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I need advice after getting my first speeding ticket. - Page 2

post #16 of 25
1/20/07 at 4:57pm
Don't pay the ticket fine up front. Send it in with the "Not Guilty" plea checked off and wait for the court summons. On the day, show up early, without any lawyers, cleanly shaven & modestly dressed. When your case is called, admit fault with consideration for the recent speed limit change.

Speak on your own behalf to the best of your ability. Explain, in as contrite & straightforward a manner as possible (read: fewest possible words) that you are a college student in good standing with an otherwise clean driving record. Ask about the possibility of traffic school attendance or even community service to expunge the case completely.

You have nothing to lose.
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post #17 of 25
1/20/07 at 6:58pm
given your previously clean record, your best bet is to send the ticket in pleading not guilty, as others have suggested take some sort of defensive driving or traffic school course. get whatever certificate they give you, and bring that with you to court, then try to get your ticket reduced to a non moving violation, which would be fewer points on your license, and a cheaper ticket

also try to get the date the speed limit was changed, if its really close to your ticket, you can meantion that in your defense
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post #18 of 25
1/20/07 at 8:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by F1GTR View Post
That was your first mistake, aside from the speeding, and you'll learn from it I'm sure. Why did you even bother to call them?

A) They wouldn't have known about it for months until the ticket made its way through the system to them and

B) That might have never/will never even happen at all if you take the Deferred Judification option the day you appear in court. Deferred Judification allows you to, once a year, take a Driver's Ed course via classroom/internet/tv, pay only "court costs" on the ticket and then it never goes on your record.

NEVER call the insurance company and tell them you have a ticket. Either they will find out about it on their own or they never will.
My family knows my insurance agent personally, he is a good guy, so it shouldn't be a problem. I've got to go, but I'll post again later tonight. Thanks for the replies.
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post #19 of 25
1/20/07 at 9:21pm
I had a similar sutuation and this is what I did.... Pleas quilty with an explanation.... Tell the judge you were in fact speeding but you did not notice the speed limit because you knew that it was posted at a lower limit last month. In my case the judge was able to confirm what I said and dropped the points...I did have to pay court costs but that was ok...Good Luck
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post #20 of 25
1/20/07 at 9:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wnewport View Post
So today I got clocked going 18 over in a 35 zone. I month ago it was a 45 zone, but I was not really paying attention. I am 18 years old and drive a salvaged no frills 2003 Ford Ranger that is insured with a $500 dollar deductible on my name through my father's insurance.

Anyway, I guess the details don't matter so much rather than the fact the ticket is for $100, and my insurance will go up 212 dollars a year for the next 3 years. That's a $636 dollar increase + the 100 bucks for the fine. So we are looking at a $736 dollar mistake.

Technically I can cover this financially, but as a high school student going into college, this is a pretty big hit considering my previous two years of a flawless record.

I realize that I have the option of paying for an attorney to attempt to get the ticket removed, reduced, or at least off of my record.

Since I am technically an adult, my parents want me to handle this independently.

I will have to hire an attorney, as that can't cost more than $400 dollars, to represent me.

Where do I go from here?
In NJ and NY, you do not need an attorney usually if you go to the court, and plead guilty, talk with the prosecutor, and he usually give you an extra fine, removing the ticket from the records (at an expense of that modest fee) it is a common procedure...
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post #21 of 25
1/20/07 at 9:46pm
A lot of good advice. I'll just second the notion to go to court. Only good things can come from it. Also, it is not necessary to have an attorney to do this. Most people do not.

Good Luck. And Don't Speed.
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post #22 of 25
1/20/07 at 11:19pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all of the advice everyone, I really appreciate it.

It is reassuring to know what to expect.
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post #23 of 25
1/21/07 at 3:44pm
I also would recommend not bothering with getting a lawyer, checking not guilty and going to traffic court to contest the ticket. In my experience there isn't even a prosecutor per se, you just show up and it is you, the traffic court judge and the officer who issued the ticket. Often times the officer (especially if you got the ticket in an area where police officers have better things to do that arguing menial tickets they issued) doesn't show up in which case you are automatically found not guilty. If the officer shows up, admit to speeding, note your clean record, and say that they recently changed the speeding limit in that location. If they've been giving as many tickets as you say the judge will probably already know about the situation.

Admit fault, and ask if you can go to driving school or something else in order to get the points taken off your record. As far as insurance is concerned, no points, no offense.

Good luck
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post #24 of 25
2/8/07 at 5:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wnewport View Post
Thanks for all of the advice everyone, I really appreciate it.

It is reassuring to know what to expect.
Hi wnewport, I just got back from a traffic court. You can see my story here http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=212916


Well, as I've said earlier, plead not guilty, go to court and ask if there's possibility for plea bargain, pay fines and no points. Otherwise, tell your side of the story to the judge in respectfull manner and hopefully he/she will offer one to you. If you're still found guilty, go appeal 2nd time, there's a good possibility you still get chance to pay fine but no points/records. Good luck.
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post #25 of 25
2/8/07 at 8:26pm
Couple of interesting links:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...et.aspx?page=1

http://www.wikihow.com/Fight-a-Traffic-Ticket
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