How to Get Out of a Ticket

Women have an easy way to walk away with a warning: waterworks.But for guys, it’s not that easy. And while we’re not saying you should be able to get out of every ticket—if you’re hit with a DUI, that’s your own fault—here are some tips for simple parking tickets or those situations where you and the officer have a difference of opinion on the color of that stoplight.




Parking Tickets


A lot of people won’t fight parking tickets because they think they can’t fight city hall. But whether you deserved the ticket or not, there are many ways that you can get out of paying it, says Feder.


Check the Accuracy
There are specific things that have to be on every parking ticket, says Feder. And if these items are left off of the ticket (or are written down inaccurately)—it has to be dismissed. So what should you look for? Check for the following: The make of the vehicle, the license plate number, address where the infraction happened, an accurate date and time, as well as the signature of the officer. “No joke, 20-25 percent of the time, tickets are inaccurate—so people have to check,” says Feder.


Right Or Wrong—Fight the Ticket
Even if you’re wrong, fight the ticket anyways, says Feder. Write in and appeal your ticket, they want to keep people out of traffic court—so even if they don’t dismiss the entire thing, they’ll most likely reduce the fees. “But when you’re writing in, don’t ramble and be rude,” says Feder. “At this point, it’s arbitrary. Be relevant and to the point. And if you can include a statement from an eye witness, that will improve your chances for getting off the hook tenfold.”


Speeding Tickets


Fess Up
The best way to avoid a ticket is to be honest and take responsibility. “Cops deal with people from all walks of life, from every strata of society, every single day,” says Pomper. “They’re not easily fooled or manipulated. If you’re simply saying what you think the cop wants to hear, he or she will probably detect it. That’s why, as they say, honesty is the best policy.” Drivers lie to cops or try to make excuses so often, it’s a relief to hear honesty and see a driver taking responsibility, says Pomper.


Bite Your Tongue
Rather than getting angry that you’ve been busted, kill ‘em with kindness. If you’re polite, and take responsibility for what you did, the officer might give you a break and cite you for a lesser violation, says Pomper. Whatever you do, don’t say, “whatever,” or “I’m gonna have your badge,” and for God’s sake don’t tell the officer, “I’m calling my lawyer,” says Pomper. Cops deal with lawyers all the time—they’re not intimidated by them.


Be Prepared
If you’re looking to impress the officer, being well prepared is a good way to do it. “If the driver wants to have the documents readily available, which cops do like, keep it in a visor holder,” says Pomper. “In this case, the driver is reaching up to where the officer can see what he or she is doing.” Another great tip is to keep your hands on the steering wheel, cops prefer to see the ten and two positions. And once the office is up by the window, moving hands to the lap is fine, says Pomper. Lastly, if it’s dark out, the officer will appreciate it if the driver turns on the dome light. It takes some of the mystery out of the stop, says Pomper.