And I wasn't even in my vette at the time. :

Yes, I know I am bad and deserve to be chastised, but as a non US Citizen (I am a legal alien working hereon a H1b Visa) I am looking for advice as to how to proceed as things are very different here to the UK.

I do have a proper US Driving licence from the state of Texas.

Anyway, I was driving back from Denver to Dallas (bloody long way!) and at 3.20am Sunday night/Monday morning, the nice man with pretty flashy lights pulled me over for a chat.

It was a clear night, there was no other traffic in front or behind me on a very long straight road.

It was in Clarendon Texas.

He alleges I was doing 90mph in what should have been a 65mph.

I didn't ask to see the gun or the read out, I probably should have huh?

He gave a little green slip and a white form telling me who to call and how much to pay.

My question is, what's likely to happen? Does this go on a record? I'm worried because I am hoping to apply for a green card in the future and had been trying very hard not to be naughty. The temptation of a straight road, a very long trip, and nothing else around got the better of me.

Is there anything I can do so this doesn't go on my record? Pay a larger fine? Do a course? Friends have suggested I can do a driver safety course, but not sure because of the amount I was alleged to be over the speed limit.

Is it worth me getting a lawyer? Any suggestions?

Thanks for any help.

 

Pay it and move on...

 

I am pretty familiar with H1B visa and green cards,,I have worked with lawyers to help employees at my company obtain them. I don't think a traffic violation would hurt your chances of getting a green card in anyway. The BCIS(formerly INS) is so back logged that I don't think they will worry or investigate this unless you were convicted of a felony or serious misdameanor.

 

Don't know if Texas offers this, but check to see if you can take a defensive driving course, pay some fees, then the ticket may not appear on your record. Worth a shot. If not, pay the fine and remember to slow down.

 

Pay it and move on! No big deal.

 

 

If the officer wrote the ticket for 90 in a 65 then you will most likely not be able to take defensive or deferred as 24 MPH over the speed limit is typically the max for those options. Fighting the ticket in a small town rarely works. IMO, bite the bullet and pay the fine.

 

A minor traffic offence won't bar you from getting a green card. I say pay up & move on.

 

Er, ah, slow down?

 

Hey guy-

Do not worry about the ticket affecting anything other than your insurance costs.

Even that may be minimized by attending traffic school - contact the number on the ticket to see if this option applies.

What are you going to do when the TT's are installed? Better head on down with us to Big Bend where its as fast as you want to go, and NO LEO's

 

Send it in plea "NO Contest" not guilt, and pay the fine. get a radar detector if your going to speed. Good Luck. Save the Wave.>George

 

:

 

I JUST left the Plano Municipal court building after paying my fees and such for 58 in a 40. I know for a fact that the Defensive Driving option is not available to you if you are ticketed for 25 mph or more over the posted speed limit. You MIGHT be able to request the Deferred Disposition, where you basically are on "probation" for the next 90 days, and if you have no more offenses the ticket is wiped from your record. It still costs you the full amount of the ticket, but nothing appears on your record.

 

We all learn from our mistakes

 

The whole process is very different to the UK, so I was kind of caught off guard. I think the officer knew the thing about 24 mph etc. because initially when he stopped me he said I was doing 'approx' 90mph. I was going to contest (I thought it was in the 80's) but after giving him my licence, I thought just to check it, he came back with the ticket all filled in and the speed at 90 exactly... no 'approx' anywhere.

Yes I know I shouldn't have been exceeding the speed limit. :

I'm not worried about paying the fine, more what it might mean for my future here.

How long do speeding issues stay on your 'record'? Is it like the UK where after 3 years they are dropped?

Thanks for the help guys.

 

This is going to vary by state..if you have a Texas license then someone from Texas who responds should know.

Any more Texans out there who know this??

 

I guess I should have clarified that I was in the Plano, TEXAS municipal court building. Plano is a suburb of Dallas. I forget that my location doesn't show under my avatar... If the Deferred Disposition option is given to you, the ticket will be off your record in 90 days. I don't know how long a ticket that stays on your record lasts - the trend here seems to be get it off your record entirely by going to a driving school or using the deferred option. If you just pay the ticket, it will certainly be on your record. Anyone know how long?

 

The law in Texas varies within the state -- so, what might work in one county might not work in another. Accordingly, first see if there is a phone # on the ticket and call and ask them your options. If it's a small town, they may not be very helpful on the phone, but you don't stand to lose at all by calling. Ask if they have a "deferred adjudication" plan, which basically means you pay some whopping fee but the ticket won't go on your record. Yes, it's true, that as high as he wrote that ticket, you may not be entitled, but if you get a nice person in the system they may agree to "write down" the speed to a level so as to allow you to have that deferred adjudication.

Call sooner than later, so you don't run up against any deadlines.

 

 

Here in Michigan, you can asked to have it reduced to an impeding traffic ticket. You still pay the fine, but no points on your record. I have heard of other places doing similar things like asking to take it under advisement, meaning that if you get another ticket within 6 months, you get the points for that one and the one you just got. Good luck, and don't worry too much about everyone telling you not to speed, we ALL do it. Especially if no one is on the road around us. How else are you going to tell if your car really works?