By Natasha Fatale

The best way to avoid getting a ticket while driving is to obey all traffic laws. However, if you are ever pulled over, there are a few things you should know. There are a lot of rumors floating around about how to get out of a traffic ticket or fine, but many of them are outright false. The following should help you separate rumor from truth:

RUMOR: You can talk your way out of a ticket if you have a convincing excuse.

TRUTH: Tell your story to the judge. The officer that pulls you over has already decided that you broke the law and isn't interested in excuses. In fact, in offering excuses, you can often admit guilt. Remember everything that you say to the officer can be used against you if you decide to contest the ticket. When asked if you know why you got a ticket, your only reply should be a very polite, "no." Take your ticket and save all explanations for court.

RUMOR: If an officer fails to appear in court, your ticket is automatically dismissed.

TRUTH: Sometimes a judge will have mercy on a defendant that took time off of work to appear in court if the officer who issues the ticket does not appear. However, this is not an automatic in all cases. Many times a judge will, instead, postpone the case and order you to appear on another date. This really is up to the judge's discretion.

RUMOR: If the officer makes an error while writing your ticket, your ticket will be dismissed.

TRUTH: Maybe, but it depends on the error. If it's a clerical or human error, like misspelling your name, it's not likely to be dismissed. However, if the mistake leaves question as to the credibility of the case, there is a chance. For instance, if the officer writes on your ticket that you were stopped at midnight while driving a black truck, but you were actually stopped at noon and driving a red compact, the discrepancies are serious enough to raise doubt about the rest of the case's credibility and the case may be dismissed.

RUMOR: If you refuse to sign a traffic ticket, it will automatically be dismissed.

TRUTH: Signing a ticket is not an admission of guilt; it is merely proof that you received the ticket and a statement that you promise to appear in court on the date given. Refusing to sign one does not mean that it will be dismissed. In fact, you're likely to make the officer angry and perhaps escalate the situation to a level you may wish to avoid. Even if the officer doesn't get angry and look for other reasons to cite you, he may just write on the ticket that you refused to sign it and give it to you anyway.

RUMOR: If you get a ticket while visiting another state, you can ignore it and your home state will never know about it.

TRUTH: There are these agencies called the interstate Driver License Compact and the National Driver Register, which are hard to avoid. Both allow states to share information across borders. If your state participates in these agreements, yet you ignore the ticket you received while traveling, it's likely to cost you big time in the long run.

So, avoid breaking traffic laws and avoid tickets, but know the truth of how to handle one ahead of time, just in case.

Drive safely, don't get tickets, and save money on your car repair expenses by buying a wear and tear car warranty. You'll get peace of mind knowing that ongoing wear and tear repairs are covered and you can keep your car running regardless of your finances.