Most people who get a traffic ticket pay the fine through the mail and do not show up at court to even plead guilty.  However, like all criminal charges, the state must prove in court that you did what the ticket charges you with.  This means that if you plead not guilty the officer who issued the ticket must testify to facts that prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the offense.

STEP 1 – Review the Traffic Citation
Unlike a felony or even a misdemeanor there is no other paperwork that an officer will submit to the court.  Your traffic ticket contains all of the information regarding your charges.  You should review the information on the ticket to ensure its accuracy.   If a material inaccuracy is on the ticket it may be grounds for dismissal of the ticket.  This includes your name, license number, location of the infraction or type of infraction.  If you notice that the officer has put incorrect information on the citation DO NOT tell him so he can correct it, save it until you are at trial.

STEP 2 - Consult with an Attorney
Defendants facing serious charges such as such as reckless driving, aggressive driving or racing may be subject to a substantial fine, loss of driving privileges or even jail  if there are previous convictions.  It may be in your best interest to contact an attorney.  You are allowed to have an attorney represent you in traffic court, however unless you are facing jail time a judge will not appoint an attorney for you, no matter how poor you may be.

STEP 3 – Wait for your Summons
With most traffic citations you have the option of immediately paying the ticket.  If you do not pay you will receive a summons in the mail notifying you of your court date.  At that time you are usually allowed to pay the ticket as well, or plead not guilty and have a trial.

STEP 4 – File for a Continuance
A continuance is a motion filed with the court to change a court date.  Some attorneys suggest doing this with traffic tickets because the officer is less likely to appear if the original court date is changed.  Every jurisdiction has a required procedure to file for a continuance, it must be requested by a certain time and you may have to give a reason for it.  An attorney can help you properly request a continuance.

STEP 5 – Appear in Court
Some jurisdictions may make defendants appear at a separate initial appearance if entering a not guilty plea.  If you plead guilty you may be sentenced right then.  If you plead not guilty a trial date will be scheduled for a later time.  Some jurisdictions conduct trials at the same time that defendants enter their plea.

Every defendant to a traffic citation is allowed to be represented by an attorney.  For minor infractions the expense may not be worth it, but for infractions that may have serious consequences an attorney may be a good choice.  If you have a good basis for acquittal an experienced attorney can help to get the charges dismissed or reduced.