Speeding ticket

2k2TahoeSS · January 5, 2003

I was racing for about 1.5 miles last night. Apparently there was a cop following me the entire way. I finally get pulled over for what he said was 58 in a 45. first of all i was going about 90 ish, but whatever. My radar detector never once went off. He wrote on the ticket that he both radared me and paced me...What is the best method of taking care of this ticket? Im just a n00b. This was my 1st ticket. Should i plead "no contest" or should i plead "guilty" or are they the same thing?

ps. I raped the other guy.

Ben

z71ff · January 5, 2003

Usually on a ticket there will be a dollar amount on it. This is the amount you owe. Follow the instructions on whether to write a check and send it in or pay in person.

The cop obviously did you a favor by writing you so much lower than your actual speed, especially after seeing a radar detector in your possession. Around here both racing and driving over 85 will get you a ride back to the station and your truck towed.

Shaners · January 5, 2003

58 in a 45 isn't too bad... Just be glad he didn't write you up for 90 MPH. Dbl the posted limit might have been very expensive, and could cause a suspension of your liscence or at least force you to attend some safe driving classes.

You could contest it, and force it to traffic court. In alot of states, that requires the officer to appear in court too. If he doesn't show up then usually the charges will be lessened or dropped.

I'm sure there are some people in here that have more experiance with speeding tickets than me, and maybe they could give some better advice.

chevy4x4trucks · January 5, 2003

first time, definetly go w/ a lawyer, chances are they'll get it as a no point violation w/ a slightly higher fine. Well worth the lawyer fee to save the money on your insurance since it won't be reported.

99Silver6.0 · January 5, 2003

2k2TahoeSS,

I dont know about where you live. But in Kansas if it is your first ticket you can double the fine and it will be expunged from your record. I ended up doing that with my first ticket. Moving violations and my insurance company dont mix well. Man it did suck having to pay double though. I dont remember how much it was off hand but it was too dam much! Did the cop get you for public display of acceleration or wreckless endangerment? Or did he just nail you for speding?

SilveradoWV · January 5, 2003

You really got off pretty lucky, I think here in WV if you are over so many MPH's you get slapped with wreckless driving too! Either way a ticket sucks!

tps0424 · January 5, 2003

I'm not saying that you should try this but... I know this guy with a Mustang Cobra that was doing over 95mph when he was stopped. Played dumb with the cop. Asked why he was being pulled over, etc., etc. Anyway the cop does him a favor and only writes him up for 70 in a 55.

Here's where the ballsy part come in, he decides to fight it hoping the cop won't show in court. The cop shows. My friend tell his story to the judge sticking to his 'I wasn't speeding story'. The cop gets pissed and says 'I was doing you a favor by writing 70 instead of 98, I could have written you up on a bunch of other violations you piece of crap!'

The judge asks the cop 'how fast was he really going?' and the cop replies with the actual speed. Then, the judge threw out the ticket because it was an fraudulent document due the cop writing 70 instead of 98.

Takes a lot of balls to try to get it dismissed on a technicality like that but, it might apply in your case.

BlueRado · January 5, 2003

Agree w/ WV - you got off *real* light - if what the cop said was true. Sounds like he could have probably gotten enough violations on you to impound your vehicle right there and suspend your license - especially if you're under age 18 (I don't know if you are, and of course it depends on the state).

Having said that - I guess I'd see if you can get it expunged from your record either by taking a safety class and or paying more $$ up front, as someone suggested.

What's gonna hurt a lot worse isn't the ticket proper, but what happens when your insurance co audits and sees a moving violation!! OUCH!

Hey, man good luck w/ whatever you can do, and keep us posted!

Post edit: Didn't see the previous post to mine as it came in while I was typing, but you also might want to consider the fact that that cop will likely be keeping his eyes open for mr mustang guy to do anything wrong for a long time.

sincityZ71 · January 5, 2003

Depending on where you live you could ask for traffic school. Doing that here they reduce your fine and after you complete the traffic school (which is now avaliable on-line here), they will reduce the points from the ticket down to a 1 point non moving violation which won't do anything to your insurance. You do have to pay for traffic school, but it is worth the few bucks to keep it off the insurance.

Or you can always hope for a nice lady at the traffic court office who just cuts your ticket from a $195 dollar, some big amount over the speed limit ticket, down to a $35 dollar parking violation ticket, without even requiring you to go to traffic school or anything. That is always nice of them...

99silveradoz71 · January 6, 2003

I hear a lot of people talk about gambling that the officer won't show for court. I don't know where you're at, but we've got 88 guys approx. on our dept in a city of 60,000...and our court tries to schedule the cases when you're working...and we're required to attend if we get a subpoena, so I wouldn't be too comfortable hoping for the no-show. I know I haven't missed one...and if we're on the road and get tied up, the pros. will get it continued usually.

As for the plea options, a no contest plea can't be used against you in a later civil court proceeding. So say per chance that you end up in a wreck later down the road, they can't review this case and say...yes he speeds all the time or such, etc. Just something to think about.

k1500chevy97 · January 6, 2003

I never knew you could pay double and walk away with no blemish on the record . ####

awdvkd · January 6, 2003

To the gentleman that gave the advise to challenge the officer in court as to the actual speed and the speed written on the ticket. As a person who writes those tickets you ought to consider the following:

1. The officer gave you a break and now you want to make him look like like an ass in court for doing so, thats what I call being a "real ass".

2. After you burn that officer for giving you a break, that officer will feel burnt and never give anybody a break. That usually leads ever person (sons, daughters wives and parents) no matter what the situation or reason to get written for everything that happens.

Life is not is difficult as we make it. What ever happened to if someone does something nice for you to just appreciate it, not how can I turn this around and benefit it twice no matter how it makes the other person look.

Sorry for venting but it really sucks as to how selfish we have become.

chevy4x4trucks · January 6, 2003

I never knew you could pay double and walk away with no blemish on the record . ####

it's not cut and dry like that, but usually lawyers will get it bumped to a higher fine no point violation for you. The gov't gets more money and you don't get a ticket on your record, win win situation.

k1500chevy97 · January 6, 2003

To the gentleman that gave the advise to challenge the officer in court as to the actual speed and the speed written on the ticket. As a person who writes those tickets you ought to consider the following:

1. The officer gave you a break and now you want to make him look like like an ass in court for doing so, thats what I call being a "real ass".

2. After you burn that officer for giving you a break, that officer will feel burnt and never give anybody a break. That usually leads ever person (sons, daughters wives and parents) no matter what the situation or reason to get written for everything that happens.

Life is not is difficult as we make it. What ever happened to if someone does something nice for you to just appreciate it, not how can I turn this around and benefit it twice no matter how it makes the other person look.

Sorry for venting but it really sucks as to how selfish we have become.

Or he might start to look at your every move whenever he sees you driving and stop you for the slightest thing

bummed-n-Md · January 6, 2003

don't do the crime if you can't pay the fine.

The officer gave you a huge break, be an adult, go to court, admit it, take your punishment.

That being said, if this truely is your first offense (or just the first one you were caught at), you can explain that to the judge. He/she, may give you a 'break' on the points and fine. Go in humble. NO attitude that you can beat the system.

Around here, we can plead 'guilty with explaination'. It means you admit to being wrong but want to talk to the judge about it. I did this with a ticket I got just after I got my truck. I was going down a long semi steep hill on a major highway (non-interstate) and not really watching my speed. Compared to my old truck, this new one rides like a caddy. Didn't even realize I was going that fast. BAM - 89 in a 50. When I explained the situation to the judge and with a previously clean record, HE reduced it from 3 points and $135 to 1 point and $35. (I now use my cruise control all the time).

Simply put, you were wrong, admit it and accept it.

Bummed