If you are caught speeding, one of the first things you need to do after receiving your ticket and signing it, is to check it over for errors. A speeding ticket signed by the officer is considered to be a sworn affidavit to the court that all things stated on the ticket are, in fact, true. If the officer puts down incorrect information, it may be to your benefit.



The most important thing to check is if the officer actually signed the ticket. If the police officer did not sign your traffic ticket, generally, it is not legal. You could certainly make a motion to the court that your speeding case be dismissed as the ticket was unsigned and therefore, not legally a charge against you.

You'll also want to make sure the ticket describes correctly the vehicle you were driving when you were caught speeding. If you were driving a silver Dodge Neon and it was put down that you were driving a silver Plymouth Neon, it's no big deal and the ticket would hold up in court. However, if they put down you were in a red Subaru, it could be a fatal error and your charge would be dismissed. If the color and make is wrong, but are very similar to what you were driving, the ticket is good and will survive a court ruling.

Another fatal error to your speeding ticket may be if the officer does not put down the place you were caught speeding. If it simply states speeding at 45 in a 25 mile zone, they must also put down the street, such as Maple Street, going North just past Kensington. This will allow them to know exactly where you were driving when caught speeding. If it's incorrect or only has what speed you were going, it could get your case dismissed.

Of course, there are other errors that may occur on your speeding ticket. However, general misspellings, such as your name or address, will not do any harm to the officer's case against you. If they do not have the correct license plate, again, while it is an error, your ticket will certainly hold up in court.

If you do get caught speeding, make sure you check your speeding ticket after you've signed it for any errors. While they may not make mistakes often, don't forget that police officers are human and they can make errors like anyone else.