Speeding Ticket - Pay or Fight?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
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From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by pcfred
If the truck was doing less than 55 and you sped up only long enough to pass him safely then the question is if 77 was a reasonable speed in which to pass him.
I believe any time you exceed the posted speed limit you can get a ticket. It does not matter that you are passing and only for a short period of time. I would fight the ticket. Usually all towns have some sort of guidance to knock the ticket down to either lesser points or to just a fine. Talk to the Prosecutor and state what happen. Chances are he will drop it to a lower charge without blinking an eye.
And I don't know why everyone says just pay it. If it was a seatbelt ticket or a non-moving violation I would say the same thing, but for moving violations it makes no sense not to fight it. Everyone I have talked to that goes to the court and fights a ticket always has it reduced. It does take a bit of time, but the money saved in increased insurance premiums is well worth it.
Last edited by Wicked Weasel; Nov 16, 2005 at 11:24 AM.
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Ya wanna play, be prepared to pay. I do however agree with the advice of going to court and trying to plea down to a reduced penalty. Hopefully you have a good record and a good attitude in the presence of the judge.
Paul
Paul
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
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From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
Im going to go against the grain, ALWAYS go to court and fight it, unless there was some circumstance you don't want the court to hear (such as you street racing the the officer only writing a speeding ticket). Ive had very good luck going to court. It is worth the time to do it, because then if you get off or get probation, the points don't show up for the insurance company to jack your rates up for the next 3 years. And then, if you get unlucky and have to make more claims or get more tickets, then they may even drop you. Go to court.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,469
Likes: 4
Go to court. The worst that can happen is you pay the fine as is. The best that happens is that the justice is a cool guy, you make a connection/Corvette friend in town, and the fine is reduced or dropped. Just be cool and respectful in court, don't try to pull some lame excuse, and be ready to accept it like a man if things don't go your way. Good luck... let us know how you make out.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Oak View Ca
Good Thread
See this thread. read down it has some good info
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...83&forum_id=45
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...83&forum_id=45
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 842
Likes: 0
From: Chicago il
Dont get a laywer...
Go to court, ask for papers on his radar, when it was last calibrated and so on... they have to do this every month i believe.
Usually they dont have that info and the judge throws out the case, did this once in Illinois and it worked.
Go to court, ask for papers on his radar, when it was last calibrated and so on... they have to do this every month i believe.
Usually they dont have that info and the judge throws out the case, did this once in Illinois and it worked.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,960
Likes: 0
From: Issaquah Wa.
What a bunch of nonsence,.... pay the fine??????? why???? do the people that "BUDGET" a speicific amount of trafic "REVENUE" live such exemplary lives? do our political and civic leaders even TRY to lead by example???? do they do ANYTHING with our money beyond getting themselves re-elected? Look just travel in germany the worst ticket that you can recieve is driving irresponsibley by IMPEADING traffic becouse in places other than here, the records show that the vast majority of accidents are caused becouse drivers must nigotiate unsafe drivers blocking the FLOW of trafic!! Always fight nonsence and fraud! were you driving like charly manson with a pencil in both hands??????? I doubt it. most people just simply do not understand that becouse you want fairness ,does not mean you support anarchy! and another thing Im sick of the go along to get along crowd thinking they have some sort of monopoly on the high ground, B.S.! America was not created by people like them or for people like them OUR beloved country was built with the blood and guts of people who wanted more than lip service from the people that "represented them 
people that BELIEVED that we can always make things better,...........ROCK THAT DARN BOAT oh, ya and fight that ticket
do our political and civic leaders even TRY to lead by example???? do they do ANYTHING with our money beyond getting themselves re-elected? Look just travel in germany the worst ticket that you can recieve is driving irresponsibley by IMPEADING traffic becouse in places other than here, the records show that the vast majority of accidents are caused becouse drivers must nigotiate unsafe drivers blocking the FLOW of trafic!! Always fight nonsence and fraud! were you driving like charly manson with a pencil in both hands??????? I doubt it. most people just simply do not understand that becouse you want fairness ,does not mean you support anarchy! and another thing Im sick of the go along to get along crowd thinking they have some sort of monopoly on the high ground, B.S.! America was not created by people like them or for people like them OUR beloved country was built with the blood and guts of people who wanted more than lip service from the people that "represented them people that BELIEVED that we can always make things better,...........ROCK THAT DARN BOAT oh, ya and fight that ticket
Last edited by vetred; Nov 16, 2005 at 01:55 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Originally Posted by ben dover
If you plead Not Guilty chances are good the cop won't show for the trial (particularly if it's his day off) works for me.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 391
Likes: 1
From: Orange County California
Are you guys kidding me!?
Do the crime do the time huh? Only 70-something in a 55? I bet you felt pretty safe at that speed right? And it was 11pm at night? I bet there was really no one around but that truck right? You didn't deserve that ticket. Here in California I usually have to be going 80+ to even get a second look from the po-leese.
DUDE fight it!... its just takes a couple phone calls and MAYBE have to show up one time. Extend extend extend then try to write in simply saying you're not guilty. Then show up in court 5 months later and even if the cop still shows up all you have to do is say "I wasn't guilty" in front of the judge and he'll say yes you were and they just won't give you your fine back (probably would have had to pay the "bail money" up front by this time). If he doesn't show up you get the fine back within 90 days.
Couple of phone calls and a $0.35 stamp will save you over $300 or whatever the fine was.
Do the crime do the time huh? Only 70-something in a 55? I bet you felt pretty safe at that speed right? And it was 11pm at night? I bet there was really no one around but that truck right? You didn't deserve that ticket. Here in California I usually have to be going 80+ to even get a second look from the po-leese.
DUDE fight it!... its just takes a couple phone calls and MAYBE have to show up one time. Extend extend extend then try to write in simply saying you're not guilty. Then show up in court 5 months later and even if the cop still shows up all you have to do is say "I wasn't guilty" in front of the judge and he'll say yes you were and they just won't give you your fine back (probably would have had to pay the "bail money" up front by this time). If he doesn't show up you get the fine back within 90 days.
Couple of phone calls and a $0.35 stamp will save you over $300 or whatever the fine was.
Last edited by DoctorBrinkley; Nov 16, 2005 at 03:40 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: When all is said and done... there is a hell of a lot more said than done. Riverside,Texas
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
Originally Posted by fastcop_c5
sorry, but thats some stupid advice. in my dept., my previous dept., we HAD to be in court if we had a case on the docket. every friend i have that works in law enforcement says thier dept. is the same way. my advice is to go to court. ive had numerous cases go through and the person pleads guilty and the judge waves the points and the person just pays the fine. nothing goes on the record. now alot of this depends on the subject's attitude, driving record, speed, etc. i usually have no objection to a person paying the fine and having the ticket reduced.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 1
From: Monmouth County NJ
Go to court. Most times they will knock it down to just a fine if you aren't habitual. The real bottom line is that jurisdictions are more happy to just get the fine money. They really are not concerned with the state and the insurance company getting more money. Many towns use traffic violation as a real income. This is what many are realy looking for. Some states have enacted laws limiting how tickets can be "knocked down" to protect the states interest.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 842
Likes: 0
From: Chicago il
after hearin about the points in cali im so glad i havent moved there... its like being in boy scouts and you get demerits for every ticket 
illinois is easy, go to traffic school and it stays off your record.
illinois is easy, go to traffic school and it stays off your record.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,479
Likes: 13
From: Dallas/Grand Prairie Texas
I didn't want to preach, but oh well.....
MOST of these responces really sicken me.........when will people start taking responsability for there actions?
Nice example you are setting........and we wonder why we have so many lazy and back talking disobedient kids that try to get away with everything.......why not, there parents are the one's doing the training.
Flame away, I don't care, someone needs to say it, obviously SOME of you didn't learn it when you were growing up.
MOST of these responces really sicken me.........when will people start taking responsability for there actions?
Nice example you are setting........and we wonder why we have so many lazy and back talking disobedient kids that try to get away with everything.......why not, there parents are the one's doing the training.
Flame away, I don't care, someone needs to say it, obviously SOME of you didn't learn it when you were growing up.
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Pay the fine. Maybe the judge will have a soft spot for you.