Reduce My Speeding Ticket

“Can you get this reduced? “That is the question I am always asked when somebody comes to me with a speeding ticket. The only honest answer I can give is “depends.” “Can you reduce my speeding ticket?” they ask.

Different Jurisdictions

It isn’t the same answer in every jurisdiction. Speeding tickets can be filed in State or Municipal court.  If you are stopped on an Interstate highway here in Missouri by the Missouri State Highway Patrol your ticket is most likely going to be filed in State Court. But not always.

If you are stopped on an Interstate Highway or other street or roadway by a local police officer he or she is probably going to file that ticket in the corresponding city or county municipal court. But not always.

Associate vs Municipal Courts

Each county in Missouri has at least one Associate Circuit Court. That is where routine traffic tickets are handled at the State level. The elected prosecuting attorney of that county handles the prosecution. Each of those offices has its own set of rules that determine under what circumstances a speeding ticket will or will not be reduced.

In each county there are separate municipalities. These municipalities can establish their own court systems. Usually the judge and prosecutor are appointed by either the mayor or the board of aldermen. Each of these municipalities has its own set of rules about reducing speeding tickets. Some make sense. Some don’t.

Over 80 MPH

Here is one thing that is pretty easy to understand. Once you get above 80 miles per hour your chances of getting the ticket reduced go down. Sometimes they even do not exist.

That is a problem I know from riding my motorcycle all over this country that 80 miles per hour is the speed most people are traveling on the Interstates. It is not unusual for people to drive 80 mph or more.

There seems to be a belief that police officers give you 10 miles per hour over the speed limit before they stop you. Some do, some don’t.

The choice is yours. But if you get caught speeding give me a call. I can help you no matter what speed you were traveling.