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Free Speeding ticket appeal letter 2024 (guide + 3 samples)

This post covers a speeding ticket appeal letter.

A speeding ticket results in a fine, along with higher insurance premiums in some cases.

It is in your best interest to dispute traffic violations and get out of a speeding ticket.

Sometimes you can convince a police officer not to issue a ticket shortly after you were stopped.

In other situations, you will have to go to court and fight the ticket as part of a trial (this is where this post became necessary) 

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Disputing a speeding ticket is a huge legal responsibility, to help you get through it, here I will teach you;

  • How to appeal a speeding ticket
  • What to say when appealing a speeding ticket
  • What is a speeding ticket appeal letter
  • How to write a speeding ticket appeal letter
  • What happens when appealing a traffic ticket
  • Speeding ticket appeal letter template
  • Speeding ticket appeal letter sample
  • Sample letter to a judge to dismiss a ticket
  • etc.

Let’s get started

How to appeal a speeding ticket?

The procedure to appeal a traffic ticket differs from state to state.

But generally, After receiving the ticket, you have two to three weeks to appeal against your ticket through the “Written Statement” or “Request for Trial by Written Declaration” form. If your state does not require a court declaration form, write your statement as a business letter (speeding ticket appeal letter).

Request a copy of your driving record from the state before filing your appeal. If you have an excellent driving record, you are likely to receive favorable court treatment; otherwise, the court is unlikely to be sympathetic.

Whether you will use a form or speeding ticket appeal letter, Maintain a professional demeanor/tone.

Use no threatening or aggressive language; derogatory remarks directed at the officer who issued the citation will only enrage the judge.

To back up your claim, include any images, video footage, or witness testimony. You should make copies of these documents in case you don’t get them back.

Financial aid appeal letter templates

What to say when appealing a speeding ticket

When appealing a speeding ticket, it’s important to provide a clear and well-reasoned argument as to why the ticket should be dismissed or reduced. Here are some things you may want to say when appealing a speeding ticket.

  1. Evidence that the speed limit was not clearly marked or visible: If the speed limit was not clearly posted, or was obscured by foliage or other obstacles, you may argue that you were not aware you were exceeding the limit.
  2. Evidence that your speedometer was faulty: If your speedometer was faulty and you were not aware of your speed, you may argue that you should not be held responsible for the ticket.
  3. Evidence that you were not the person driving the vehicle: If you were not the person driving the vehicle at the time of the violation, you may argue that you should not be held responsible for the ticket.
  4. Evidence of extenuating circumstances: If there were extenuating circumstances such as an emergency, you may argue that it would be unjust to hold you responsible for the ticket.
  5. Information about your driving record: If you have a good driving record, you may want to mention that in your appeal as it may show that this incident was out of character for you.

It’s important to present evidence as much as possible. You can include photos, videos, witness statements, and any other relevant documentation to support your case.

You may read this article from carinsurance.com to see the most successful excuses to get out of speeding tickets.

What is a speeding ticket appeal letter?

A speeding ticket appeal letter is a brief statement of facts written to a court by a driver who believes the speeding ticket issued was unjustified in order to challenge the ticket and request the judge to reconsider it and dismiss or reduce it to a non-moving violation.

Although a speeding ticket appeal letter may not always be successful, it is always worth the try. the outcome of your appeal letter will be highly determined by the circumstances of your case, the evidence provided, and the tone of the letter.

How to write a speeding ticket appeal letter

A speeding ticket appeal letter is written in a business letter format, write your address, date, and court address. Start your letter by introducing yourself and state the purpose of your letter, proceed by providing the details of the ticket; date, ticket number, fine, etc., and tell the place of the incident plus your licensed plate number, after that provide the facts and evidence that shows that you deserve the court mercy, close your letter by requesting a relief. 

Afraid to write a letter to a judge/court? read here to learn how to write a professional letter to a judge/court.

Is writing a speeding ticket appeal letter necessary?

One of the first things to consider before writing a speeding ticket appeal letter is the severity of the violation.

Many speeding tickets can simply be dispatched with the payment of a fine, so you must consider the particular circumstances to determine the reason for the matter going to court.

You’ll have a hard time convincing the judge that you were wrongfully cited if you were captured on camera or by a police officer using a radar gun.

If you’re clearly guilty, you could plead guilty but request clemency because of your particular circumstances. If points will harm your job, for example, you could ask the court for a fine instead of a violation on your driving record.

However, if your vehicle’s speedometer was under-reporting your speed, if weather or other factors obscured the officer’s evaluation, or if there were other extraordinary circumstances, you may have a good chance to convince the judge.

If you are settled that the letter is necessary then, let’s see how you can craft your introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Introduction

In the first paragraph introduce yourself and state the purpose of your letter.

Continue by giving the date, number, and amount of the ticket, as well as the location of the incident and your license plate number.

for example;

This is a formal appeal request for a speeding ticket I received on [DATE]. The ticket number is [NUMBER], and my name and address are as stated above.

My car’s license plate is [NUMBER]. I got a ticket for [driving 40 mph in a 25 mph zone] on [Name of Street].

Body Paragraphs

In your body paragraphs factual statement regarding the incident, where necessary include any proof or photos of the occurrence,  including the reasons why you’re appealing the ticket.

You can utilize a variety of speeding ticket defenses to assist you to get that ticket, and any points associated with it, off your record. You may include something, like

  • The ticket is inaccurate.
    • challenge the Ticket’s Accuracy before you pull away, double-check that your ticket is exact to the nth degree. If there are any errors, such as putting down the incorrect license plate number or location, you can have the ticket dismissed.
  • The location was inconvenient
    • If you were driving and the speed limit sign was in an inconvenient location, you may be able to contest the ticket and get relief. If the sign is difficult to see, or It could have been blocked by a tree or anything else, you may have a case.
  • Laser and Radar were unreliable
    • You might be able to show that the radar or laser on the day you received your ticket was inaccurate. This is hard though, but once you can do it, it is worth the struggle.
  • Your current, clean driving record
  • Describe a driving maneuver you had to do for safety concerns that had an effect on your speed.
  • The consequences of the ticket on your work
  • The consequences of the ticket on your insurance
  • etc.

Closing paragraph

After providing all the facts and evidence, it is very effective to close your letter by requesting relief from the court.

You may specifically tell the court to dismiss the ticket and remove the fine and points from your driving record or you may write generally that the court should order any relief that may see fit in your circumstances.

for example

I humbly request that my speeding ticket be dismissed or reduced to a non-moving violation. This would stop my insurance premium from increasing.

What happens when appealing a traffic ticket?

A court will consider your case once your statement is received.

To make a decision on your case, he will consider your written statement and evidence, as well as the traffic officer’s report.

If you are found not guilty, the court will dismiss the ticket and remove the fine and points from your driving record.

If you are found guilty, you will be responsible for the original fine and points unless the judge decides to award you a lighter penalty, such as a reduced fine or a fine without points.

Speeding ticket appeal letter template

[Your Name]
[Your Adress]
[City, State, Zip Code]

[DATE]

[Name of Judge]
[Address of Court]
[City, State, Zip Code]

Dear [Juge’s last name]

Re: Speeding Ticket Appeal [Ticket No. [#]

This is my formal written statement to appeal against speeding Ticket No [ticket no.] i received on [date] at [location].

My name is [enter your name] and My license plate number is: [plate No].

This ticket appears to have been given to me erroneously because [add reasons]

(if you are confessing, try this ↓ )

I agree that I was speeding and that the officer was correct in issuing the ticket, but that was due to [add justification for speeding]

As my driving records show, I am a cautious driver who follows the speed limit at all times and I am humbly requesting that my speeding ticket be [add what do you need from the court]. This would stop my [how will the relief help you]

Sincerely

[Your Name]

[Signature]

Speeding ticket appeal letter sample

Speeding ticket appeal letter sample

[Your Name]
[Your Adress]
[City, State, Zip Code]

[DATE]

[Name of Judge]
[Address of Court]
[City, State, Zip Code]

Dear [Juge’s last name]

Re: Speeding Ticket Appeal [Ticket No.123490009]

This letter is an official request for an appeal against the above speeding ticket issued on January 1, 20…

My car’s license plate is 1ABC234. I got a ticket for going 50 mph in a 30 mph zone on Downtown Road.

I agree that I was speeding and that the officer was correct in issuing the ticket. However, my over-speed was not intentional since the 30mph sign was totally covered by several local restaurant signs and boards plus several bushes that make the speed limit sign totally invisible.  (I have enclosed a photograph of the scene, and I crave the leave of this honorable court to form part of my statement)

I am a cautious driver, this is the first speeding ticket I apologize for driving too quickly; if I had seen a new speed restriction sign, I would not have done so. I humbly request that my speeding ticket be dismissed since it may harm my driving career.

Sincerely

[Signature]

[Your Name]

Sample letter to a judge to dismiss a ticket

Sample letter to a judge to dismiss a ticket

George O’Connor
20 East Street
WESTOWN NSW 3333
(198) 777 7777
og@email.com

01/03/20..

Honorable Judge John Black
ABC County District Court
ABC United States Courthouse
100 South Finest Street – Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 11111

Dear Hon. Judge Black

Re: Speeding Ticket Appeal [Ticket No.305490009]

This is my formal written statement to appeal against the above speeding ticket I received on 1/01/20.. at Hope Road, Downtown.

My name is George O’Connor and My license plate number is 1ABC234.

I’m lodging this appeal because I strongly believe that this ticket was issued to me improperly and that the cameras recorded the driver who was driving very fast immediately before me, but he was able to flee, thus I was caught on camera instead of him.

This would be my first speeding ticket, according to my driving records. I am a cautious driver who always adheres to the speed limit and due to my age (67), I find it unsettling to exceed (50mph).  Thus It’s extremely unlikely that I was driving too fast.

I humbly request that my speeding ticket be dismissed. Since it will result in an increase in my insurance rate, which I cannot afford.

Sincerely

George O’Connor

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Isack Kimaro
Isack Kimaro

Isack Kimaro, a lawyer, Creative Writer and self-taught SEO expert has been a prominent author of law-related topics since 2017. Through hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge, Isack has successfully navigated the legal industry by providing valuable and easy-to-understand legal information to 500,000+ individuals of all levels of understanding.