Massachusetts Speeding Tickets - Any Advice

[crcormier]

I have a hearing before the magistrate tomorrow for a speeding ticket I was issued back in September, and I'm pretty nervous. I don't feel I was driving unsafely (most of my friends call me 'grandpa' behind the wheel) but I really don't want to get dinged on my insurance for 6 years. Has anyone from MA gotten a ticket and fought it? And do you have any advice?

Thanks!

Craig

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I have a friend who fought a speeding ticket and won. She was issued the ticket in Bridgewater, MA. I don't recall much about it, though.

 

[Crankyshank]

Which county? What was the ticket for?

 

[crcormier]

It was Worcester County. I was on Route 2 Westbound on the Leominster Fitchburg line. Was in the passing lane at 10:30PM on a Friday, with a car behind me (which turned out to be a State Cruiser from Sturbridge which I did not realize,) and no room in the travel lane to pull over. Once I did get an opening I pulled over but he pulled over behind me and then hit the blues. The posted limit there is 45 and then shortly after is 55. The ticket was MGL 90-17 'estimated' at going 60+ in a 50. (The officer said I was doing 65 in the 45 but was trying to be 'nice'.)

 

[Crankyshank]

Is this your first driving offense?

Your first ticket doesn't show up on your "record". You have a good shot at it if it wasn't clearly marked and you had no way to get out of his way. Be respectful at the courthouse and try to not be argumentative

My brother is a cop and traffic violations is his big thing.

 

[castlegazer]

Just showing up in court is the first plus you will get. The court now will accept surrogate Troopers, i.e. you used to be able to beat it simply if your Trooper didn't show up. Now it will be a surrogate who is there to sit and verify the other Trooper's statement.

Say that according to your spedometer, you were not going above 50. It will be a hard case for them to make because it says its estimated. They can not verify how fast you were actually going.

That's really the best you can do. Simply state that you were attempting to get back into the travel lane and out of the passing lane because you had someone coming up behind you (the Trooper who you didn't realize was a police officer) and may have been going slightly above 45, but not above 50.

I have a close friend who is Trooper and he may have pointers, but he is out and about in his cruiser now so I can't ask him.

 

[crcormier]

Yes, it is my first ticket, but Massachusetts doesn't wave the first one, it gets two points against your insurance once you pay it or appeal it and are found responsible. (From everything I've read so far, and from my exGF who worked at a car insurance place.)

 

[tar heel]

North Carolina doesn't waive the first one either, so be wary of that advice. In NC, it takes two points for it to affect your license and one ticket speeding less than 10 MPH over the limit is only one point. That point is on your record, though, just waiting for company. I have one point, and I intend to make sure it stays very lonely.

 

[castlegazer]

I do think that the first ticket - as its still a ticket - will show up and will appear on your insurance for the next six years. It will also prevent you from getting a warning for your next offense. I also think that you may not be able to beat it entirely - but you will get it reduced so its not so expensive. But, that being said, you have a better than average shot at getting a good hearing where you may get it expunged.

 

[dmadman43]

I thought the penalty for seeding in Mass. was being re-elected to the U.S. Senate? Wait! That's DUI. Nevermind.

 

[crcormier]

Yeah, the ticket is for $100 which doesn't concern me as much as the several hundred dollars it would cost me over the next six years on my insurance! That's the only reason I'm fighting it.

 

[castlegazer]

Yup. I feel the same way. But when I used to get speeding tickets a LOT - back in college and prior - I really cared about getting them reduced. Now I am a rational adult and realize, damn, I need to get this thing removed entirely cause the insurance is what is going to get me.

Good luck. I wlil check back if I get more info from the Trooper.

 

[Crankyshank]

I never got penalized for my MA speeding ticket and I didn't fight it - neither did any of my friends.

Also, request the calibration report. The radar is supposed to be calibrated often and it usually isn't

 

[Laurajean1014]

Pay it. Sturbridge is known for having a very tough speeding police. If you are very nice and do not overdress (look nice but do not go in a suit), they may lower the charge and amount.

Good luck and post your result!

 

[crcormier]

The ticket was actually for a state highway (route 2) right on the Leominster/Fitchburg border, but it was a state trooper from the Sturbridge barracks who pulled me over. (Why he was up in that area, I do not know.)

I also did request the copies of the officers log book for the hour of the ticket, copies of both sides of the officer's part of your ticket, a description of the device used to measure your speed, its repair history and maintenance, and the officers training record on that device, though I have received none of this material.

 

[Lynn CC]

Good Luck, I think I would go to court too just so my insurance wouldn't go up each year. I'm glad to hear your usually a "grandpa" driver! I'm a grandma! Sometimes, I know what you mean about trying to pull in when someone is on your back and you can't pull in. I'll remember not to speed up next time.
Please post how you make out in court.

 

[Chicago526]

You all should move to IL. Here, you can pay a higher ticket amount and take a safe driver's class, and they don't report the ticket to your insurance company. You only get this option once every two years. If you get a second ticket within two years, they don't let you take the class and report you.

 

[crcormier]

Chicago, are you offering me a room at your place??? Massachusetts has some pain in the butt aspects about, but I'm still pretty attached to it and I don't think I'd want to leave just because of some crazy driving laws.

 

[kasar]

Every person I know that has gone before a magistrate has had the ticket cut in half, at least and in some cases dismissed all together. Since it's your first ticket (oh, use the "grandpa" term!) I think they'll go easy on you. Honestly, they're hoping that you think it's too much hassle and that you just send in the payment. If you actually show up, plead your case respectfully they usually will let a first offense go. Hope it works out for you.

 

[crcormier]

Here's hoping, though if they just offer to reduce the amount of the ticket I'll still appeal to a judge. I can afford $100, I just don't want to pay $1500 over six years from my insurance rates going up when I'm no longer a step 9!