Has anyone ever fought a speeding ticket in PA?

[ninahbear]

If so, did you try to plea it down to a lesser traffic violation and did the magistrate do it?

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Yes, I have! I've only ever had three speeding tickets in my life. I did not want to pay the huge fine, and I didn't really believe that I had been going that fast.


I showed up for court to speak my peace. I was really nervous and stammered something about the distance between the speed limit sign and where I was pulled over. The judge looked bored and reduced the fine. The policeman that gave me the ticket was there, he looked really mad that the judge did that!

 

[Lisa L from MI]

My sister here in MI fights every speeding ticket she gets (and yes, she gets quite a few). She always has to pay the fine but since she shows up they don't give her any points...I don't know if you have the "point system" in PA or not.

 

[ninahbear]

Yes, we do have the point system. The district magistrate said she doesn't have the authority to drop it down so I would receive any points. Which is a lie isn't it?

 

[mickeyfan1]

Originally posted by ninahbear
Yes, we do have the point system. The district magistrate said she doesn't have the authority to drop it down so I would receive any points. Which is a lie isn't it?

If the magistrate said she couldn't reduce it for no points, why would you think she is lying? If dshe can't and does anyway, it would cost her the job. If she can and says she can't and you can PROVE she is lying, that should also cost her her job. If she can but WON'T, that is probably allowed.

Bottom line is watch the speed limit signs and follow them, or suffer the consequences if you get pulled over. My husband got pulled over for speeding and the cop gave him 2 tickets, the speeding ticket and a ticket for pulling over on the left side of the freeway. Because there was no way to get over to the right due to all the traffic, he was being safe and pulled into the left side breakdown lane. The cop said that it is illegal to cross the solid yellow line, and therefore, he got a doulble whammy. Each ticket carried points, but he went to traffic school for the yellow line (more points thatn speeding!) and they didn't count them. THe speeding points dropped off after one year, hooray.

 

[helenk]

I recently got my first speeding ticket, and I have been driving for 34 years. I was clocked at 74 in a 55 which, the fine was $156.00 and 4 points. I requested a hearing because even though I was speeding I was trying to get out of the way of a tractor trailer that had decided he liked my lane better than his own.
Any way, the District Magistrate reduced my speed to 70 in a 55 and this reduced the points to 3 rather than 4 and I get $18.00 refunded to me.
From what I understand, from talking to another gentleman that was waiting for his hearing, if you get 4 points you should try to get the over the speed limit amount reduced to get you 3 points because after you get 6 points, your next violation gets your drivers license pulled.

 

[DoeWDW]

Why fight it? If you did the crime, you get the punishment. If you really weren't speeding, then you may want to try to prove it.

Be careful with those points - too many and they can suspend your license and/or make you retake your driver's test. I'd go the speed limit from now on, just to be safe.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[DoeWDW]

Here's a link to the PA Point System fact sheet on PennDOT's website.


http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/dl_forms/dl-71p.pdf

 

[ninahbear]

If the magistrate said she couldn't reduce it for no points, why would you think she is lying? If dshe can't and does anyway, it would cost her the job. If she can and says she can't and you can PROVE she is lying, that should also cost her her job. If she can but WON'T, that is probably allowed.

When I got back from the hearing my boss said that one time he had a ticket reduced to something else by the magistrate. Someone in that position should not be lying. They make you swear to tell the truth so should they.

 

[chesirechik]

I got one on an interstate a few years ago, I was going 77 in a 55, which got me a $175 ticket and 4 points. This was my ticket ever. I went to the hearing and aplogized for speeding, said I would be sure to watch my speed from now on and asked for mercy on the points. She dropped all my points and reduced the fine to $75.

My brother got a speeding ticket for going 40 in a 25 ($115 & 4 points) and while he was in the waiting room the police officer that stopped him offered to reduce it to not obeying *something* (can't remember) which wiped all his points and reduced the fine to like $35. He never even had to go into the hearing.

I think it depends on the judge/magistrate you have.

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by chesirechik
I got one on an interstate a few years ago, I was going 77 in a 55, which got me a $175 ticket and 4 points. This was my ticket ever. I went to the hearing and aplogized for speeding, said I would be sure to watch my speed from now on and asked for mercy on the points. She dropped all my points and reduced the fine to $75.

My brother got a speeding ticket for going 40 in a 25 ($115 & 4 points) and while he was in the waiting room the police officer that stopped him offered to reduce it to not obeying *something* (can't remember) which wiped all his points and reduced the fine to like $35. He never even had to go into the hearing.

I think it depends on the judge/magistrate you have.

I don't think there is such a thing as a 35 dollar fine in PA... the surcharges are higher than that...

the officer probably changed it to.."Failure to obey a traffic control device"

 

[DISshopkeeper]

I went to court on a speeding ticket in PA. My sole purpose was to be nice and get the points dropped. The judge (what's the diff between a judge and a magistrate??) dropped all the points, but I paid the entire fine. He was familiar with the road I was on and got a hearty laugh when I told him that ever since the ticket, I'd been DOING 25 on that road and people were giving me the finger and riding my tail.