5 Speeding Ticket Myths

You're more likely to get a ticket in a red car. You can beat a red light camera ticket by wearing a hat that blocks your face. Fact or fiction? Nobody knows how they started, but there are some speeding ticket myths that have become common what passes for common wisdom.

Today, we're playing Mythbusters, and we're going to bust some speeding ticket myths for you. Buckle up.

Myth No. 1: Your Ticket Will Be Dismissed if There's A Mistake On Your Ticket.

Just because the officer misspelled your name or wrote a slight variation of your license plate number, your ticket will not get dismissed. The court will likely just amend the ticket to correct the error.

However, if the ticket has a wrong description of your car, the wrong street name, or the wrong code section listed for your offense, you may have a chance of getting the ticket dismissed. It's not a guarantee of the ticket being tossed, though.

Myth No. 2: You Can Ignore Out-of-State Tickets.

With the exception of Michigan and Wisconsin, all other states have entered into the Driver's License Compact or the Non-Resident Violator Compact. The two compact allows one state's DMV to notify your state's DMV of your out-of-state ticket. Once the out-of-state ticket is transferred to your DMV, the ticket will be treated as if it occurred in state.

Unless you're lucky enough to live in Michigan or Wisconsin, your ticket will follow you home. Do not ignore it unless you like paying increased fines.

Myth No. 3: Your Ticket Will Be Dismissed if The Officer Doesn't Show Up.

Technically, you have the right to confront your accuser, in this case, the police officer. Often, your ticket may be dismissed if the officer doesn't show.

However, your ticket won't always be automatically dismissed if he doesn't show up. Depending on the judge's whims, your hearing may be rescheduled to give the officer a chance to show up.

If you're going to take your chances with this method, try rescheduling the hearing yourself. Officers usually set many hearings on the same day for their convenience. If you move your hearing to a different date, there's a better chance the officer won't show

Myth No. 4: You're Not Speeding if You're Following the Flow of Traffic.

Just because everyone is going 75 mph in a 65 mph zone, doesn't mean you have free license to go 75 mph. If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you jump too? Following the flow of traffic is not a justifiable excuse for speeding.

Myth No. 5: Don't Sign The Ticket.

Signing a ticket is not an admission of guilt. Signing the ticket just means you acknowledge that you know about the ticket, and you agree to show up on the hearing date.

Not signing the ticket won't mean it will be dismissed. You, more likely, will just make the officer mad. If you don't sign, he'll be able to write "refused to sign," or, if he's in a really bad mood, or wants to play by the book, he could arrest you.

If you've received a speeding ticket and need help fighting it, an experienced traffic attorney will be able to help.

Related Resources:

• Browse Traffic Ticket Lawyers by Location (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
• Speeding Ticket: Should I Fight it or Pay it? (FindLaw's Blotter)
• Can You Beat a DUI Charge on a Technicality? (FindLaw's Blotter)
• What Is Traffic School? How Does It Help? (FindLaw's Injured)