuss options.
- Gather all relevant documents (citation, court notices).
- Research applicable laws and local court procedures.
- Identify potential technicalities and defenses.
Challenging Speed Measurement:
We scrutinize the method used to clock your speed (Radar, Laser, Aircraft/VASCAR, Pacing):
- **Calibration & Testing:** Was the device properly calibrated (every 6 months) and tested before/after the officer's shift? We demand records.
- **Officer Training:** Was the officer certified to use the specific device? We request proof.
- **Usage Conditions:** Could environmental factors (weather, traffic, angle) affect the reading? Did the officer visually estimate speed first?
- **Device Requirements:** Did the device meet Florida's technical standards (e.g., audio Doppler for radar)?
- **Aircraft/Pacing Specifics:** For aircraft, did both officers appear in court? Was the distance/timing accurate? For pacing, was the officer's speedometer certified? Was the correct distance maintained?
Other Defense Strategies:
- Challenge the officer's viewpoint or potential distractions.
- Argue mistaken identity (wrong car or driver).
- Present evidence of a legitimate emergency.
- Verify the officer was within their jurisdiction.
- Examine the ticket for missing required information (e.g., device serial number).
- Identify specific defenses for school zone or camera tickets.
- Negotiate for charge reduction, fine reduction, or traffic school eligibility.
- Require the government to meet its burden of proof at trial.
Evidence We Analyze in Your Defense
Building a strong defense requires a thorough review of all available evidence. We examine:
- Uniform Traffic Citation
- Court Documents
- Speed Measurement Device Type
- Device Serial Number / VIN
- Officer Operator Certification
- Device Calibration Records
- Device Accuracy Test Logs
- Tuning Fork Certifications (if applicable)
- Speedometer Certification (Pacing)
- Officer Training Documentation
- Officer's Visual Speed Estimate Notes
- Police Reports
- Environmental Conditions Reports
- Photos/Videos of the Scene
- Witness Statements
- Jurisdictional Boundaries
- Relevant Case Law
- Your Driving Record
Potential Positive Outcomes When You Fight Back
Hiring an experienced attorney significantly increases your chances of achieving a favorable outcome, such as:
- Dismissal: Getting the ticket thrown out completely (e.g., due to lack of evidence, procedural errors, officer no-show).
- Reduced Charges: Lowering the severity of the violation (e.g., reducing speed cited, changing to a non-moving violation).
- Reduced Penalties: Minimizing fines and preventing points from being added to your license.
- Avoiding Insurance Increases: Preventing or lessening the significant premium hikes associated with speeding convictions.
- Preserving Driving Privileges: Avoiding license suspension or revocation, especially crucial for serious speeding offenses or CDL holders.
- Traffic School Option: Negotiating eligibility for traffic school to avoid points, even if not initially offered.
Important Considerations Before You Act
- Never Plead Guilty Without Consultation: Especially for serious tickets (30+ mph over), talk to a lawyer before paying or admitting guilt.
- Choose Specialized Experience: Hire a lawyer focused on traffic tickets in the county where you received the citation. Local knowledge matters.
- Avoid Generic Online Advice: Every case is unique; rely on professional legal guidance tailored to your situation.
- No Guarantees, But a Better Chance: While outcomes aren't guaranteed, representation significantly improves your odds and ensures proper procedure is followed.
- Accidents Involved? If your ticket relates to an accident, consulting an attorney is highly recommended due to potential civil liability.
Got a Speeding Ticket? Don't Just Pay It!
Contact Lotter Law today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your defense options.
Or, reach us directly:
Law Office of Jeff Lotter PLLC | 200 E Robinson St Suite 1140, Orlando, FL 32801