Speeding. We have all done it. Motorists for some reason or another have exceeded the speed limit. Whether we meant to or not, that is another story. At some point, chances are that most drivers are going to get saddled with a speeding ticket. While we’ve all done it, police in Lancaster and across Pennsylvania are cracking down on aggressive driving, including issuing additional speeding tickets. Police are even going so far as to set people up to fail by setting up speed traps around Lancaster.
Unfortunately, in Lancaster, a simple speeding ticket can have some pretty intense consequences. In the State of Pennsylvania a speeding ticket automatically comes with two immediate, automatic consequences: 1) You’re going to pay up. Fine amounts vary depending on how fast you were clocked going over the speed limit. On top of the fine there are court costs, surcharges and additional fees that are added that can add up quick. 2) It’s going on your record. Each speeding offense is worth anywhere from 1-5 points and those points are assessed to your license in line with the severity of the offense. If you earn 6 or more points over a period of time of 12 months, you’ll earn a suspension of your driver’s license in Lancaster. On top of those two things, you are likely to see your insurance rates climb.
If you end up with a speeding ticket in Lancaster, you could be forced to attend a “ driving university” - a program designed to help you know and remember the rules of the road and help prevent future speeding tickets.
If you’re unlucky and you wind up with a speeding ticket, you’re in luck because you have several options when it comes to a Speeding ticket in Lancaster The first option is to plead guilty, pay the ticket and incur the points on your record. There are several methods for payment including paying online or in person. Paying a speeding ticket in Lancaster is an admission of guilt and is entered by the court as a guilty plea. Points will be added to your driving record, unless you choose option two.
The second option is to plead not guilty, post collateral, and request a hearing on the matter. At a hearing, you are given an opportunity to contest the ticket and give your side of the story. What seem like reasonable defenses are plentiful, but few are actually legally sound.
It’s difficult to represent yourself in a speeding ticket hearing because of the difficulty involved in proving you were not speeding. This is a great time to get a traffic court attorney involved by visiting PA. Your attorney will have access to more records and documents that will enable them to make an arguable claim on your defense.
Visit the Lancaster Police Department’s website for more information: https://lancasterpolice.com/ or visit them in person at Lancaster Bureau of Police, 39 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603-3510.
Learn more about your fines and additional penalties, and how to pay or contest your ticket here in Lancaster: https://www.trafficpayment.com/SearchByInvoiceInfo.aspx?csdId=242