Speeding Ticket Advice

[Flying Toaster]

Too the OP-

Option B, no question. You can have the best case in the world (i.e. more than telling the judge "I wasn't speeding") and if the judge had a bad day you'll still end up being found responsible. Having a clean record and points off are far more important than just paying the fine. I wish a ticket was just a ticket, around here one ticket ends up costing you 1200+ in insurance surcharges over the next 6 years.

I went to court, fought my ticket, and lost. I asked for documentation that the cop had calibrated his radar gun, and the documentation could not be provided. The judge said that the cop's word was enough, so no official documentation was necessary to uphold the ticket. I was also on a four-lane highway on a holiday weekend. I was allegedly gunned from over 1000 feet away. I asked what the beam spread was at that distance, and basically it was more than enough to have gunned another vehicle, or at least have some interference. The cop was asked who he gunned, and he said it was me, so once again, the judge relied on his testimony as an "officer of the court."

I can't tell from your story, but it sounds to me like you were hit with LIDAR rather than RADAR. That doesn't excuse their inability to provide the documentation, but just as a FYI for future reference, at 1000ft (despite what the officer said) the beam from a LIDAR gun is well under the width of your car. Plus they have a red dot sight to pick out your car. That being said most of the common LIDAR guns are around 1.5-3.0 mils so once the range gets over 1500ft it starts to get a bit dodgy. In reality they are suppose to visually estimate then confirm but more often than not they just point and shoot.

 

[A4sForever]

Speeding???

'80 in a 65 zone' ... and you think that's 'speeding' ... ??? :icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:

Naaaaahhhh .... THIS; now THIS is 'speeding':

 

[ryan1234]

I recently got a speeding ticket in California; 80 in a 65. I have a completely clean driving record; no infractions or accidents whatsoever.

My options right now are:
a) pay the fine, take the points
b) pay the fine, pay for traffic school, get the points removed (assuming I don't get an infraction in the next 12 months)
c) contest the ticket

Personally, I'd go with option B

If you're record is clean and that's all you have - It's not really a big deal... get the points removed. Option A just doesn't make any sense.

There was a certain judge in FL in a certain county that if you contested a ticket, she would more than likely deny you the ability to take the school and basically act like you were stupid for even showing up. (Happened to a couple friends over the years)


Next time don't speed.... or just don't get caught speeding....

 

[Malo83]

Pay the fine,do the traffic school online at your leisure, problem solved.

 

[Splat2008]

Speaking as the son of a judge and former traffic violations prosecutor (in NY), it all depends on the day. Don't plead via the ticket, show up for the court appearance. As was said, worst case you will spend a little more money, but any number of things could lessen the amount you spend. And a lot of DA's will cut a deal, especially if this is your first ticket. Also keep in mind, that points on your license = more money in insurance. Your best bet is to show up for the court date...if the officer doesnt show, you might get off; if he does, you might cut a deal; worst case you lose half a day and a few $ in court fees.

 

[phrogdriver]

Sorry to interrupt, but what 9th circle of hell of junior DA hazing does one have to be in to get assigned to plea bargaining speeding tickets?

Just like for pilots,"It ain't all choker whites and dining outs," For DAs,"It ain't all Law and Order 'ripped for the headlines!'"

 

[Praying4OCS]

Better question........Did you get the ticket cuz you were going 80 and everyone else was doing 90? Dude, I was stationed in SD for almost 10 years and if you were going 80, you got ran over! Lol good luck

 

[fc2spyguy]

Am I the only one who has gotten a speeding ticket, paid it, and never had any second thought about a traffic school or other? None of my speeding tickets, three total, have ever had an affect on my insurance or anything else. This includes a 90 in a 70 in a gubn't vehicle, though the master chief wasn't thrilled over that one.

 

[Flash]

As a veteran of several traffic court appearances in several localities it is generally a better idea than not to show up to court. It seems like if you bother to show up, show contrition and not have some dumbass excuse to tell the judge they seem to knock off a few points (if they have them) and lower the fine. If the option is for a class, take it. Why do either? You might get another ticket, or more, down the road and see your insurance rates rise for a bit, enough that sitting in court or going to class for a few hours is well worth it. Going to court also provides great entertainment with plenty of people thinking they can fool a traffic judge with creative stories and excuses. Just don't speed too much in Virginia, it's the only place where I saw people hauled off to jail right out of traffic court, literally.

 

[Spekkio]

To echo what flash said:

If you plead guilty and take the course, your insurance still may go up. It all depends on the company, your age, and driving history, but it's something to consider.

Why can't you do a combination of B and C? Show up in court hoping for a plea bargain and then take the class to knock off the points of a lesser charge.

 

[pepe silvia]

I got a ticket for 64 in a 45. Went to court, plead no contest, judge threw it out, told me to have a nice day. Guess he got tired of hearing people plead not guilty and have lame-ass excuses to back them up. My buddy had 77 in 55, plead no contest too, different judge threw that one out too.

Both were in Virginia, one near Norfolk the other 70 miles west-ish.

 

[spikrleft]

To echo what flash said:

If you plead guilty and take the course, your insurance still may go up. It all depends on the company, your age, and driving history, but it's something to consider.

Why can't you do a combination of B and C? Show up in court hoping for a plea bargain and then take the class to knock off the points of a lesser charge.

That's what I was planning to do from the get go. Go to court, say cut me some slack and if not, I'll just take driver's school.

The court obviously doesn't pick up their phone so I have to drive over one day to physically ask in person if that's possible.

 

[rare21]

You can also go see the judge, ask for a deferment and dont get a ticket within 30 days. You still pay the fine but it does not reflect on your license or insurance. A lot of people DO NOT take my advice and do this. Two of our judges are pushovers and one will scream you out of court (ex Army Vietnam veteran..but still a lawyer). I dont know where any sort of "DA" comes into this, we have a city prosecutor that deals with the ticket crap. I do get overtime for going to court, win or lose, and I am required to show up. Some of the time I dont remember the person I pulled over and even less about the stop. I wont lie on the stand so I have the prosecutor drop the case if they want a bench trial. But...most of the time it is the asshole that called me every name in the book and said "see you in court!" I look forward to my turn in the hot chair when they show up.