4 Steps to Take After You Got a Texting and Driving Ticket

Receiving a ticket for texting and driving is disheartening. If this is your first time getting a citation, you’re probably feeling stressed out and have a lot of questions. You might be scared about paying fines or going to court. However, you don’t need to be scared. There are some simple things you need to take care of after getting a ticket. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

1. Contact a Lawyer

The first thing you should do is consult a traffic ticket attorney. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to pay a ticket immediately. Ticket fighters can advise you on how to best challenge a ticket so you don’t have to deal with the financial and legal consequences.

2. Decide How to Fight Your Ticket

A traffic ticket lawyer Sacramento will tell you best course of action. These are your two options:

• Trial via mail: You can plead not guilty by sending a letter along with written evidence.
• Go to court: You can request a trial and attend a court hearing where you will plead your innocence.

No matter which route you choose, the next steps will be the same.

3. Prepare Evidence

In order to get your citation dropped, you’ll need to provide convincing evidence. Potential evidence may include:

• Phone records.
• Errors on the ticket, such as a misidentified car or misspelled name.
• Witness testimony.

The exact types of evidence you gather will depend on your unique case.

4. Talk to the Prosecutor

Whether you go to court or send a letter, you may have the ability to meet with the prosecutor or have your attorney attend the meeting. During this session, you or your lawyer can negotiate for a dropped or reduced charge.

Getting a citation for distracted driving can seem like the end of the world at first, but as long as you follow these guidelines and speak with a lawyer, you may be able to get out of it.