Is Speeding Ticket Mitigation the Right Choice?
One of the frequently asked questions we get here at Emerald City Law Group is if speeding ticket mitigation is the right choice. Today I want to answer that question with an emphatic no!
Three Reasons Speeding Ticket Mitigation is Not the Answer
It's easy for me to just tell you no, without any explanation, right? But that's not how we do it here. I don't want to just tell you why it's a bad choice, I want you to know why it's a bad choice.
We're not just about getting paid here. We're more than happy to hand out some free advice from time to time.
1. You Still Have to Go to Court
This may or may not be a problem for you, but if I wasn't a traffic attorney, taking the time to go to court in the middle of the day to ask for a $50 discount would be a colossal waste of time for me.
Let's assume you make $20/hour. If it takes you an hour to get to court, an hour for court to take place, and an hour to get back, then you've already paid more than if you just paid the ticket (3 hours of lost vacation time). Factor in gas and the hassle and you're losing more by contesting than not.
2. Speeding Ticket Mitigation Requires Groveling
I don't know about you, but the last thing I want to do is get up in front of some judge and explain to them why I was driving too fast. And the worst thing is I'd probably have to come up with some lame excuse.
There is nothing I hate more than having to tell someone I did something wrong that I don't think is wrong and then throw myself at their mercy. I don't think you should have to do that either.
3. Your Car Insurance is Still Affected
This is probably the number one reason why speeding ticket mitigation is not the right choice. When you mitigate your ticket you are admitting to speeding. When the judge reduces the fine you are found to have been speeding.
That information is reported to the Department of Licensing who then reports it to your insurance company, who then raises your rates.
What Should You do if You get a Speeding Ticket?
The obvious answer is to call us for help - 206.973.0407. We can answer your questions, learn about your situation, and help you decide what the best course of action is for you.
At the end of the day, don't mitigate. There are better options.
Christopher Small is the co-owner of Emerald City Law Group. He gets a kick out of beating speeding tickets. He figures you