What Does It Mean To Contest A Ticket? 

How to contest or fight a traffic ticket and the potential consequences of not doing so are discussed in this article. 

Keep reading and learn the basics of contesting a ticket in California. 

How do I contest a ticket in California? 

Contesting the ticket simply means you disagree with the citation and are being responsible and taking the next step after receiving a traffic ticket and deciding not to pay it immediately. Were you guilt-free? If so, get the assistance you require from experts like Ticket Snipers and remain accountable by telling the truth to the authorities.

If you want to contest your citation, you must show up for your arraignment or set a future court trial date. To set a trial date in the future, bail must be posted. Now, if you enter a “Not Guilty” plea during the arraignment, your case will either be postponed or set for a court trial date.

You can also appeal a ticket without going to court if it was an infraction rather than a misdemeanor by asking for a trial in writing on or before the deadline specified on your courtesy notice. 

This might sound confusing, so to make things more clear, we are going to give a simple description of the options you have after getting a traffic ticket. The following are the most common ways to deal with a traffic ticket in California: 

Arraignment

When someone is arraigned, the court informs them of their rights and the charges they are facing. A plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest will be required of you. Please take note that the citing officer won’t be in the courtroom at this time. The arraignment is the initial stage in setting up a court hearing so that you can challenge your citation. Typically, arraignments take place in walk-in court.

Court Trial

A court trial is a hearing in front of a judge where you must personally present to defend the accuracy of the accusations made against you. A summons to appear will be sent to the officer who wrote the ticket. It’s possible to subpoena witnesses to testify as well as to appear on your behalf. The judge will make a decision following the trial. You may challenge the judgment if you don’t agree with it. You are free to hire a lawyer to represent you in these processes.

Trial by Written Declaration

You submit the defense to your citation in writing when you conduct a trial by written declaration. You will be required to present a written declaration, while the officer who issued the ticket will have to write one as well. A judge will consider both declarations before making a decision. To be eligible for a Trial by Declaration, the following conditions must be satisfied:

• Bail or fine in full is required. You will receive a refund in a couple of weeks if the judge rules in your favor.
• Only infractions, not crimes, may be contested.
• Your case cannot demonstrate any prior non-appearances or non-payments.
• Make a written “not guilty” plea. On a “Request For Trial” form, this is done.

Trial De Novo, or A Request for New Trial

You may request a fresh trial if you were convicted following a trial by written declaration. A defendant who disagrees with the court’s ruling may request a new trial under Vehicle Code 40902(d). By submitting the “Request for New Trial” form within 20 days of the day the clerk mailed the citation notice, you must request the Trial de Novo (Trial De Novo).

How to fight a ticket in California? 

You can phone the Ticket Snipers team in addition to the above-listed options! Hire a ticket sniper traffic ticket specialist. By hiring a skilled traffic ticket lawyer, you can reduce the stress and annoyance that come with dealing with the citation. We can assist you in determining the best course of action to take in order to contest the citation and prevent having it recorded on your driving record and accruing points that could raise your insurance rates.

Please contact us at Ticket Snipers if you have any questions about what it means to contest a ticket and how to defend yourself against any type of traffic ticket. We are available 24/7 if you’d like to chat with one of our trained consultants about traffic ticket infractions.