The Ticket Technicalities That Matter

Recently, news went viral about a woman in Ohio who got out of a traffic ticket due to comma placement. According to ABC, the woman had parked her pickup truck in front of a sign that prohibited parking for any “motor vehicle camper, trailer, farm implemented and/or non-motorized vehicle” for longer than a day. She returned to her truck to find a ticket. The woman successfully argued that because there was no comma between “motor vehicle” and “camper,” that the sign did not apply to her.

While situations such as this might be rare, there are technicalities that are more common and can help motorists in South Carolina and elsewhere beat a citation. Learning about these mistakes could prevent a driver from encountering unnecessary fines and license points:

 Incorrect Vehicle or License Information

When the law enforcement officer fills out a ticket, he or she is supposed to enter information including the following:

• The driver’s license number
• The license plate number
• The make and model of the vehicle

A mistake in one of these areas could indicate that the ticket is actually meant for someone else. To argue this point, the driver would have to bring documentation that demonstrates the accurate information.

Incorrect Coding

On the ticket is a spot for law enforcement to enter a code that indicates which law was broken, from speeding to rolling through a stop sign. When there is no code entered or if the code is hard to read, a driver could argue that there is no clear record of what the charges are. Therefore, there is a chance that a judge could dismiss the ticket.

An Incomplete Ticket

Lastly, it is possible that a law enforcement officer has left part of the ticket blank. This can occur when there is another call that must be answered or if the officer is in a hurry. An incomplete ticket could be missing pertinent information, including information about the driver, the infraction or other identifying factors.

Arguing a Ticket

Whether it is a technicality or other issue that a driver tries to fight, it is imperative to be prepared. Drivers should bring as much evidence as possible to the hearing, which could includes photographs of the scene, copies of the citation and any documents that support the claim.

At Nosal & Jeter, LLP we have seen tickets dismissed due to a range of reasons. There could be a technical issue with the ticket or the officer failed to appear in court. We can help you build a strong argument in your defense in the hopes of securing a favorable outcome.