How to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Alaska

Alaska law enforcement agencies issue traffic tickets to private and commercial motorists, pedestrians, and other road users who violate vehicle and traffic laws or commit traffic violations. Traffic tickets typically contain information regarding the offender, the nature of the breach, penalties, and details of the court where the ticket recipient may respond to the traffic ticket.

Ticket recipients in Alaska may respond to traffic tickets by paying or contesting the ticket. Offenders are typically expected to respond to traffic tickets within 30 days of receipt, or by the date specified on the ticket. Disputing traffic tickets may take longer and cost more money than paying them. However, if the recipient successfully provides a defense against the traffic ticket, the court may dismiss the ticket.

Paying a ticket may be considered an admission of guilt; therefore, the court may prescribe other penalties to offenders who opt to pay traffic tickets. Consequently, depending on the nature of the traffic violation, the court may add points on the offender’s record, which could result in the suspension of the driver’s license.

Records that are considered public may also be accessible from some third-party websites. These sites simplify the research process by aggregating records from various US districts, allowing requesters perform single or multi-record searches. Users are typically required to facilitate a record search by providing the following information:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record of the person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or where the offense occurred.

Aggregate or third-party sites are operated independent of government resources. Thus, record availability, accuracy and validity cannot be guaranteed. Users are advised to verify information obtained from them with official custodians.

Is it Worth it To Fight a Traffic Ticket in Alaska?

To determine whether it is worth it to fight a traffic ticket in Alaska, ticket recipients should consider the nature of the violation and its penalties. For civil infractions that do not lead to points assessment or imprisonment, resolving the ticket uncontestes may be a suitable option. Contesting traffic tickets typically requires more resources than resolving a ticket uncontested since offenders who choose to contest a traffic ticket may require a traffic ticket attorney’s services. The court may also require the defendant to pay court fees before the scheduled hearing. However, if the defendant can establish a legal defense against the ticket, the court may dismiss the case. If the offense can lead to imprisonment, points assessment, license suspension, or increased insurance premiums, contesting the ticket may be ideal.

Ways to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Alaska

Ticket recipients who choose to contest a ticket are required to file a ‘not guilty’ plea with the court and request a hearing. The ticket recipients may file the ticket with the relevant court by mail or in the courthouse. Traffic tickets typically contain information about the court where a traffic ticket case may be heard. Recipients are expected to respond to traffic tickets within 30 days and be present in court for the ticket hearing. The court may send a warning notice to recipients who do not respond within 30 days, giving such persons an additional 15 days to respond to the ticket. If the recipient does not respond after the court’s warning, the court enters a default judgment against the ticket recipient. The default judgment will be for fines, surcharges, courts, and collection costs. Depending on the nature of the offense, the default judgment may also be for points assessed against the driver’s record.

How to Fight a Traffic Ticket Without Going to Court

In Alaska, ticket recipients who want to contest a ticket may mail the ticket with the ‘not guilty’ plea to the court or file the plea in person. On the scheduled court date, the defendant is expected to appear in court and present their defence. Alternatively, traffic ticket attorneys may represent ticket recipients at court hearings. Those who cannot make it to the court may file a request with the court to join hearings by telephone. Outside these options, it is not possible to fight a ticket without going to court in Alaska.

How Do You Get a Traffic Ticket Reduced in Alaska?

Offenders who cannot afford to pay traffic tickets may request reduced fees from the court. Instead of the fees, the court may require such persons to do community service or take a defensive driving course. Ticket recipients may inquire from a judicial officer or a prosecutor if they are eligible to have their fines reduced or substituted. If the ticket does not list a specified penalty, the court may impose a fine that is less than or equal to the amount that state laws specify. If the ticket lists a specified fine, or there is a state or municipal law against the fine reduction, the judge is unlikely to reduce the fine. The court may also set a date when the payment should be made.

The court cannot reduce the number of points assessed against a driver’s license; the DMV automatically applies points depending on the nature of the recipient’s offense.

Can You Get a Speeding Ticket Dismissed in Alaska?

Eligible persons may take defensive driver courses for point reduction. Additionally, ticket recipients may receive point credits for a good driving record. Drivers may only take defensive driver courses once a year, and the point credits accumulated may contribute towards the reduction of points on the offending driver’s record. This, in turn, may reduce the driver’s insurance premiums. It is not otherwise possible to dismiss speeding tickets in Alaska.

What Happens if You Plead Guilty to a Traffic Ticket in Alaska?

If an Alaska traffic ticket recipient pleads guilty to the traffic ticket, the court enforces the applicable penalties. The ticket recipient is expected to pay the ticket fines. Additionally, depending on the nature of the traffic violation, resolving a ticket uncontested may result in points assessed against the driver’s record, which may, in turn, lead to a suspension of the driver’s license and increased auto insurance premiums. Other penalties, such as forfeiture or restitution, may also apply, depending on the nature of the traffic violation.

How to Find a Traffic Ticket Attorney in Alaska

Traffic ticket attorneys provide representation and counsel to traffic ticket recipients in Alaska. Alaska courts do not appoint attorneys for traffic ticket hearings. However, ticket recipients may search online for traffic ticket attorneys in specific areas of Alaska. Additionally, ticket recipients may contact the Alaska Bar Association and other legal aid organizations for information and recommendations on traffic ticket attorneys in Alaska.