Man Spends Over $36,000 Fighting $120 Speeding Ticket

At what point is fighting a traffic ticket worth it? Sometimes you’re better off just paying it. Or, you could be like Rickard Keedwell and spend $37,000 of your son’s inheritance trying to fight a ticket originally only about $120.

Richard Keedwell, 71, was clocked driving 35 mph in a 30 mph zone back in 2016. He says he was surprised to find out several days later that he received a notice of intent that law enforcement was trying to prosecute him.

That didn’t sit well with Keedwell and told investigators he had “no case to answer” so he hired experts to defend him in court. Being that he didn’t think there was a case, he expected the situation to end quickly. However, that was not the case. Keedwell took four visits to court before his appeal was heard. He lost that appeal and then a subsequent one in August.

When it was all said and done, Keedwellthinks he spent “the best part of $36,000 U.S. dollars on lawyer and court fees and travel expenses trying to fight this ticket.

“I’m sick and tired at the whole system which is steamrolling ordinary people,” he said. “I regret the amount of money. I very simply wanted justice.”