Speeding Ticket Advice

[Timmy_Jones]

Hypothetically, if you got your first speeding ticket, would you fight it? Is it worth fighting? Now person A, who may have got a ticket, was speeding and assumes responsibility. The ticket isn’t anything outlandish, like 18 over the limit (83 on the highway), but no other charges. Would you pay it and forget it? Fight it? Is it worth it?

The hypothetical State Trooper was completely reasonable and had every right...but there was no admission of guilt. Early morning, speeding to work. Person A shouldn't have been speeding, but was going with the faster traffic, just happened to be picked out.

This may have taken place in the State of New Hampshire...maybe.

[LOLS2K]

LOL Pay the ticket, you were speeding and got caught...maybe

[Tcoat]

If I was guilty and knew it I would pay and hypothetically be more careful.
There however will be many here that will say fight it with everything you can. They have will some valid points though.

[jawn]

I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice:

Let's say you do fight it. What's the worst that can happen? You pay the original fine and the court fee (provided you don't do something stupid like yell at the judge).

Best case? You see a reduction in the penalty, and/or a reduction in points. You might have to agree to go to a driver improvement course in order to achieve this outcome, but if it's the difference between getting points and not getting points, I choose the driver improvement course every time.

That's said, if there are no points associated with the ticket, I'd probably just pay it and move on.

[Timmy_Jones]

Originally Posted by jawn

I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice:

Let's say you do fight it. What's the worst that can happen? You pay the original fine and the court fee (provided you don't do something stupid like yell at the judge).

Best case? You see a reduction in the penalty, and/or a reduction in points. You might have to agree to go to a driver improvement course in order to achieve this outcome, but if it's the difference between getting points and not getting points, I choose the driver improvement course every time.

That's said, if there are no points associated with the ticket, I'd probably just pay it and move on.

Valid.

Person A is aware of what they did wrong, no denying it. I suppose its a balance of 'is it worth taking time off to fight?'

I think there are 'Points' involved, but I have no idea what they mean or add up to, insurance wise. If you get an outrageous number of points, your license gets pulled, but this is the first time ever (11+ years of driving) in which Person A has any tickets/incidents.

[jawn]

Originally Posted by Timmy_Jones

Valid.

Person A is aware of what they did wrong, no denying it. I suppose its a balance of 'is it worth taking time off to fight?'

I think there are 'Points' involved, but I have no idea what they mean or add up to, insurance wise. If you get an outrageous number of points, your license gets pulled, but this is the first time ever (11+ years of driving) in which Person A has any tickets/incidents.

Insurance companies will raise rates after a moving violation with points; the amount will depend on a variety of factors. It may not be a lot, since you've been driving for a while, but there's a 99% chance it'll increase. In most states, a moving violation will stay on your record for 3 years, which means you'll have elevated insurance rates for those 3 years. It's up to you to decide if that's worth it.

For reference:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorze...surance-rates/

[cdq85]

but in all seriousness, fight it in court. Worse case scenario, you are exactly where you started. Best case scenario, trooper doesn't show up. Middle of the road scenario, they drop points and you only pay fine.

[SVTSHC]

Fight it. In most cases the lawyer will push to have the points reduced. Money is money, points are what you don't want. The courts want the money, they don't care immensely about your points (especially if you weren't being ridiculous with the speed)

[MisterSheep]

I wish I would've fought mine. Got a ticket for doing 75mph on the freeway keeping up with traffic in the carpool lane, I was wrongfully pulled over because he thought I didn't have someone in my passenger seat. well I had my brother in the rear and the windows were tinted.

Long story short fight it if you can. If the cop shows up you can still do traffic school to get the point off.

[soulreapersteve]

Fight it.

I should've fought my first ticket. Probably could've gotten it thrown out due to the mass amount of tickets that came in during that weekend (July 4th) and cop not showing up.

Rarely regret things but that's one thing I regret. Now, my insurance will most likely be going up along with losing some of the discounts.

All for 5 fucking over 60 -_-

Life lesson learned.

[wireman957]

Originally Posted by soulreapersteve

All for 5 fucking over 60 -_-

Life lesson learned.

5 over? Wow. I lived many years in the PNW and don't remember the cops ever being that tight! I live in Texas now, my 18 year-old daughter has been taking criminal justice classes for the last couple of years and even local cops she's ridden with have said they will usually let that go unless weather conditions warrant lower speeds. Even on city streets! I usually make it a habit to go about 5 (okay, maybe 7 or 8) over on the highway and (knock on wood) have not gotten a speeding ticket in over 16 years! The only thing they're hard-asses about here is speeding in school zones. 1 over and you're toast. Yeah, maybe you should have fought that!

[RobertPaulson]

see if you can't get a deferral if its your first one, this is assuming your state offers it.

[soulreapersteve]

Originally Posted by wireman957

5 over? Wow. I lived many years in the PNW and don't remember the cops ever being that tight! I live in Texas now, my 18 year-old daughter has been taking criminal justice classes for the last couple of years and even local cops she's ridden with have said they will usually let that go unless weather conditions warrant lower speeds. Even on city streets! I usually make it a habit to go about 5 (okay, maybe 7 or 8) over on the highway and (knock on wood) have not gotten a speeding ticket in over 16 years! The only thing they're hard-asses about here is speeding in school zones. 1 over and you're toast. Yeah, maybe you should have fought that!

I was between Everett and Seattle down I-5. Cops usually pay no attention to me but I presumed it was holiday season so maybe bonuses were in play? Also, I stick out like a sore thumb in the sea of black, white, and grey cars. xD

[Mr.ac]

Well I don't know how your local traffic laws are where you live. So... Check them out. Here in CA if you have not got a speeding ticket in a year or more you have the option of paying the full ticket and it would go on record. Or pay the fine and take a traffic school class and it will not affect your insurance or go on your records.