Speeding Ticket

[MM27]

Just got my very first speeding ticket today
I admit I was speeding and I'm not even considering fighting it, I'll just pay it off and take the 2 pts. What concerns me though is my car insurance. Is there a standard type of increase that comes along with this? I've never even gotten a parking ticket before so this really hurts.

 

[TangaroaTiki]

Not sure what state you live in, but here in NJ you can take a defensive driving course and lose the 2 points so there would be no insurance increase.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Have you considered going to traffic school to keep the ticket off your record? When I got my one and only speeding ticket several years ago, the officer told me to register for online traffic school. I still had to pay the fine, but completing the online course kept the points off my driving record and off my insurance. I finished the course in a few hours and then had to take a test at a community center. I would recommend giving that try if it's an option for you.

 

[taylor3297]

It really depends on which state you live in. In NC you can get a lawyer then have him/her as for a prayer for judgement since you have never had a ticket before.

 

[dakcp2001]

In my state you do not get points for your first offense. You will have to look into it.


It happens to all of us from time to time, and it is a good reminder to slow down and maked the roads safer. Better a ticket then a crash! Could be much worse.

 

[MM27]

I live in NJ and the officer told me that it would be 2 points. I'm not making excuses. I know I was speeding and I shouldn't have been. I've driven from central NJ to north Jersey every day for the last 10 years and I get the ticket in the town next to me on the way home. The funny thing is, I never go that way, I usually take the highway home, but today I decided to go the back way.

 

[mjkacmom]

I live in NJ and the officer told me that it would be 2 points. I'm not making excuses. I know I was speeding and I shouldn't have been. I've driven from central NJ to north Jersey every day for the last 10 years and I get the ticket in the town next to me on the way home. The funny thing is, I never go that way, I usually take the highway home, but today I decided to go the back way.

You are good, I believe, but you can google it. DH got one in central NJ, and it was even more than 2 points, he went to court and pleaded to the prosecuter, and got it down to 2, no insurance increase.

 

[christineann]

I don't know how things go in your area, but if you have a clean record, you can usually get it reduced to no points and a fine if you show up at court here. It also depends on the judge, of course.

 

[JustineMarie]

You should take the ticket to court and ask them to change it to a "not obeying posted speed limits" ticket which is different from speeding as it doesn't carry the points. It is a higher fine, but your insurance wouldn't be affected.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Oh my goodness, by all means, GO TO COURT AND FIGHT IT!!!

My DH is a police officer (sorry, I am sure you hate them today, LOL! ) As you said, this IS your first ticket... and I am sure you didn't start driving last week! You've gone a long time with a squeeky clean record!

From experience with my DH, if you go to court, plead guilty and explain that you were speeding, feel terrible about it, and have been driving for X amount of years without an issue, that you don't know what got into you that day, apologize, say you will watch your speeds carefully from now on, etc., etc.... Mentioning that the points will kill you and your insurance, but you are fully prepared to pay the fine.

I am SURE that they would let you off with just the fine. (All they want is the fine... they see the $$$, it does them no good to make you get points in your case... but they would love their $$$!!!)

Please go and fight it. I would bet $1000 that you will get off just paying the fine.

 

[allison443]

OP this is one of those things that is going to vary by state, and even in NJ it can be different among different towns...

I remember recently a person from Ohio posted about her 20 year old son getting a summons for underage possession of alcohol. People posted telling her just talk to the prosecutor, talk to the judge, it definitely will be dismissed, it won't go anywhere. Of course they went to court and it wasn't dismissed-he ended up with a fine and community service, I believe. Just goes to show that these things vary a lot!

Anyway, OP I am in NJ like you. A relative recently got a speeding ticket in Edison. NJ has a "no points option" where instead of the speeding ticket you plead guilty to "unsafe driving". There are no points involved, but there is a $250 surcharge on top of the fine and court costs. Probably will cost around $400 total. You avoid the points, but pay more of a fine. My relative's ticket was 4 points but she was able to avoid the points by paying a heavier fine.

However, if you are a long time customer of your insurance company, they may not raise your rates for just 2 points. In that case you could pay the cheaper fine and take the two points.

Just want to add, these deals are normally worked out with the prosecutor before you go before the judge. Then the judge approves it, you pay the fees that night.

Good luck!

 

[disneymarie]

Just got my very first speeding ticket today
I admit I was speeding and I'm not even considering fighting it, I'll just pay it off and take the 2 pts. What concerns me though is my car insurance. Is there a standard type of increase that comes along with this? I've never even gotten a parking ticket before so this really hurts.

How much over the speed limit were you going. It may pay to request a hearing, send for a copy of your driving record, and through yourself on the mercy of the officer and court for a no points.

In PA if less then 5mph over it is zero points.

Admit that it was an over site, not a habit and the increase in insurance fee cause a hardship.

You have nothing to lose and a much better position then someone saying, I can't afford anymore points I will lose my license.

Anthter thing to reduce cost is the 55 alive AARP course is not just for over 50, anyone can take it and reduce rates.
Good luck,

 

[aprilgail2]

I don't know about NJ but in NY even if you go to defensice driving after you get a ticket it doesn't make the points "go away" - they do go away if you are in danger of losing you license but it has no bearing on the points going away for insurance- I took it a few weeks ago since mine was up and that is how they explained it there.
I know with the insurance company I have I would not be renewed if I got a speeding ticket- they almost didn't give me insurance because my brother had his car side swiped while he was parked someplace and made a claim- he doesn't live here but uses this address as his. I pay half the rate I used to before I switched to them so I sure hope I can keep this company!

 

[MizTink]

yeah, i know how you feel. i just got my 1st speeding ticket too. i'm 38 years old and this is my first ticket. never even a warning before......

the thing that really makes me mad is that i turned off of a 45mph road, onto a road that the speed limit is 35 for the 1st 1/4 mile (at the most), then it's also 45mph. i was going 44mph. i just sort of forgot it was only 35 in that couple blocks.

the cop had no sympathy for me at all. i was even crying. i am a single mom with 3 kids, teenaged son's girlfriend just had a baby (preemie by 6 weeks) 6 weeks ago. gf and baby are now living with me too. so there are 6 of us in my house. i was FIRED from my job the week my granddaughter was discharged from the NICU for being 15 minutes late for work. i have NO income, lots on my shoulders, and the a$$ gave me a $129 ticket.

guess this turned into a rant! sorry!!!! it just makes me sooo mad, on top of everything else!

 

[FireDancer]

I've gotten my share of tickets in my life. The insurance question will depend on your insurer and your state. My current insurance will not increase because of a ticket provided it didn't result in a claim (Like a ticket for failure to merge because I hit someone). I have had insurance in the past that would increase the second you got a ticket. Some insurance companies will check your driving record so even if you get a ticket with no points, which is sometimes done if you go see a magistrate, the insurance will still go up.

The one thing that might happen is that a safe driving discount may disappear. If that happens the insurance will go up, but because of an increase but because of a loss of discount.

 

[MM27]

Thanks for all the advice/comments

I went back on that road again today, although at a slower speed
The speed limit turns from 35 mph to 25 mph and the cop was waiting at the first side street after the change. He said he clocked me at 39 mph.

I called the court clerk today and the ticket will be 98 dollars + 2 points. She suggested, in a whisper, that I come to court and fight it. She said they would probably drop the points and I may end up paying a higher fine. She said it would be about $350. There is also a chance that they drop everything. So although I was planning on just sucking it up and paying the fine and taking the points, I think I will go to court. My court date is the day my class is going on our first class trip, so I need to see if I can get it moved now. Maybe I should've just turned on the tears

The husband of one of my coworkers is also a cop and he said that many times the officer won't show up for court and then the whole thing will be dropped.

 

[disneymarie]

Thanks for all the advice/comments

I went back on that road again today, although at a slower speed
The speed limit turns from 35 mph to 25 mph and the cop was waiting at the first side street after the change. He said he clocked me at 39 mph.

The husband of one of my coworkers is also a cop and he said that many times the officer won't show up for court and then the whole thing will be dropped.

In PA we can not sit that close to the change in a speed limit, that is considered a speed trap. If you look in your vehicle code on line in the speeding section, there has to be something about speed zones changes and posting the sign stating that reduction. It has to allow several hundred feet.

Same thing about making a traffic stop as people pull out of a bar, it is entrapment.
Take a picture, try to locate a measuring wheel, and document.
Ask for the hearing, it sounds like they are willing to drop a points citation of $98 for a non traffic for $300, then the town gets $$$ instead of the state getting the speeding monies...

If they will not drop it to a less then 5 miles over no points then go ahead with the hearing and state how the sign from the reduction was not far enough for your car to slow down.

If Radar was not used, a timing device, there is at least 10 mph waive for mechanical error.
So in a 25 you are allowed 35.

 

[mjkacmom]

The husband of one of my coworkers is also a cop and he said that many times the officer won't show up for court and then the whole thing will be dropped.

Too bad that coworker didn't give you a "get out of jail free" card - I get one every year from my Jersey City lieutenant friend. DH couldn't find his the last time he was pulled over - could've killed him!

 

[JerseyJanice]

I would call my insurance agent if I were you and ask how the points will be handled on your policy. Some insurance companies give grace for a single offense.

What you're being advised to do is to go to court and plead guilty to reckless driving. You pay a much higher fine, but get no points. However, you can only use this option three times in your NJ driving life. IMO, this is a good option for young men whose insurance ratings are high to begin with. For someone with an otherwise clean record, it might be better to take the points now, and save this option in case you really need it in the future.

Also, you might want to ask around about court costs. I have heard that some municipalities can charge you for them, but I'm not sure under what circumstances.