Should I contest speeding ticket?

[PMok]

Originally Posted by retoocs

It should say how he determined your speed on the ticket.

Originally Posted by tyrantcf

The officer doesn't have to show you the radar reading, at least not in California.

If it were me, and I was indeed speeding, id probably go to court and plead no contest and ask for a reduction in fine and be done with it.

Yes, the ticket should indicate whether it was an "visually estimated speed" or it was determined by radar/lidar etc. If the radar box wasn't checked, then he cannot use any proof of radar at the trial.

Assuming you have time to go to court on a weekday, your best bet is:
1) request trial
2) postpone trial a few times
3) on date of hearing, hope the officer doesn't show. no show=you win
4) if the officer does show, decide whether you want to fight or plead no contest.
5) if you plead no contest, ask for traffic school and fine reduction (give a good and legit excuse)
6) if you fight and lose, still ask for traffic school and fine reduction.

others say trial by written declaration is the better way to go, but I have never done that. I believe there are websites where you can pay some small fee and they give you the proper language and case law to copy and paste into your declaration and it "guarantees" you will win. I have done it the way described above and won at step 3. I also hung around at traffic court and watched people go through steps 4-6. At least at the court I was at, the judge seemed pretty compassionate and willing to grant traffic school and fine reductions even though the person was found guilty and was not entitled to them. Your mileage may vary, you could end up with a grumpy judge who throws you in jail for wasting their time LOL.

[nyrip]

Fight it. Best case is no fine and no points on your license and no hike in insurance. Worst case is your back to where you were with the ticket. Plus if it's a cop on night shift there's a chance he won't even want to show up for court in the morning for just a speeding ticket. Just my 2 cents

[tahdizzle]

If you were speeding then just take the class.

WTF own up to your actions. Its called being an adult.

I swear, this forum is full of people with 0 integrity.

[PMok]

Originally Posted by tahdizzle

If you were speeding then just take the class.

WTF own up to your actions. Its called being an adult.

I swear, this forum is full of people with 0 integrity.

I have a feeling this thread is about to derail dramatically. but consider this scenario:

You have one beer at a local bar after work. You feel fine and get into your car to drive home. A police officer sees you get into your car and says he saw you walk from the bar to your car. He arrests you for DUI without testing your BAC in any scientific way, based on "your appearance" of being intoxicated and where you walked from.

Do you:
1) Plead guilty or no contest, take whatever sentence the court gives you, and "own up to your actions"?

2) Find a way to contest your charges, on the basis that the police officer did not follow proper procedure and have the actual evidence to convict you of DUI?

[rick s]

"Like I said this is my first ticket so I'm very clueless and somewhat frightened because I don't need my insurance to get more expensive. Yes I did learn my lesson and will try to be more careful so no need for bashing me I do feel bad."


Not to make light of speeding but 10mph over? Owning up to 20 or 30 over I can see but 10 with no radar. I would contest it as well.

As far as integrity goes, police officers have to abide by the rules as well!
Fancy looking car, young person appears to be going a little faster than I like, on go the lights

[lonborghini]

Plead not guilty. Go to court. That's what you do. For tips on fighting traffic tickets check out the National Motorists Association. If you were a member they would pay your fine as long as you plead not guilty and show up for the trial. That's what you do.