Do you have to plead guilty to a traffic citation?

When entering a plea with the Court on a traffic citation, you have three choices to make; guilty, not guilty, or no contest. The Judge only wants to hear one of them.

What happens when you say ” not guilty ” to a traffic ticket?

Discussion is over after “Not Guilty” is uttered. Once you say the words “not guilty”, there is no more explaining what happened or trying to negotiate with the Judge. The Judge sets a trial date and moves on to the next case.

When to plead no contest to a traffic ticket?

The most important time to use a no contest plea is when there is some damage associated with the charge, like an accident. If you ran a red light and hit someone and are charged with failure to obey a traffic control devise, a guilty plea and admission can be used in civil court to show fault for the accident.

When to plead not guilty to a traffic citation?

If you have any photos or if there were any witnesses to the incident that led to the traffic citation, you should review that evidence before you make a final decision to plead not guilty. Whether you decide to plead not guilty should depend on how strong your defense is and how likely you think you are to win your case.

What happens if a traffic ticket is misfiled?

(It should be noted that if the ticket was misfiled and the motorist fails to either appear in court or mail in a “Not Guilty” plea prior to the return date, the ticket will be subject to late fee, collections, and suspension once the ticket is properly filed).

How does traffic court pleas and arraignments work?

Depending on the state, choosing traffic school might or might not require the driver to admit the violation. Plead not guilty. Pleading not guilty at the arraignment is the equivalent or requesting a trial. When you plead not guilty, the judge will normally set a date in the future for the trial. Every driver’s situation is different.

What happens if you plead guilty to a traffic violation in Texas?

If you plead guilty or no contest, you’ll be required to pay your ticket and fines. You might have an opportunity to negotiate lower fines or penalties and/or points off your driving record by taking a Texas defensive driving class. These factors will all depend on your violation and it will be up to the court to decide.

What happens if you plead no contest to a speeding ticket?

If you stand in front of a judge and say that you are guilty and accept the punishment, you have admitted in court that you did the offense. That can be used against you in a trial if someone sues you as a result of your actions. If you plea no contest, you will still be found guilty as far as paying a fine but you have not admitted any guilt.

What’s the difference between a guilty plea and no contest?

The difference is that if you plea guilty in a criminal court, that plea can be used against you at any later civil trial. For example, if you are involved in a traffic accident and are issued a citation. If you stand in front of a judge and say that you are guilty and accept the punishment, you have admitted in court that you did the offense.

When entering a plea with the Court on a traffic citation, you have three choices to make; guilty, not guilty, or no contest. The Judge only wants to hear one of them.