If you were ticketed for a traffic violation in Georgia, it may be in your best interest to fight the ticket in court rather than simply pay the fine and plead guilty. An important part of traffic court is the examination of witnesses.  

What Is Cross-Examination? 

Cross-examination is a line of questioning aimed at the prosecution’s witnesses. In the case of a traffic stop, this would typically be the police officer who stopped your vehicle and issued you a ticket. The goal of cross-examination is to raise doubt about the officer’s evidence against you and to make the judge presiding over your case question if there is enough evidence to prove you’ve broken the law. 

Why Does a Police Officer Need to Be Cross Examined? 

Cross-examining the police officer who stopped your vehicle and gave you a traffic ticket is an important part of fighting your ticket in court. Not only is your account of events that occurred when you were pulled over critical to examine, but so is the officer’s. 

Their account of events may be unreasonable or they may not be able to answer questions with confidence. This helps strengthen your case and increases the likelihood that your ticket will be dismissed. 

What Questions Should Be Asked? 

Here are some example questions that can be asked of a police officer during cross-examination in traffic court: 

• Did the officer have a good enough vantage point to witness the traffic violation in question? 
• If ticketed for speeding, has the officer followed proper protocol in having their equipment calibrated and verified for accuracy? 
• Did the officer have probable cause at all to stop your vehicle? 
• Was the officer busy doing something else when you allegedly committed the traffic violation? 
• Where was the officer positioned when they witnessed your alleged traffic violation? 

Typically, you can ask any questions during cross-examination so long as they are relevant to your case and the traffic offense in question. 

Get Help After a Ticket from an Experienced Atlanta Traffic Lawyer 

At The Kimbrel Law Firm, we have extensive experience representing people who have been ticketed in Atlanta and surrounding areas in Georgia. We can help you fight your traffic ticket by developing a solid cross-examination strategy and representing you aggressively in court. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss your case in detail at (770) 349-9219. We’re available now to assist you.