Speeding Ticket: Early Resolution vs. Trial in Alberta

When you get a speeding ticket, you have a few options in Alberta. You can go to trial and fight the charge, you can pay the fine and accept the consequences, or you can look for an early resolution for your speeding ticket. 

What does that mean? A speeding ticket early resolution involves meeting with the prosecutor and negotiating. It can lead to a smaller fine and fewer demerit points, which have real long-term benefits.

Key Takeaways

• Drivers in Alberta have three options after receiving a speeding ticket: pay the fine, seek early resolution, or go to trial.
• Speeding ticket early resolution involves meeting with a prosecutor to negotiate reduced fines or demerit points.
• A clean driving record improves the likelihood of receiving reductions during early resolution meetings.
• Demerit points from speeding tickets remain on a driver’s record for three years and can impact insurance premiums.
• Paying a speeding ticket outright is often the most expensive long-term option due to insurance increases.
• Hiring a traffic ticket expert can significantly improve outcomes in early resolution or at trial.

What Are Your Options When You Get a Speeding Ticket?

Speeding tickets are among the most common traffic tickets in Alberta, which can lead many drivers to assume they should pay the fine and move on. In most cases, though, that can be the worst decision you can make. Along with the fine that is listed on the ticket, there are hidden costs that come with a speeding ticket, including:

• Demerit points that stay on your driving record for three years
• If you get 15 demerit points, your license is suspended
• Hikes in the insurance premiums you pay

With that in mind, seeking an alternative resolution is in most drivers’ best interests when they get a speeding ticket. You have a few options: You can pay the fine, go to trial, or try for a speeding ticket early resolution, where you’ll meet with the prosecutor and try to negotiate a reduced penalty.

What Is an Early Resolution Meeting?

For a speeding ticket, early resolution meetings normally happen on your court date and involve meeting with a prosecutor. You will discuss:

• The specifics of the charges
• Your driving record and whether you have a history of similar infractions
• Possible reductions

Why Choose Early Resolution?

There are several reasons to choose early resolution of a speeding ticket, including reductions in the amount you’ll owe and the number of demerit points you’ll be assigned.

The benefit for the prosecutor is that they don’t need to go to trial, either. They’ll likely need witnesses, including police officers who are often paid overtime to attend court, so speeding ticket early resolution can save the government money.

For you, even if you accept reduced charges and plead guilty to them, you don’t need to go to trial and will likely face fewer fines, and there will be less of an impact on your driving record. That, in turn, may prevent any increases to the insurance premiums you pay.

What to Expect When You Meet with a Prosecutor

Prosecutors are required to hand over any evidence that’s been collected through a process called disclosure, so they won’t be trying to trick you or hide anything. For many offences, agreeing to an early resolution can save them time with a speeding ticket.

This is where having a traffic ticket expert like the team at We Defend can be particularly helpful. Traffic ticket experts have worked with many prosecutors at traffic court before and can negotiate effectively to secure an early resolution to a speeding ticket that works for you. They know what to say at an early resolution meeting for speeding.

When meeting with a prosecutor, you should expect: 

• To go over the charges against you
• Speak about any evidence that’s been collected
• Look at your driving record and whether you’ve had speeding tickets in the past
• Discuss early resolution options, including a reduced fine and demerit points

It’s important that you dress smartly and be respectful when speaking with the prosecutor. That alone may not get you the early resolution you want, but it doesn’t hurt, either.

What’s the Alternative to a Speeding Ticket Early Resolution?

The alternatives to a speeding ticket early resolution are pretty straightforward:

• Pay your fine: This means you’re pleading guilty to the charges against you. You’ll pay the fine, either in person or online, and accept the demerit points it adds to your driving record. That can lead to paying more in insurance, making this the most expensive option in many cases.
• Go to trial alone: You also have the option of pleading not guilty and making the case for why your ticket should be thrown out. Some people do choose to do this alone, but that can be challenging if you don’t know anything about the traffic court process. You’ll have to present your evidence in front of a judge and rely on their decision.
• Hire a traffic expert and go to trial: Many drivers who are facing speeding tickets choose to hire a professional. You don’t need to get a lawyer, and hiring a traffic ticket expert can give you the best chance of beating the ticket. They can handle disclosure review and will be present on the day of your trial to present your case to the judge.

Choosing the Right Option for Your Speeding Ticket

A speeding ticket can have lasting consequences beyond the fine itself, including demerit points and higher insurance costs. Working with a traffic ticket expert gives you the best chance of reducing or dismissing charges through early resolution or trial.

Book your free consultation with We Defend and protect your driving record today.

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