11-27-07
Neo22,
Good Question.
Some lawyers will schedule a one time consultation for no fee or a reasonable charge.$50.00?. Lawyers who handle more serious traffic violations (DUI) will often handle minor ones or advise the driver what his options are.
A lawyer familiar with traffic violation defences should be able to answer whether or not the ticket contains a material defect that would lead to dismissal because the driver who was cited hasn't signed the ticket agreeing to appear in court by the date and time indicated.
In Washington Pacing, aircraft,VASCAR, radar, lazer are used by the officer to determine the speed of the car he has cited. ALL have FLAWS.These flaws are described in Chapter 6 of a book published by NOLO on beating your traffic ticket. This book should be available at a library. It also covers what questions to ask the officer in court.
In Washington a cited driver has the right to the officer's notes etc. BEFORE trial.(Contested Hearing) A court clerk should be able to provide you with the rules for obtaining discovery. (The clerk can't give legal advice however).
The driver can also SUBPEONA the officer to be present at trial.(Contested Hearing) If the officer fails to appear at the contested hearing the case should be dismissed. If the judge rules against the driver, he can file an appeal.
A not guilty plea can be made by filing an avidavit. Doing this the driver gives up his right to appeal & cannot file for discovery.
This means it's HIS written sworn statement versus the officer's sworn statement.The judgement is FINAL.
Speeding Ticket FAQ typed in on Google will give information on court procedure , including Discovery, as well as a section on what would likely make a ticket invalid.
Traffic Tickets in Washington State typed in on Google will bring up websites with information specific to Washington.
And of course there's the library.
Let us know if a traffic ticket is invalid if the officer issues a ticket without getting the driver to sign it.
Best Regards,
Hey There
