Poor Speeding DD17!

[DVCLiz]

DD17, late for her AP Euro exam, finally met the long arm of the law this morning. I got a sobbing phone call. I think I got her calm enough to take the exam, and she did mention something the cop had said about not going on her insurance. So what should I know about speeding tickets and should I just pay it, or should we go to court? (By pay it, I mean make DD earn the $125 babysitting, of course. I pay for a LOT of stuff, but you're on your own for speeding tickets!)

I've never actually gotten a ticket, although I've been stopped two or three times, back in the day. I DID get a $135 ticket a few months ago, for "failure to come to a complete stop."

We are just a family that can't break the law - we get nailed every time.

 

[golfgal]

If she was speeding, then yes, she should pay the ticket. I don't think taking this particular ticket to court is a good precedence. It is telling her you can break the law and then get out of it later. I think this would be one of those good life lessons, not only don't speed but plan your time better so you aren't late!

 

[DVCLiz]

If she was speeding, then yes, she should pay the ticket. I don't think taking this particular ticket to court is a good precedence. It is telling her you can break the law and then get out of it later. I think this would be one of those good life lessons, not only don't speed but plan your time better so you aren't late!

Actually, I'd really just like some advice about how speeding tickets work, etc. instead of parenting advice.

Does anyone know what impact a speeding ticket has on insurance rates? At what point does it make more sense to try and do something legally vs. just paying the ticket?

 

[froglady]

I don't know about NC, but in FL you can attend traffic school, which will keep the points from going on your license and being reported to your insurance. I've didn't do it when I got a ticket a few weeks ago, as it was my first speeding ticket. I also knew I deserved it, as I wasn't paying attention to the speed limit, which means I wasn't paying full attention to my driving. I've made a conscious effort to make sure I don't start creeping up, regardless of the traffic conditions.

I believe it will add 3 points to my license. I THINK 6 points within a certain time period can get it suspended, and insurance will drop me. My rates will probably go up a bit.

Again, I would not protest a ticket, as I view it as a wake-up call that I'm not paying close enough attention.

 

[golfgal]

Actually, I'd really just like some advice about how speeding tickets work, etc. instead of parenting advice.

Does anyone know what impact a speeding ticket has on insurance rates? At what point does it make more sense to try and do something legally vs. just paying the ticket?

Well I guess I misinterpreted where you asked if she should pay the ticket or go to court then. Sorry.

It is different in every state. In Wisconsin you pay your ticket to the police officer and if you don't have the cash on you they can arrest you.

 

[Royalbear]

My dd17 got caught speeding. In most jurisdictions, they have a juvenile traffic court whereby the first ticket is a learning experience. We had to go before the mayor, pay a $50 fine, she had to write a paper about the dangers of speeding and then raise money to buy a $30 gift certificate for charity. If she did this in two weeks, her appearance in court would be waived and she would get no points on her license.

If she gets caught speeding in the next six months, she will go to traffic court and get points on her license for BOTH tickets (thus increasing our insurance rates dramatically).

We think it taught her a lesson, but let me tell you, if they didn't have this option, we would encourage the court to throw the book at her--better learned now than later.

Good luck to you and your DD.

 

[DVCLiz]

Well I guess I misinterpreted where you asked if she should pay the ticket or go to court then. Sorry.

It is different in every state. In Wisconsin you pay your ticket to the police officer and if you don't have the cash on you they can arrest you.

Actually, I asked if I should pay the ticket or go to court. Of course I'm going to make sure she has consequences and follows the procedure for taking responsibility for the "crime." I'm just interested in how speeding tickets work, etc. and I suppose the answer is "differently in every state." I'll do some on-line searching for the NC laws.

 

[minkydog]

Hugs to you and your daughter. We went through this with DS19 earlier this year--25mph+ in a school zone . He was distraught, but ya know, if you wanna speed you gotta pay the piper--or in his case, the judge. We didn't bail him out AT ALL. But we did help him walk through it so he didn't misstep.

I don't know how this will affect your insurance. My son went to traffic school and our insurance hasn't changed. His driving has changed, though. You bet he watches speed limit signs now and he NEVER speeds in a school zone.

A $250 lesson learned

 

[horseshowmom]

DD got one last fall in the town her university is in. Our state also gives you the option of going to traffic school for the first ticket. When I researched it for her, it looked like most states do that. It was under $50 ($35, I think), so it was much cheaper than a ticket (and it didn't go on her driving record). Plus, lots of car insurances give you a discount for having completed the driving school (I keep forgetting to check with ours).

 

[froglady]

Actually, I asked if I should pay the ticket or go to court. Of course I'm going to make sure she has consequences and follows the procedure for taking responsibility for the "crime." I'm just interested in how speeding tickets work, etc. and I suppose the answer is "differently in every state." I'll do some on-line searching for the NC laws.

Do you think the ticket was undeserved? I would hesitate to go into court to contest a valid traffic ticket.

 

[golfgal]

Actually, I asked if I should pay the ticket or go to court. Of course I'm going to make sure she has consequences and follows the procedure for taking responsibility for the "crime." I'm just interested in how speeding tickets work, etc. and I suppose the answer is "differently in every state." I'll do some on-line searching for the NC laws.

Well I guess I misinterpreted that part too because I thought when you said you would make her earn the money to pay the fine that she would be the one that ultimately pays for the ticket. I don't know why you are jumping down my throat over this, you asked a question and I answered it.

 

[DVCLiz]

No, I don't think the ticket was undeserved. I'm not trying to jump down your throat, golfgal, but you misunderstood what I was trying to ask.

What I wanted to get was information about speeding tickets, and how they relate to insurance. My daughter is on my insurance and it will potentially affect my rates. She will pay for the ticket from her own earnings, but she will not make the ultimate decision about how we go forward. If, for example, there are options for a first offender, etc. I'd like to know about them before I choose an option that wouldn't be the best one in these circumstances. Obviously, there are circumstances in which it would be advantageous to contest a ticket, and I wanted to know what they are, independently of anything I might or might not decide about my daughter.

 

[Planogirl]

Can she take the defensive driving course in your state? That's pretty good punishment too IMO and you can keep it off the insurance.

 

[sajetto]

I remember getting my first ticket. I was 16 and I never got any punishment. My mom made me go to court with her, she paid for it, and told me there was no way in heck she was going to let the insurance go up b/c of little ol' me. I haven't turned into criminal nor am I a wacko on the road. I know everyone parents differently, but punishment for every single mistake is a little overkill to me. I was distraught, sobbing, and mad at myself for not realizing how fast I was going on that open highway. I think that mom and dad decided that it was punishment enough.

So thanks mom and dad.....you are the BEST parents in the world. I love you both. Muwah!


(Sorry just had to show the great folks! Aren't they hot for being in their LATE 50s! )

 

[hydster]

My 35 yr old DH just got his 3rd speeding ticket For us the officer gave him the copy of his speeding citation with a "docket #" and a phone number to call. He will be doing that today to find out what the fine will be for speeding 9 over the posted limit. Generally they will tell you what the cost of the fine is and either where to bring in the $ or an address in which to send a check to them for the citation. In our state they generally will let you take a traffic school course which in Utah consists of 2 hours on 1 night and then you are done and the points from the speeding ticket don't go on your insurance. I think it's an additional $50 to go to school but that is a small price compared to if your insurance goes up for 3 years. You can attend traffic school once every 3 years in each county or jurisdiction so if you get one in the jurisdiction of A and then awhile later get one in jurisdiction C you can go to traffic school for both of them and not have the points on your record.

Also when my dh got his 2nd speeding ticket which was just over 2 years ago we didn't send him to traffic school we just paid the fine and watched to see what happened. Well nothing happened to our rate. We've even bought a new car that needed to be insured and they didn't raise our rates then either. The problem is that if you even call and asky hypothetically what the rate would raise too they will start looking for any citations for anyone in your family so it's a hard call to make. Do you chance it? Do you go to traffic school..what to do..what to do.

Hopefully it will be quick and relatively "painless" to you guys! I know I don't enjoy paying out $$$$ for my Mario Andretti wanna be DH.

 

[Hannathy]

First you DO NOT have to pay a speeding ticket on the spot in Wisconsin. They give you a ticket and you choose how to pay it or contest it.

You can get on me to but I don't think you should go to court and contest it if the ticket is valid. That costs the tax payers a lot of money for the police to be pulled off patrol and go to court. If she was speeding she deserves the ticket and it isn't the end of the world, but she did speed.

Why not call your insurance and ask? You don't need to tell them that she got the ticket you could say you were discussing it with your child and wanted the facts. In a lot of states unless you get over so many points in a year the points are wiped off your record after 1 yr.

 

[padams]

She ought to pay the speeding ticket and any increase in the insurance premium. Doing anything else lets her off the hook.

 

[DVCLiz]

She ought to pay the speeding ticket and any increase in the insurance premium. Doing anything else lets her off the hook.

She's not on any hook. Again, I didn't ask for parenting advice, just about information on how speeding tickets work.

 

[minniecarousel]

It looks like the consequences vary from state to state. In California, a ticket is paid by mail - you only go to court if you're going to contest the ticket. In most cases, you can do a traffic court class so that it doesn't go on your record for insurance rate hike.
If she will need to go to court, you should go with her, since she's a minor.

 

[DVCLiz]

First you DO NOT have to pay a speeding ticket on the spot in Wisconsin. They give you a ticket and you choose how to pay it or contest it.

You can get on me to but I don't think you should go to court and contest it if the ticket is valid. That costs the tax payers a lot of money for the police to be pulled off patrol and go to court. If she was speeding she deserves the ticket and it isn't the end of the world, but she did speed.

Why not call your insurance and ask? You don't need to tell them that she got the ticket you could say you were discussing it with your child and wanted the facts. In a lot of states unless you get over so many points in a year the points are wiped off your record after 1 yr.

I won't get on you!!! I don't live in Wisconsin, though, so I still need to find out what happens in NC.

I wouldn't go to court and "fight" a ticket I thought was valid. I'm not that kind of person. I do know, though, that lots of people get a lawyer and go to court about speeding tickets. I was simply wondering what the deal was about that. If there are options that work out better for us then I want to know what they are. I did say "go to court" and not "contest the ticket in court" in my OP.