Got my first speeding ticket today :(
04-15-12, 11:43 PM
#17
+1
But even radar detectors are unhelpful if the cop is pacing you or uses laser to detect your speed!
Best way to avoid a speeding ticket is to not speed.
As far as the ticket, go to court and hope the cop doesn't show. If he does, ask for a reduced fine and traffic school to keep the point off your record and to avoid insurance premiums going up.
But even radar detectors are unhelpful if the cop is pacing you or uses laser to detect your speed!
Best way to avoid a speeding ticket is to not speed.
As far as the ticket, go to court and hope the cop doesn't show. If he does, ask for a reduced fine and traffic school to keep the point off your record and to avoid insurance premiums going up.
04-15-12, 11:53 PM
#18
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Feeling pretty dumb right now.
lol
04-16-12, 12:02 AM
#19
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basically if you plea not guilty and cop shows up on trial, its over, you are almost guaranteed to lose no matter what you say. on top of that you dont get a reduce fine(judge will say too bad) but you can go traffic school if you're eligible. been there, done that unless it varies county to county.
04-16-12, 01:26 AM
#20
+1
But even radar detectors are unhelpful if the cop is pacing you or uses laser to detect your speed!
Best way to avoid a speeding ticket is to not speed.
As far as the ticket, go to court and hope the cop doesn't show. If he does, ask for a reduced fine and traffic school to keep the point off your record and to avoid insurance premiums going up.
But even radar detectors are unhelpful if the cop is pacing you or uses laser to detect your speed!
Best way to avoid a speeding ticket is to not speed.
As far as the ticket, go to court and hope the cop doesn't show. If he does, ask for a reduced fine and traffic school to keep the point off your record and to avoid insurance premiums going up.
--------------------
Good thing the officer only give you a ticket. Technically I heard +20 over the limit can be considered reckless driving could be arrested on the spot.
If one can get deferred defined hearing you can get away with not having it on your record if you have a perfect record.
Maybe consider getting Escort Redline!!
04-16-12, 07:37 AM
#22
I agree, I've had 11 speeding tickets for the past 10 years. I always fix them with my lawyer and never had any points on my record or insurance raise. California state is times worse than Florida though..
Also keep in mind radar detector will not always help, I've been caught by aircraft once and another cop got me by pace speeding..
I don't think you should be worried since you never had tickets before. 24 mls over is not that bad..
Also keep in mind radar detector will not always help, I've been caught by aircraft once and another cop got me by pace speeding..
I don't think you should be worried since you never had tickets before. 24 mls over is not that bad..
04-16-12, 08:04 AM
#23
Oh the spyplane. In WA, they use them as well. I remember on the news they were using them on a certain stretch of I5 because of a long straight. They showed a clip of it in action, with it looking down on a camera zoomed in on the car with the HUD [ ] aiming right on the car showing it's speed. They won't tell you when they are there but its same to assume they are always there I guess.
Last edited by Sango; 04-16-12 at 08:37 AM.
04-16-12, 08:20 AM
#24
In addition to pleading not guilty and hoping the cop doesn't show.... try to postpone as long as possible. They longer you can drag it out, the more likely the cop won't show. Don't postpone it via phone ahead of time, make everyone show up and then ask for a continuance.... say you need to get a lawyer or something. Hopefully the cop stops caring about your ticket and stops showing up
04-16-12, 12:26 PM
#27
That sucks! Here is my two cents, hire a traffic lawyer (if you have them in your state) and pay the extra $100. They find any way possible to get the ticket dropped down to a non moving (most likely a illegal parking ticket). As for the reason the officer cut you a break, it looks better for the officers case if they give the offender leeway. The judge is more than likely to not cut you a break 'cuz the officer already did. This is the way the state makes money on traffic tickets. Trust me I KNOW I'm a Police Officer..lol..The state does not care what the violation is for, they just want the money. So if you do go to court start with NOT GUILTY. If not let the traffic lawyer handle the case. Trust me I see so many of my speeding tickets I give get knocked down to non movings. It's worth the extra hundo my friend. Good Luck and stop speeding..LOL
04-16-12, 12:35 PM
#28
does insurance really go up that much? ive had a couple speeding tickets and some other moving violations that add points on my license but ive never really noticed my insurance go up more than like 10 bucks a month...and often times i just switch companies and they give me a lower rate anyway....
04-16-12, 12:55 PM
#29
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Got my first speeding ticket a month ago and went to court today
I got my first speeding ticket a month ago. The officer that pulled me over said that she used radar and caught another right in front of me guy going 7 miles over the speed limit (seriously???) and wanted to get him first but couldn't and so she said she used the radar om me and I too was going 47 in a 40mph zone. So I get the ticket. She said she caught me on radar and then she "paced" me.
Well first, I didn't think I was speeding, and secondly how did she hit us both with radar, and pace me in less than a quarter mile? It just didn't make sense to me.
Sooo.... I found out the next time traffic court was in session and I went to watch what happens. While I was there I saw an attorney that impressed me so I asked if we could chat outside the courtroom. He told me he'd charge me $150 to do everything he could to get the ticket dismissed and I didn't even have to go to court, he'd do it. (The fine for the ticket was $169). It sounded fair to me.
So I hired him. We went to court and the officer that ticketed me did show up (we were hoping she wouldn't). However, when he confronted her before court was in session, she said that she didn't have any evidence that I was speeding to present and bam.... the charges were dismissed.
In my mind, a well spent $150.
My advice, read everything you can on line about your type of ticket, then go to court, watch what happens and find a "good" attorney.
Well first, I didn't think I was speeding, and secondly how did she hit us both with radar, and pace me in less than a quarter mile? It just didn't make sense to me.
Sooo.... I found out the next time traffic court was in session and I went to watch what happens. While I was there I saw an attorney that impressed me so I asked if we could chat outside the courtroom. He told me he'd charge me $150 to do everything he could to get the ticket dismissed and I didn't even have to go to court, he'd do it. (The fine for the ticket was $169). It sounded fair to me.
So I hired him. We went to court and the officer that ticketed me did show up (we were hoping she wouldn't). However, when he confronted her before court was in session, she said that she didn't have any evidence that I was speeding to present and bam.... the charges were dismissed.
In my mind, a well spent $150.
My advice, read everything you can on line about your type of ticket, then go to court, watch what happens and find a "good" attorney.
04-16-12, 01:47 PM
#30
Since you're in California, you should use Cybeclipse's advice that he posted in another thread.
Step 1) Don't do anything. Wait for the bail letter to come. On the letter you'll see an appearance date (about 21 days from ticket date). Call your court number (find it online) or write to the court asking for a one month extension to the appearance date. Some courts websites might even allow you to extend online with just a few clicks. They never ask for reasons, but if they do, just say you'll be out of town and need more time.
San Mateo County online request sample:
http://i38.tinypic.com/xdz4hf.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/e7hr1c.jpg
http://i33.tinypic.com/opqufm.jpg
Step 2) About 5 days before the court appearance date, fill this out and send it in WITH your bail money. This is a Request for Trial by Written Declaration, meaning you pled not guilty and would like to fight your ticket by mail.
http://ticketassassin.com/docs/40519b.html
Make sure you mail it with your bail money BEFORE the due date. You can also do this in person in court on the due date.
Step 3) You'll get a reply from the court with a Form TR205: Trial By Written Declaration. This is the form where you write out your argument and mail it in. On the form there will be a 21 days due date. Write or Call the court as soon as possible and ask for a one month extension from that due date. They will give it to you no questions asked. (I say this again, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Not five days from the due date. Not on the due date. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If you are dumb enough to miss this, you deserve to lose your case)
Step 4) Type up an argument of what you think happened. Mail the Form TR205 to the court before the new due date but as late as possible. If you don't know how to write an argument, here are some samples, copy and paste and change the details to make it your own argument.
http://ticketassassin.com/docs/forms.html
Vehicle Code General Provisions and Divisions 1 - 18
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm
Illegal Mods
http://www.chp.ca.gov/community/streetlegal.html
Step 5) Once the court receives your Form TR205, they will THEN request the officer's statement, which he has 21 days to reply. Three things might happen:
- The cop got lazy or transferred to another department, didn't write and reply his argument. You WIN! (Bail money will be refunded to you)
- The cop replied. Judge agrees with you. You WIN! (Bail money will be refunded to you)
- The cop replied. Judge agreed with the cop. You lose. (Court keeps your money)
Either way, you'll get a reply from the court.
Step 6) If you lose your Trial by Written Declaration, you can still write to the court and request a Court Trial within 20 days. Write to the court and request a new trial days before the deadline (you want to be as late as possible and delay the case. Request this at the court on the 19th day if you can, or mail your request on the 16th day).
Step 7) The court will HAVE to grant you a new case, they'll reply you a new date to appear to court to meet with the officer. Write or Call the court AS SOON AS POSSIBLE andrequest a one month extension to that court date (they won't extend your date if you just call the day before trial. Request an extension once you get the letter). The court will change the court date for you.
Step 8) On the date of the trial, make sure you appear, it is a crime to not show up. They can issue an arrest warrant.
- Most likely the cop wouldn't show up, because he wouldn't remember any details by then (6 to 9 months have passed). Or he threw away his notes and won't bother coming to court. You will Win.
- Or, he will show up. The two of you will argue in court........good luck with that.
Another note. If you end up really having to argue in court, you can go to court prior to the trial date and get a copy of the cop's trial by written declaration, just so you know what his argument was. It is public information and the clerk HAS to give it to you. You can make your statement based on what his argument was.
Good luck.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice.
Credit: www.ticketassassin.com
San Mateo County online request sample:
http://i38.tinypic.com/xdz4hf.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/e7hr1c.jpg
http://i33.tinypic.com/opqufm.jpg
Step 2) About 5 days before the court appearance date, fill this out and send it in WITH your bail money. This is a Request for Trial by Written Declaration, meaning you pled not guilty and would like to fight your ticket by mail.
http://ticketassassin.com/docs/40519b.html
Make sure you mail it with your bail money BEFORE the due date. You can also do this in person in court on the due date.
Step 3) You'll get a reply from the court with a Form TR205: Trial By Written Declaration. This is the form where you write out your argument and mail it in. On the form there will be a 21 days due date. Write or Call the court as soon as possible and ask for a one month extension from that due date. They will give it to you no questions asked. (I say this again, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Not five days from the due date. Not on the due date. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If you are dumb enough to miss this, you deserve to lose your case)
Step 4) Type up an argument of what you think happened. Mail the Form TR205 to the court before the new due date but as late as possible. If you don't know how to write an argument, here are some samples, copy and paste and change the details to make it your own argument.
http://ticketassassin.com/docs/forms.html
Vehicle Code General Provisions and Divisions 1 - 18
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm
Illegal Mods
http://www.chp.ca.gov/community/streetlegal.html
Step 5) Once the court receives your Form TR205, they will THEN request the officer's statement, which he has 21 days to reply. Three things might happen:
- The cop got lazy or transferred to another department, didn't write and reply his argument. You WIN! (Bail money will be refunded to you)
- The cop replied. Judge agrees with you. You WIN! (Bail money will be refunded to you)
- The cop replied. Judge agreed with the cop. You lose. (Court keeps your money)
Either way, you'll get a reply from the court.
Step 6) If you lose your Trial by Written Declaration, you can still write to the court and request a Court Trial within 20 days. Write to the court and request a new trial days before the deadline (you want to be as late as possible and delay the case. Request this at the court on the 19th day if you can, or mail your request on the 16th day).
Step 7) The court will HAVE to grant you a new case, they'll reply you a new date to appear to court to meet with the officer. Write or Call the court AS SOON AS POSSIBLE andrequest a one month extension to that court date (they won't extend your date if you just call the day before trial. Request an extension once you get the letter). The court will change the court date for you.
Step 8) On the date of the trial, make sure you appear, it is a crime to not show up. They can issue an arrest warrant.
- Most likely the cop wouldn't show up, because he wouldn't remember any details by then (6 to 9 months have passed). Or he threw away his notes and won't bother coming to court. You will Win.
- Or, he will show up. The two of you will argue in court........good luck with that.
Another note. If you end up really having to argue in court, you can go to court prior to the trial date and get a copy of the cop's trial by written declaration, just so you know what his argument was. It is public information and the clerk HAS to give it to you. You can make your statement based on what his argument was.
Good luck.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice.
Credit: www.ticketassassin.com