This might seem very obvious to any lawyer, but many people ask, "how should I plead?" to the traffic ticket they just received. The answer is "Not Guilty".
You always want to plead "not guilty" even if you believe that you are, in fact, guilty of the offense with which you are charged. This entry of "not guilty" allows you to attend court, speak with the prosecutor and maybe have your charge reduced to a lesser offense, one with no or fewer points.
On the back of your ticket, complaint or summons, you will find the court's name and telephone number. Many routine traffic tickets do not require a court appearance and so you must call five to seven days in advance of the court date in order to be placed on the court docket. This allows you to appear in front of the judge and have your case heard.
Although each municipal court is somewhat different, most will allow you to plea bargain a traffic ticket on your first appearance without the presence of the police officer. Usually, if it cannot be worked out during this first appearance, then the matter is listed a second time for trial.
If you are trying to extend the date at which you are to appear, call on the very last day allowed according to the instructions on the back of the ticket or simply ask the court staff for a postponement.
Most court dates can be extended once, unless it is a driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge. DWI tickets are typically fast-tracked so that they may be concluded within 60 days.
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Posted by: traffic attorney california | August 29, 2011 at 09:47 AM