Today is the Court date on my speeding ticket -- UPDATED

[iLovDisney]

When the officer handed me the ticket he said I could pay the amount shown and I would receive points on my license OR I could show up at the date and time on the ticket and I wouldn't receive points on my license.

The ticket says: "If you wish to appear in Court for trial on the offense noted, your appointed Court date and time is on the reverse side of the citation."

For trial???
Am I supposed to bring a lawyer for this??

The ticket was for going 40mph in a 30mph zone.

Will they want me to say guilty or not guilty? Should I explain why I was not paying complete attention to my driving?

I had been supervising our girls' soccer team of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls as they attended and assisted at the university womens' soccer match. Our girls had been rude, silly, disrespectful, and I was ready to choke them all!

I'm planning on wearing a nice dress and pearls. But I do cry easily. I'm worried about what to do...

Any suggestions?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

It's different in every state.

If they offer you an option such as a defense driving course or something like that instead of paying the fine - I'd take it.

If you were guilty, I'd enter a plea of guilty with maybe a very brief explanation......the judge hopefully will appreciate your honesty.

You don't need a lawyer. Just be clean, presentable and on time.

Try not to cry - it's not the end of the world.

 

[swanmom]

I have to respectfully disagree with Toby'sFriend. My DH went through this .... he was rushing home with medicine for me right after I gave birth to our DD and was stopped for speeding. We went to court hoping that the explanation of the circumstances would move the judge. So my DH plead 'guilty', after all, he was speeding. But told the judge he had an explanation. The judge was very sympathetic... but then told him that "my hands are tied since you already plead guilty." In our state, there are certainly mandatory minimum penalties once you are guilty so we really lost out!

 

[melk]

My dh went to appeal a ticket and basically they just listened to what he had to say and looked at his driving record. Since he hadn't had a ticket in 10 years, they let him off, no fine. But he did say there were two young women ahead of him and neither of them got off the hook.

 

[Bob O]

Every state/jurisdiction is different. In my city of Milw. when you get a ticket and go to your first court appearnce you will be met a city attorney who will usually offer you a deal to get the case over with. They usually offer you a deal where you plead guilty to a violation like obstructing traffic where you lose no points and it looks better on your driving record but will cost you the same amlunt of money. If you plead not guilty that the next court date the officer will be there to testify against you and you will still be offered a deal to avoid a trial. If you are timid i would hire a lawyer ,escpcially if your drivers license is threatened with suspension/revocation, as they know how to manipulate the system. It is all about money and not the safety of the roadway!!!

 

[preshi]

From what I hear ( never gotten a ticket personally)...Here they have about 50 people in the court and you say guilty or not the judge gives you your "sentence" and it's over with... unless you want to contest it then I think it's worse.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Our municipal courts are like Bob's. The prosecutor will call you into his little room and, most likely for the offense you got, will offer you a plea of a lesser, no point, offense. You either agree or not. You go into the courtroom and when you're called the judge will know the deal you made and you plead guilty and he tells you how much the fine is. You pay it at the little window and leave. (Can you tell I have a 21 year old and a 19 year old? lol)

 

[iLovDisney]

UPDATE

I arrived early and sat down in a nearly empty courtroom. There were numerous copies of a court announcement placed on the pews. It said there was no traffic school, but we could have the ticket "retired" if we hadn't had any other tickets in the past 3 years, and if the violation wasn't a serious one. They claimed "retired" tickets would not appear on our driving record. We still had to pay court costs of $112.50. I was one of the few to be retired -- most people had multiple tickets. Those people were all fined $2 plus court costs and it would go on their record.

The judge did ask if there was a reason we were speeding. I mentioned the 7th and 8th grade girls briefly, but he didn't look moved.

It was obvious we had all been caught in speed traps. All the tickets were on 2 streets.

Thank you for all of your suggestions. I felt pretty confident. Thank you also to Weight Watchers -- this new dress looks good.