If a police officer pulls you over and accuses you of speeding, you may feel very surprised by their accusations. After all, you monitor your speed and do your best to remain in compliance with the posted limits. You thought you were driving at or just over the speed limit, but the officer claims you exceeded it by a significant amount.
Maybe after you received the ticket, you started to look into the situation. After thinking it over or stopping in to see your mechanic, you realize that your speedometer was inaccurate. You know you would never have gotten the ticket if the speedometer was right.
Could you bring repair or maintenance records to court as a means of defending against the ticket?
Inadequate maintenance is unlikely work in your favor
Claiming that you failed to maintain the vehicle in a safe condition is not the best defense strategy possible when facing a ticket. Generally speaking, New York expects that drivers will keep their vehicles in safe operating condition. That includes ensuring that the speedometer remains properly calibrated.
After all, adhering to speed limits is a crucial part of being safe at the wheel, and you cannot comply with the speed limit if you cannot accurately gauge your speed. While showing that there was something wrong with your speedometer will generally not work, it could be an option if you just bought a vehicle and were unaware of the defect.
There are likely other defense strategies that could help you fight back against a speeding infraction. Defending against your recent speeding ticket can help you keep your license and maintain low insurance costs.