My favorite things in life don’t cost money. It is really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time. – Steve Jobs
These are prophetic words considering that Jobs was arguably one of America’s most prolific innovators who died at the relatively young age of 55. However, in that somewhat short life, as co-founder, president and CEO of Apple, Inc .; co-founder and CEO of Pixar; and founder and CEO of NeXT, Inc., succeeded in changing the way Americans think about and use technology. Some of the most common electronic items that we use every day to communicate and transact business would never have existed if they had not been first conceived in Jobs’s mind or modified by him to become a better product.
While there has been much controversy over many of Jobs’ business practices, few can deny that the scale of his success could not have been achieved without certain attributes. One of these attributes that was evident to me was his obvious gift of time management and his appreciation of the value of time. Without them, the valuable tools and processes you designed or helped create would not exist. This type of philosophy is valid for any achievement; However, the value of time is not only important to the world’s great innovators.
No matter your station in life, no matter your goals, we all have daily lives that need to be managed. Although time can be interpreted as an ethereal concept, it is what humans operate by. When we sleep, when we eat, when we play, and when we buckle up and go to work, it all depends on the weather. Consequently, most of us cannot afford to waste the hours of our day with reckless abandon. In fact, for many of us, time is at a premium, so wasting it in an effort to navigate the tremendous traffic often encountered on the roads can be a frustrating experience.
It is that frustration that often leads to the volumes of traffic tickets, most often speeding tickets, being issued here. You get in the car and just want to go to that business lunch or your 8 a.m. meeting, but a sea of bumpers and brake lights comes between you and your date. Getting into and out of traffic, moving forward, or leaning too heavily on the gas pedal seems too tempting.
The problem is those pesky cops and their radars. One minute you’re having a good time and you think you might even have time for a cup of coffee, and the next minute you’re seeing spots before your eyes as a result of the flashing lights of the police car behind you. Considering it looks like it’s mounted on your bumper, there’s no question you’re who he’s looking for. There goes your meeting and there goes your quick cup of coffee. This is no it’s going to be quick.
If this is not your first speeding ticket, you may find that it will take a while. If it’s your first speeding ticket, you’d better get comfortable because you’re not going anywhere for a while. Police officers do this all day. Just like you methodically add up a column of numbers, receive phone calls, or whatever element of your job you have to work on during the day, he will do the same: stick with his daily work routine.
The traffic stop is just the beginning of the time you will have to spend in this speeding ticket process, especially if you choose to fight your traffic ticket in court. Many people don’t realize how much time and effort this process takes. When you go to court, there are many people standing, sitting, and generally waiting. Those who work within the judicial system are like the police, they simply fill their day without considering their needs to meet theirs.
That’s only a small part of the time it will cost you a speeding ticket. If you plan to launch a successful defense, there will be a lot of homework involved. You need to document everything like the condition of the road you were on, the time of day, and the weather. You should also review your traffic ticket very closely to make sure the police officer did not make any mistakes. Even if it did, they are not always easy for the average driver to catch. If you find a mistake, that is no guarantee that your ticket will be dismissed, but it could help in some circumstances. In addition, you will need to research the general statute governing speeding or whatever crime you have been cited for. These statutes are not always easy to find and are often unclear to someone who is not trained in the field of traffic law. At this point, you sure could use a good traffic lawyer.
Instead of hiring a traffic attorney, once you appear in court, you should request that your speeding ticket be dismissed or at least reduced. Going to court prepared and sounding like you know what you’re talking about when doing your homework can work to your advantage here. However, you should keep in mind that there are other considerations such as your attitude or your appearance. If you show up and are not dressed decently or have a chip on your shoulder, the judge or hearing officer will likely feel that you do not respect the court or the system and deny your request.
Even being well prepared and being respectful may not guarantee a positive outcome. As with other positions of power, some traffic court judges may have little concern about the plight of those who appear before them. Perhaps the judge is tired after hearing one excuse after another, or perhaps he just takes pleasure in exercising the power that his position gives him. Either way, just like cops who like to write speeding tickets, there are judges who like to see the “offender” pay the consequences.
It shouldn’t be that difficult to defend yourself, but when it comes to a bureaucracy you just have to be patient and be informed. You may not realize it at first, but this is a situation where a traffic ticket attorney is beneficial to you. We already understand the traffic laws you would have to learn. We also work with these police officers and judges on a regular basis, which gives us an idea of what to expect from them and how to approach them. Often times, our established relationships with court officials benefit our clients because we know what to do, how to conduct ourselves in court, and what to expect from many of the judges.
In addition to the significant amount of time hiring a traffic ticket attorney can save you, there is a very real possibility that it will save you a lot of money in the long run if you can avoid the fines and penalties associated with speeding. appointment. Remember that the process of fighting a traffic ticket can be lengthy and expensive. If you are considering doing it, which you certainly should do, be sure to consider all of your options before embarking on the effort. Call us at 954-967-9888 for a rate inquiry. We will be happy to analyze all the alternatives that you may have at your disposal.