Fighting a New Jersey Speeding Ticket
Speeding is one of the most common types of traffic violations you can face in New Jersey. In fact, almost everyone knows someone who has gotten a speeding ticket at one time or another. Despite the commonality of these types of tickets, a speeding ticket can cause significant complications in your life.
A speeding ticket often involves expensive fines, hike in insurance premiums, and points on your driving record. The situation can be even worse if the traffic violation involves a grossly excessive speed or some other type of exacerbating factor that can possibly result in a court imposed suspension or jail time. These things make it imperative for you to take all steps necessary to try to fight your speeding ticket and avoid a conviction. The first step is to fighting a speeding ticket is to hire an experienced New Jersey traffic ticket attorney.
Important Facts You Need to Know About a New Jersey Speeding Ticket
New Jersey has three basic speeding zones. Operating a motor vehicle in excess of the maximum speeds in any of these zones can result in a speeding offense. The three basic speeding zones are as follows:
- Business or residential district: 25 miles per hour
- Suburban business or residential district: 35 miles per hour
- All other locations (with the exception of areas covered under the 65 miles per hour limit): 55 miles per hour
If you fail to adhere to the maximum in any of these zones, you will be in violation of the law and will be subject to the penalties under New Jersey Speeding Law under N.J.S.A. 39:4-98.
Defenses to Speeding Tickets
An experienced New Jersey speeding ticket attorney will employ all strategies necessary to fight your ticket to have it dropped entirely or reduced. Three common defenses to speeding ticket charges include:
Necessity dictated by emergency. One common defense is to prove that you were speeding out of necessity that was dictated by an emergency.
Officer obtained evidence in a faulty manner. The state needs to provide some type of evidence to prove you exceeded the speed limit. However, if this evidence was obtained in a faulty manner or the evidence itself is insufficient, it will be a viable defense in fighting your ticket.
Officer error. You can also secure an innocent conviction and have the speeding ticket dropped entirely if you or your NJ ticket attorney can prove that the officer gave you the ticket in error. This is generally a more difficult defense to establish.
Call a New Jersey Traffic Ticket Attorney Today
If you or someone you know was cited with a traffic violation, an experienced attorney can help fight the ticket and avoid the negative consequences. Call Beninato & Matrafajlo Attorneys at Law, LLC at 908-355-7100 to schedule a free, complimentary consultation with our legal team today.