Should I Fight an Already Reduced Speeding Ticket?

The decision to fight an already reduced speeding ticket is a common dilemma. You may be wondering whether you should take further action after an officer has already reduced the ticket. Here are some key considerations:

Officer’s Reduction

When an officer reduces your speeding ticket, it may be perceived as a goodwill gesture, especially if the interaction with the officer went smoothly. However, it’s important to recognize that the officer may not consider all the factors and consequences associated with a speeding ticket.

Main Concerns

There are several primary concerns when contemplating whether to challenge an already reduced ticket:

  • Insulting the Officer: Some individuals worry that contesting the ticket may be seen as an insult to the officer who attempted to offer a reduction. They may fear potential repercussions.
  • Ticket Escalation: Another concern is whether fighting the ticket will result in it being increased to the original speed. It’s essential to understand that you have control over this aspect, and the ticket will not be escalated to the initial speed.

Potential Outcomes

When deciding to challenge an already reduced ticket, there are two possible outcomes:

  • Further Reduction: In some cases, contesting the ticket could lead to a further reduction in the fine or penalties.
  • Complete Withdrawal: Challenging the ticket may uncover weaknesses in the evidence or other factors that could lead to the ticket being entirely withdrawn.

Your Right to Defend

It’s crucial to understand that you have the right to defend yourself in court. You should not be discouraged from exercising this right. Fearing that the ticket will be increased is generally unfounded. The process of defending a ticket can lead to more favorable outcomes, such as a reduced penalty or even the complete dismissal of the ticket.

Remember that you have the option to seek professional legal assistance, which can provide valuable guidance and increase the likelihood of achieving a favorable outcome.

Ultimately, the decision to fight an already reduced speeding ticket should be based on your individual circumstances and legal considerations. It’s important to weigh the potential benefits of challenging the ticket against the costs and potential consequences.

For more information on traffic ticket consequences and myths about speeding tickets, please visit these resources:

Feel free to explore these links to gain a better understanding of your options and rights when dealing with traffic tickets in Ontario.

 

Video Transcription:

I am often asked this question, should I fight an already reduced speeding ticket? Very good question. You’re wondering, ultimately what do I do? You have a speeding ticket, you know the officer has reduced the ticket. The interaction with the officer went well, you may feel guilty and he’s done something for you to try to gift you in, in a bad situation.

The officer is probably not considering all the things that need to be considered when you’re actually holding a speeding ticket. The consequence of a speeding ticket I will visit in other videos and you can search for those however when you’ve received a ticket that you know the officer is reduced for you, one of the main concerns is perhaps insulting the officer because you’ve chosen to fight the ticket or you’re worried about a threat from the officer that if you choose to fight this particular ticket, what will happen?

Will it be increased to the original speed? I’d like clients to know that clients have control over that. You do not need to worry about that ticket ever increasing to what they believe to be the actual speed that occurred. It’s never happened to any of the clients here at OTD Legal and it will certainly not happen to you.

However, in many cases, as we get involved with these in these types of situations, one of two things are going to happen. One, the ticket will be further reduced, or second, that ticket will be withdrawn entirely. Sometimes when an officer reduces that particular ticket at the side of the road, it’s an indication that there’s something else going on here, that there is a weakness in that evidence.

That is what we need to find. It may be something as simple as that court is so busy they cannot possibly deal with one of the members of my staff or myself attending that court and trying to defend someone. But what I would like you to be aware of is that you have every right to defend yourself in court, and you should not fear that anyone at any time is going to increase that particular offense to a higher speed.

by | May 23, 2023

Ron Harper

Ron Harper

Ron Harper, owner of OTD Ticket Defenders Legal Services, is a former Ontario Prosecutor and Licensed Paralegal with over 40 years of experience in traffic offences.

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