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How do I avoid a ticket for "failure to reduce speed/accident"?
Anonymous5 views3 answers
I had an accident on highway last week. But I would not call that an accident, because it was a touch! We were in traffic, moving very slowly with our feet on the brakes. I hit the car in front of me in the back bumper. It was just a very small indentation. You cannot even notice it if you stand 5 meters away.
The police showed up and gave me a ticket for “failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.” I never had an accident before and just don’t know what to do. The police took my driver’s license, and told me to pay $75 to get my license back in a month. They said there was no need to go to court.
I mailed my check 2 days later, but still don't know the reason why I am getting this ticket. I went to the office to get more information on the reason, and they told me I have to choice to go to court.
First, the Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident ticket is the officer’s opinion that you were at fault in the accident, due to improper driving. The only way to fight this ticket is to plead not guilty and force the prosecution to prove their case against you (otherwise known as a trial). The judge decides whether you are guilty and he/she is the tie-breaker. If the witness does not show up on the trial date, you may win the ticket by getting it dismissed.
Secondly, you should not have mailed in a court diversion fine of $75. When you mail in a fine, you are pleading guilty to the ticket and the case is over. Worse yet, a plea by mail usually gets reported to the Secretary of state (DMV) as a conviction. Convictions for moving violations may increase your insurance rates and put points on your record. Enough points on your record can lead to a suspended license.
The good news is that you still have some options to avoid a conviction and possibly beat the case. Good luck with your case.
When you rear-end someone with your car, the typical ticket that the police issue is "failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident." The issuance of the ticket does not mean you are guilty, it only means you are accused of the ticket.
When you mail in the ticket with the $75 payment, you are effectively pleading guilty to the ticket and admitting fault. If you do not want to admit fault in this matter, you should contact an attorney to vacate your plea of guilty and try to clear your name.
