Contesting a speeding ticket can definitely be worth your time and expense, even if you committed the traffic violation. That's right, even if you committed the violation. Here's why: Oftentimes, the consequences to just paying your ticket online are too sever to ignore.

For example, you could easily have your license suspended by the ODMV, if the officer did not accept your proof of insurance. You might also unnecessarily rack up points on your license. This could cause issues with your insurance rates, make it more difficult to contest tickets in the future, can cause your license to get suspended, and can affect your ability to work.

Going to court is an especially wise choice if you hold a commercial driver's license, or use a company vehicle. Many speeding convictions in Ohio come with points, and carrying points often automatically disqualifies people from many driving jobs.

But here is the good news: if you want to fight a speeding ticket is, police and prosecutors can have a hard time proving that the offense occurred. The prosecution must present clear evidence that the device used to track and record a suspect's speed was working properly and recently calibrated when the officer used it. Any missing paperwork on how recently the device was serviced can work in your favor. And if the officer cannot adequately describe or demonstrate how to use the device properly, or if the officer did not track your speed in the manner in which he was trained to track it, this will affect the prosecutor's ability to prove the case against you.

Yet another reason to take a speeding ticket to court is that the officer who issued the citation may not appear to testify. You may not automatically have the charge dismissed if the officer misses the original hearing date, but dismissal is a possibility.

Another possibility, in lieu of taking your ticket to trial, is to have your speeding ticket attorney negotiate for a plea to a lesser offense; one that does not impose points against your license.

You should speak with a speeding ticket attorney in Columbus, Ohio, before just accepting the fine and any points. It just makes good financial sense. To schedule a free consultation, call April Campbell at (614) 356-8515 or reach out to her online.

Maybe you want to avoid getting a traffic ticket. Or you, like so many Americans, just want to go about your merry way, without police intrusion into your daily life. Either way, the best way to accomplish this, is to encourage police officers to ignore you. Plain and simple.

And the best way to encourage police officers to ignore you is to obey traffic laws. Easier said than done, right? Just keep in mind that whatever inconvenience it is to you, obeying traffic laws decreases your chances of being pulled over. And, added bonus, it also decreases your chances that an officer will begin to become suspicious that you're speeding, driving recklessly, operating a vehicle while impaired (OVI)-or worse, that you're carrying something on your person or in your car that the police want to search.

Here's what you should consider doing to avoid being pulled over:

• Obey traffic signals, street signs, and lane markers-Yellow lights turn red, and quickly.
• Come to a complete stop at stop signs: you can be pulled over for "rolling" through one.
• Slow down, especially if you're in a construction or school zone-it's just safer. Plus, fines for speeding through roadwork areas are double the usual amount. Ouch.
• Use turn signals-this lets other drivers know that you intend to change lanes, so that they can slow down to avoid rear-ending you.
• Use seat belts and child safety seats-while you can't be stopped for not using one alone; you can be charged for not wearing one when an officer pulls you over for another type of traffic violation. And by the way, passengers who do not wear seat belts can also get ticketed.
• Keep your license plates tags and car inspection up to date-out-of-date tags lead to numerous traffic stops that police officers use as opportunities to issue more serious citations and make arrests.
• Keep your car in good repair. Make sure all your lights work-so-called "equipment violations" can create the same kinds of problems as expired tags.
• Stay sober-or get a taxi. Whatever it takes: An OVI charge is serious, so much more so than a standard traffic ticket.

Here's what you should do if you get pulled over:

• Make sure you have your driver's license with you. Failing to do so can cause unnecessary extensions in your stop; may cause the officer to ask you to get out of the car and sit in the cruiser while he "looks you up"; and can even result in a charge itself.
• Have your proof of insurance with you at all times-failing to show your insurance at the time of a traffic stop can cause you to have your license suspended if you're not careful.
• Keep your seatbelt on: Officers can ticket you for not having your seatbelt on even if you took it off just to talk to the officer. .
• Be as polite as you can: it'll just make the transaction easier.
• Know that you don't have to answer any of the officer's questions if you don't want to: Any statements you make, even if it seems like the officer is inquiring in a friendly manner, can be used against you by the officer in court. Just decline to answer, politely.

Understand That You Have Legal Options

Consider challenging your ticket. Especially if you hold a commercial driver's license and drive for a living. You should not pay fines, accept points against your license, have your license suspended, or risk losing your job if the officer who issued the citation cannot definitively prove you did anything wrong.

Columbus, Ohio, speeding ticket lawyer April Campbell knows that hard evidence for traffic tickets does not always exist. And often, a speeding ticket lawyer can work the ticket out in a way that benefits you penalty-wise.

Need Help Fighting a Traffic Ticket?

A skilled and experienced traffic ticket attorney in Columbus, Ohio, can explore many grounds for contesting a moving violation. If you are thinking about fighting a ticket, fill out this web form or call Campbell Law at (614) 356-8515 to request a free case consultation.

"Reckless operation" is the term Ohio uses for the traffic violation most states call reckless driving. And interestingly, the law covers more than driving a car or truck. Thus, what you may not know is that reckless operation of a boat or other watercraft can draw a ticket, a fine, and a license suspension, just as much as driving recklessly can.

But while the reckless operation statute is fairly specific on what the person steering a boat or watercraft cannot do, it isn't so specific when it comes to driving. Here is what you can't do when you're driving a boat:

• Go airborne
• Follow a water skier too closely
• Weave through a line of other vessels
• Create a dangerous wake
• Force another boat to turn suddenly just to avoid a collision

But for driving a vehicle, it's different. Ohio allows cities and counties to explicitly define what the main statute refers to as "willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property." This means that police officers who make traffic stops and respond to accident scenes, have a significant amount of discretion to determine when you're recklessly driving.

Actions that can be prosecuted as reckless operation of a car or truck include:

• Exceeding the posted speed limit by 25 mph or more
• Jumping a curb
• Going the wrong way on a highway or one-way street
• Falling asleep behind the wheel
• Crossing a double yellow line
• Illegal passing
• Running a red light
• Driving while impaired

Here's what you need to know about having a reckless operation conviction on your record:

1. You'll get points, and possibly a license suspension or jail time, if you're convicted of Reckless Operation

Reckless operation charges put 4 points on a convicted person's license. Multiple convictions on the offense within a single 12-month period can result in high fines and a jail sentence. Also, state law leaves it up to courts to decide whether to suspend the driver's license of a person found guilty of reckless operation. When imposed-which is often-that suspension lasts six months to three years. And, it extends to both personal licenses and commercial driver's licenses. Yikes.

1. Reckless Operation is linked to OVI

A first-time charge for operating a vehicle while impaired will sometimes be prosecuted as a reckless operation violation instead. A prosecutor may offer this option to a defendant for many reasons, including having little evidence for alcohol or drug use. Before signing off on any such plea deal, however, the person being charged should consult with a skilled and experienced Columbus, Ohio, OVI defense attorney. A reckless operation conviction can bring penalties similar to a drunk or drugged driving conviction. So, agreeing to accept the so-called "reduced" charge may not yield you the benefit you're looking for.

1. Many Defenses Against a Reckless Operation Charge Exist

The initial decision to issue a reckless operation charge rests largely with the police officer. So, questioning the evidence police and prosecutors claim to have for any of the actions that might be construed as "willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property" almost always makes sense. Just a few of the questions a Columbus reckless driving lawyer would want answered conclusively would be the following:

• Can radar records show the accused driver was speeding in a potentially dangerous manner?
• Does video show what the police officer says happened?
• Could mechanical problems or personal illness explain the events observed by the officer?
• Did the accused have to swerve or move into an intersection in order to avoid a more dangerous situation? Or, did the accused move to make way for an emergency vehicle?

If you need a reckless operation attorney in Columbus, Ohio, who can ask these questions and others, call Campbell Law at (614) 356-8515 or contact us online.