So on 8/17/11 I was caught doing 72mph in a 55mph while driving my sister down to U of I Urbana going down route 47. It's a 2 lane road with just cornfields and as I was going down one way a state trooper was coming down the other and it had no top lights so I thought it was just an ordinary crown vic until I saw the stickers but it was to late. This is my first ticket (I'm 17) and I was wondering if there is a way I could do something like plead not guilty, go to court, take a driving school course, and not have them put 25 points on my record and shoot my insurance high (or some option like that). Or is paying and sucking it up the only option.

Thanks for your responses in advance

 

Ohh and this was in Morris, Il

 

Well, I got caught doing 42 in a 25. It was my first ticket and I just turned 18 a month ago prior to the ticket. I was caught in Chicago, and my ticket had three options on the back. First was to $127, plead guilty, and have it put on my record. Second was to $147, pleade guilty, and take traffic school to avoid it on my records if I pass. Last was to go to court. I wanted to go to court cause 42 isn't even that fast as normal traffic speed is in that area. However, the very next day, I noticed a 25 limit sign two blocks before where I got caught that I never noticed before. So I just paid $147, took the traffic course online and got a 95%. Check the back of your ticket, if not call up the number on the ticket if any for options.

Edit: Wait, was the cop sitting or was he in motion driving towards you?

 

Pay the ticket, take the traffic class and don't get another ticket for a year.
If you take the traffic class, this ticket will be off your record in 6 months if you don't get another ticket. You won't be eligible to take the class again if you get another ticket within 1 year.

 

The only options on the back was to plead guilty and pay the $120 or not guilty and wait for them to send me a court appearance date. Nothing about paying extra to take the traffic course.

 

and he was driving towards me

 

Hmmm....last time I got a pamphlet with instructions on how to get court supervision. Maybe it's done differently in other counties
Maybe consult with a lawyer?

 

Did he use a lidar, radar, or did he just assume you were speeding? You said he was driving towards you.

 

He said he got me on his radar gun.

 

Get a court date. Take a lawyer with you if you want to be on the safe side.

 

Werd!

Like it matters. Its IL...The brokest state next to Michigan, it will be a miracle to get off. Income is Income.

Listen to this guy...


I got a ticket and free ride to the police dept in WI doing 150+mph in 55mph on a bike. When I was 17. I got pretty much every ticket you could get on a motorcycle without getting DWI.

I got a lawyer...and pretty much told the judge I was a retard and will never do anything that retarded again. Fines reduced from $4800.00 to $1800.00 1 year suspension on my M license in WI (IL license at the time) That was it. The prosecutor was trying to make a name for himself and pushing for 30days in jail and the max on fines.

Get a lawyer and be humble. You try fighting this. The court fees alone will be more than you ticket is.

 

For something as simple as a speeding ticket just go to court, plead guilty and ask for supervision. If you don't have any tickets on your record in the last couple of years, you'll pay a fine, do traffic school and the ticket will not go on your record. I think I've done that like 4 times in my 15 year driving career.

PS. Lawyer will do the same thing for you but you'll also have to pay him.

 

Get a lawyer who is a "regular" at the courthouse you would need to appear at. It does miracles.

 

the problem with going to court is if you plead or are found guilty in any way it will be the fine + court fees + (lawyer fee). Getting a lawyer for speeding 18 over is stupid.

Now i don't know what the current laws are for under 18 and getting a ticket... You said this happened in morris? Does the ticket say GO TO COURT or NO COURT APPEARANCE REQUIRED? The last time i was ticketed in Morris for LOUD EXHAUST I had to drive all the way to the Joliet courthouse.