I talk to clients quite a bit and every once in a while the question comes up, “should I sign the traffic ticket when pulled over?” It’s a great question and something we all ask ourselves in a possibly tense situation.
Signing the ticket is something you do when you are giving the citation at the place of the violation. The officer pulled you over, they tell you why they are giving you a citation, and then you are to sign the paperwork. At this point you may ask yourself, “wait, if I sign the ticket, does that mean I can’t fight the ticket later?” What is even worse is if you have a back and forth with the officer regarding signing the ticket.
The answer is: Always sign the ticket.
Let me say that again- always sign the ticket. Signing the ticket is not saying that you admit fault or agreeing to the charges. It states you promise to come into court to handle the ticket in question. A pretty simple concept of which you don’t want to mistake.
If you don’t sign the ticket, the officer has the right to arrest you and bring you to jail.
So just sign the ticket and get ready for your court date to tell your side of the story. Don’t do it to the officer, they already made up their mind to give you the ticket. And don’t show them you mean business by not signing the paperwork, it doesn’t help and it doesn’t mean you plead guilty to the charges.
So if you’re asking yourself “should I sign the traffic ticket when I’m pulled over,” or if you have any questions about your traffic ticket, shoot me a text at 504-535-LADY or 535-5239 for a free consultation. Heather C. Ford is ready to help you protect your record and your future.