Oh No, Speeding Ticket!

[cigarboo]

So I had a bad day. Got a speeding ticket on the highway.... I was going 71 in a 55mph zone, which was also a work zone. I know...bad, bad bad. So the officer told me I can send in the ticket and have a court date and that maybe they can give me a lower offense ticket or what ever you call it.

Anyways... I'm wondering what I'm suppose to say to the judge? The officer gave me a printout of my speed and all that, so I guess I'm guilty. I think I should go to court, but I don't know why Of course I would like less points to my driving record. I'm not sure what I can say, because I can't really deny speeding. Should I say sorry? cry? tell my life story? Any advice would be appreciated

 

[mjkacmom]

LOL - it's just a formality. At the start of court, they will ask if anyone wants to plead to the prosecutor (or something like that). Wait your turn, and ask for a break. He will most likely take off some points, and reduce your fine. Definitely do it!

 

[manning]

I guess in a way you may be lucky according to what the officer said. In our state (Illinois) they throw the book at you in a work zone. $375 minimum. A friend of mine got tagged in a work zone by a speed camera. When he went to court there were a bunch of others there on the same charge. The judge told all at the same time they were quilty and there will be no plead bargains. Also informed them if it happens again licenses will be revoked.

 

[C.Ann]

I think you should pay the fine and not say a word.. What can you say? There's no valid reason for what you did and as they say, "do the crime, pay the time".. The points on your license will be a good reminder for the future..

If the laws are like they are here, expect the fine to be an extremely high one for speeding in a work zone.. We have had several workers killed here due to people speeding through work zones..

 

[englishteacha]

I contested a ticket once in college. I was pressured by a professor to drive a university van full of my classmates on our way back from a conference. That sucker was huge, and it picked up a lot of speed on hills. I was pulled over for speeding a few miles from campus at the bottom of a large hill. I contested because the professor was supposed to be driving, and once it got dark pulled over and said, "You have to drive. I can't see in the dark." (I was authorized to drive a university van, but hadn't ever done it before.) I talked to the DA, explained the situation, and had the fine reduced by half. The points were reduced, too. My van driving privileges were revoked by the college, though.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Go to court, and plea it down. You have nothing to lose!

 

[cigarboo]

I guess in a way you may be lucky according to what the officer said. In our state (Illinois) they throw the book at you in a work zone. $375 minimum. A friend of mine got tagged in a work zone by a speed camera. When he went to court there were a bunch of others there on the same charge. The judge told all at the same time they were quilty and there will be no plead bargains. Also informed them if it happens again licenses will be revoked.

Maybe that will happen to me also. I know they are pretty hard on the work zone stuff. I just figure if the officer suggested I go to court, I should have something to say and maybe they will be more lenient. That would stink to make the time to go to court and have them make you feel worse. Driving back through "the scene of the crime," there is a sign that says 2 speed zone tickets and your license gets suspended, so it may be that way in my state also.

In case people think that I nearly mowed down some workers, there were no workers around. The strip of highway I was in has been a work zone for the past 2 years and I've never seen anyone work on anything. It is also the area where they change from a 65mph to 55mph zone. Not saying I'm not
guilty. Just kicking myself...

LOL - it's just a formality. At the start of court, they will ask if anyone wants to plead to the prosecutor (or something like that). Wait your turn, and ask for a break. He will most likely take off some points, and reduce your fine. Definitely do it!

Thanks for making me feel better... your "LOL" just made me smile a bit...I was REALLY bummin', but you reminded me there are worse things in life.

 

[torinsmom]

You may want to check with a traffic attorney. I happen to be friends with one and he made my ticket "disappear", and I only had to pay the price of the ticket. Of course, if you don't have one for a friend, it will cost a few hundred, but well worth it to be rid of the ticket. I mean my ticket was dropped; no prayer for judgment or anything.

You can also ask for a "prayer for judgment" which basically means the court will not put the ticket on your record, as long as you do not get a ticket in the next three years. If you do, then both will count. You have to go to court for that and speak to the prosecutor person, ask to have the ticket reduced to 9 or less over the speed limit and let him know you will be asking for a PFJ.

Good luck! It happens to us all sooner or later.

Marsha

 

[mickeymedic]

I think you should pay the fine and not say a word.. What can you say? There's no valid reason for what you did and as they say, "do the crime, pay the time".. The points on your license will be a good reminder for the future..

This was my attitude when I got my ticket last April. Then I lost my job in August and couldn't get hired at my new job right away because of the points on my license. This was my only ticket in NY. (I got a ticket in Ohio 13 years ago.) But the new employer was really strict. I took a defensive driving class right away to reduce my points. But it took 6 weeks for it to show up on my license. So that was 6 additional weeks of unemployment that could have been prevented. When I talked to my DBIL (who is a lawyer) he told me that I was crazy for not going to court to try to get it reduced. Apparently in NY only a few dollars of a speeding charge actually go to the town court. So, usually the judge reduces it to some lesser offense with a smaller fine - but most of that fine actually stays in the town.

So, go to court and see what happens. Worst case scenario: you still have to pay the whole fine. You really have nothing to lose.

 

[DawnCt1]

I think you should pay the fine and not say a word.. What can you say? There's no valid reason for what you did and as they say, "do the crime, pay the time".. The points on your license will be a good reminder for the future..

If the laws are like they are here, expect the fine to be an extremely high one for speeding in a work zone.. We have had several workers killed here due to people speeding through work zones..

Not good advice. Guilty pleas and points on licenses are the "gifts that keep on giving",especially with the insurance company.He doesn't plan to go to court and say he 'didn't do it'. He is planning on asking for leniency. He doesn't need a valid reason for going to fast. If he needs a reminder, he can look at his cancelled check for the 'donation' that he might get to make to charity or a fine cut in half with no points.

 

[DisneyFan06]

It happens to the best of us.
Hopefully tomorrow is better.

 

[Michelle67]

Definitely go to court, definitely don't cry (if you can help it...). Just tell the truth and apologize. In my experience most judges will cut you some kind of break if you don't try to snow them or act defiant. It's worth the shot, especially with the work zone issue, because this can end up costing you big time in your insurance.

Good luck.

 

[kristilew]

You may want to check with a traffic attorney. I happen to be friends with one and he made my ticket "disappear", and I only had to pay the price of the ticket. Of course, if you don't have one for a friend, it will cost a few hundred, but well worth it to be rid of the ticket. I mean my ticket was dropped; no prayer for judgment or anything.

You can also ask for a "prayer for judgment" which basically means the court will not put the ticket on your record, as long as you do not get a ticket in the next three years. If you do, then both will count. You have to go to court for that and speak to the prosecutor person, ask to have the ticket reduced to 9 or less over the speed limit and let him know you will be asking for a PFJ.

Good luck! It happens to us all sooner or later.

Marsha

Yes, this is my advice exactly. I've never actually paid for/gotten points for a speeding ticket. It's all who you know or who you pay. If you don't have someone who can fix this for you, it is well worth what you will pay to an atty. Points will cause your insurance to go up big time.

Sorry you had such a bad day

 

[DawnA401]

I hope you didn't do this in NJ,,, my brother-in-law lost his drivers license, for speeding in a work zone..he was a truck driver, so he also lost his job

 

[lucas]

Don't be surprised if you get called for jury duty.

 

[torinsmom]

Don't be surprised if you get called for jury duty.

Does this have something to do with getting a ticket, or using a lawyer to get rid of it? I got a ticket about 6 months before I got my first call EVER for jury duty! I was able to get out of it, but I'm sure my name will come up again soon.

Marsha

 

[aprilgail2]

I think you should pay the fine and not say a word.. What can you say? There's no valid reason for what you did and as they say, "do the crime, pay the time".. The points on your license will be a good reminder for the future..

The points on your license you can get rid of by taking a defensive driving course. Won't help your insurance that will go up but will take the points off your license.

OP - I would go to court and hope that the police officer that wrote the ticket does not show up. I have a friend that beats so many tickets that way-

 

[cigarboo]

You can also ask for a "prayer for judgment" which basically means the court will not put the ticket on your record, as long as you do not get a ticket in the next three years

Sounds like a lovely idea, but I looked it up and NY does not have such a thing. Shucks.

Don't be surprised if you get called for jury duty.

I didn't know that's how you end up getting called for jury duty. I've never been called and I never knew why.

The points on your license you can get rid of by taking a defensive driving course. Won't help your insurance that will go up but will take the points off your license.

Why would my insurance go up if the points were taken off my license? Isn't that the main reason why people try to "fight" a ticket? Does the insurance co. look at the ticket even if there are no more points? Granted, I'll probably have more points, than can be taken off by the defensive driving course.


Thank you everyone for your input. The support and kind words are helpful.

 

[mjkacmom]

Not good advice. Guilty pleas and points on licenses are the "gifts that keep on giving",especially with the insurance company.He doesn't plan to go to court and say he 'didn't do it'. He is planning on asking for leniency. He doesn't need a valid reason for going to fast. If he needs a reminder, he can look at his cancelled check for the 'donation' that he might get to make to charity or a fine cut in half with no points.

You are not kidding! A $300 ticket turns into thousands of dollars!

 

[rigs32]

The points on your license you can get rid of by taking a defensive driving course. Won't help your insurance that will go up but will take the points off your license.

OP - I would go to court and hope that the police officer that wrote the ticket does not show up. I have a friend that beats so many tickets that way-

This first statement is NOT true in NY. You can take the school to get points off, but only if you're in danger of going over the DMV's limit. It may help you get a reduction, depending on what court you're in.

Also, there are a lot of people who believe the officer must show up for your court date. That is often not true (at least in NY). If you want a trial, they will subpoena the officer, but do you really want the state paying several hours of overtime to each and every officer that rights a traffic ticket for each and every court appearance when traffic matters are handled? When I do have traffic trials, it is rare that an officer does not show up.

Also, a minor defect in the ticket (wrong address, etc) does not get the ticket dismissed. And if the officer gave you a roadside reduction and you refuse it and want a trial, they can and will rewrite the ticket for the original offense - exposing you to higher fines and more points.

Again, this is all in NY. And YMMV by jurisdiction.