Speeding Ticket
Yep and that is your right. However, I will reiterate what's been said here please DON'T hire a lawyer. They won't do anything that you can't do yourself. And honestly, lawyers don't really give a crap about these small potatoes cases. They want the big cases, they're not going to put any time into your case, just collect money.
There is no penalty for pleading not guilty. If found guilty the worst that can happen is you have to pay the ticket in full. Thats why it's worth the risk because there's nothin to lose. If you DO plead guilty how much do they reduce the fine? I bet it's a real small amount
Since you are 19 years old, this is your first offense, and you are in Cali, they will almost certainly offer you the option of pleading guilty, paying the fine, and taking traffic school. When your ticket info comes in the mail, it will give all the particulars; most will even allow you to take an online traffic school course that you can do at home. I recommend that you do take the traffic school as it will erase the point from your record and save you the increase in insurance rates for the next three years. I don't know what you pay in insurance, but the increase you'd face with a point on your record with undoubtedly exceed the cost of traffic school . . . EVERY year for the next three years!
On the off chance that traffic school isn't offered in your ticket package that comes in the mail, then you can always call the court or go to the scheduled court appearance and speak to the judge. I have seen MANY people successfully plead guilty to the judge with a (bla bla bla) explanation for the offense and then beg for reduced fine AND/OR traffic school too. You'd be amazed what a "contrite, polite, and presentable" citizen can get from a traffic court judge. Also, I'm not sure how it is in other states, but I've spent my fair share of time in at least a dozen+ traffic courts, and I have NEVER seen a Cali judge increase the fine, the points, or penalize someone for asking for reduced fine and traffic school, whether they plead guilty or not. G/L
On the off chance that traffic school isn't offered in your ticket package that comes in the mail, then you can always call the court or go to the scheduled court appearance and speak to the judge. I have seen MANY people successfully plead guilty to the judge with a (bla bla bla) explanation for the offense and then beg for reduced fine AND/OR traffic school too. You'd be amazed what a "contrite, polite, and presentable" citizen can get from a traffic court judge. Also, I'm not sure how it is in other states, but I've spent my fair share of time in at least a dozen+ traffic courts, and I have NEVER seen a Cali judge increase the fine, the points, or penalize someone for asking for reduced fine and traffic school, whether they plead guilty or not. G/L
Last edited by good2go; Jan 21, 2011 at 11:19 AM.
unless you were doing 200mph in a 15mph zone, they'll most likely allow you to take traffic school so you can get rid of the points off your record (usually another $40-$50 for the class). You'll just have to be a good boy for another 18mths after that for that chance to come again.
i say just go to court and plead guilty. Trying to get around it sometimes isn't worth the time/money/energy
i say just go to court and plead guilty. Trying to get around it sometimes isn't worth the time/money/energy
It doesnt matter if he wrote on the ticket you were driving a Winnebago or your name is Abraham Lincoln.
Go to court, plead guilty, beg for mercy and take your lumps. Do nothing more than this and be happy. TRUST ME. I hate going to court when someone i write a ticket decides he wasnt breaking the law. I hate writing tickets but i do it when it warranted. A lawyer is a waste of your money.
Go to court, plead guilty, beg for mercy and take your lumps. Do nothing more than this and be happy. TRUST ME. I hate going to court when someone i write a ticket decides he wasnt breaking the law. I hate writing tickets but i do it when it warranted. A lawyer is a waste of your money.
HAHA! He has to say no just in case it ever gets back to his Sargent.
I know of people who have gotten out of tickets because they were written incorrectly. Look at it like this: the officer's record of your infraction is incorrect, therefor his credibility could suffer for it. It's his responsibility to prove you guilty. He's not doing it right.
Funny story, just for grins. When I was 16 I got a reckless ticket three months into driving. Got caught at 95 in a 60. Virginia is known as the worst state in the country for traffic violations and punishment.
Long story short, I chose to take a driving school before the court date, hired a lawyer with my own money, and did a few other things to just have it reduced to 'speeding', for the sake of insurance. The judge had a hard-on for me and wanted to issue a $500 fine, 30 days in correctional, and a 6 month license suspension. Literally the maximum punishments he could legally order for someone my age. After three different trips to court including two appeal cases, it was completely dismissed. Not on my record at all.
Also, there is a huge difference between speeding and driving unsafely.
Funny story, just for grins. When I was 16 I got a reckless ticket three months into driving. Got caught at 95 in a 60. Virginia is known as the worst state in the country for traffic violations and punishment.
Long story short, I chose to take a driving school before the court date, hired a lawyer with my own money, and did a few other things to just have it reduced to 'speeding', for the sake of insurance. The judge had a hard-on for me and wanted to issue a $500 fine, 30 days in correctional, and a 6 month license suspension. Literally the maximum punishments he could legally order for someone my age. After three different trips to court including two appeal cases, it was completely dismissed. Not on my record at all.
Also, there is a huge difference between speeding and driving unsafely.
Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
To the OP, I think you'll be best off following the advice of many posters before me - pay the fines and move on.
On a side note, all of this "if you want to speed take it to the track" is nonsense. 60 in a 40 isn't that bad. Here in Illinois, the fastest you can drive on any road is 65. The state cops are hard on speeding here, too. But let me tell you for those of you who don't know, 65 is slow on an empty interstate in the middle of nowhere. 20 mph over the limit happens a lot around here. We just passed laws here in Illinois, though, that have mandatory jail time for going 25+ mph over, too. Some of them are up to a year in prison (mandatory) depending on how much over you are!
My advice is if you want to speed on the interstate, keep it under 20 over the limit and invest in a radar detector/laser jammer (if they are legal in your state) and learn how to use it well. That will help prevent these tickets, and will pay for themselves in the long run.
On a side note, all of this "if you want to speed take it to the track" is nonsense. 60 in a 40 isn't that bad. Here in Illinois, the fastest you can drive on any road is 65. The state cops are hard on speeding here, too. But let me tell you for those of you who don't know, 65 is slow on an empty interstate in the middle of nowhere. 20 mph over the limit happens a lot around here. We just passed laws here in Illinois, though, that have mandatory jail time for going 25+ mph over, too. Some of them are up to a year in prison (mandatory) depending on how much over you are!
My advice is if you want to speed on the interstate, keep it under 20 over the limit and invest in a radar detector/laser jammer (if they are legal in your state) and learn how to use it well. That will help prevent these tickets, and will pay for themselves in the long run.
I ALWAYS show up... I LOVE going to court. I get a paid day off basically.
Why would i run the risk of getting stopped and getting in trouble for it? Not everyone feels like they are above the law. Im a grown man not a teenager and i am responsible for my life and the lives of my family while driving my car. Just because i like fast cars doesnt mean im gonna speed. Why should I? I see FAR too many bad things happen that are speed related and i dont wanna lose my life or take someone elses for my carelessness.
Why would i run the risk of getting stopped and getting in trouble for it? Not everyone feels like they are above the law. Im a grown man not a teenager and i am responsible for my life and the lives of my family while driving my car. Just because i like fast cars doesnt mean im gonna speed. Why should I? I see FAR too many bad things happen that are speed related and i dont wanna lose my life or take someone elses for my carelessness.
Honestly, it might be that I'm only 21, but when I make decisions, very rarely does the thought "wait, is this legal?" cross my mind. I take speed limits more as suggestions and really only tolerate them when I know police are around. If radar detectors weren't so hard to come by in VA (illegal), I'd already have one hard-wired in my car.