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Got a speeding ticket!!! What to do??

bolido2000

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
3,720
1
0
Ok, so a cop gave me a notice to appear in court for doing 77mph in a 55mph freeway ramp. (1+ mile long ramp at 3pm and there were literally no cars, still not an excuse I guess). Ok, so how bad is this?? This is my first ticket. I was thinking of following ticketasassin.com and fight it thru the mail. Anybody has experience fighting tickets thru the mail?? One thing I didn't understand is that it seems I have to pay the bail first and then if I win my case or its dismissed I will get my money back in the mail. :confused:

Any advice is appreciated.
 

bolido2000

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
3,720
1
0
Hmmm according to ticketasassin.com 99% of the people never contest traffic citations. Hopefully there are Anantechers in that 1% that can help me.
 

bolido2000

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
3,720
1
0
Originally posted by: z0mb13
Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Originally posted by: Deeko
What to do??
Pay the fine.

And stop speeding.

and you can go to traffic school so that your insurance doesnt increase

I know I know. I want to fight the ticket. Even if I lose I still can go to traffic school. I think the cop set up a speed trap, which are illegal. Too bad I didn't think of it at the moment.
 

Glitchny

Diamond Member
Sep 4, 2002
5,679
1
0
my firend has gotten out of tickets, cause alot of cops arent trained properly on how to use a radar gun, and many guns arent calibrated recently enough to give correct readings, he has gotten out of a couple trying that. and also if you want to fight it then talk to the DA and see what he can do, lots of times they get them reduced at least
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Hmmm according to ticketasassin.com 99% of the people never contest traffic citations. Hopefully there are Anantechers in that 1% that can help me.

Own up to your responsibilities and mistakes as a member of society?
rolleye.gif
Pay the fine. You earned it.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: Glitchny
my firend has gotten out of tickets, cause alot of cops arent trained properly on how to use a radar gun, and many guns arent calibrated recently enough to give correct readings, he has gotten out of a couple trying that. and also if you want to fight it then talk to the DA and see what he can do, lots of times they get them reduced at least

Have you ever been to court? One of the first things out of the officer's mouth is when the gun was calibrated. They know their stuff, and they can back it up. This is their job, not some shooting gallery. If you got a speeding ticket, you're pretty much screwed unless you can get out of it in traffic school or getting it dismissed per it being your first ticket or something.
 

bolido2000

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
3,720
1
0
Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Hmmm according to ticketasassin.com 99% of the people never contest traffic citations. Hopefully there are Anantechers in that 1% that can help me.

Own up to your responsibilities and mistakes as a member of society?
rolleye.gif
Pay the fine. You earned it.

I admit I was driving over the posted speed limit. I want to fight it because all the cars do at least 70 on that ramp. NO vehicle is supposed to drive over 15mph and you probably know the way cops drive on the freeway. My ex-gf's brother in law was LAPD, and they all drove like sh!t.
 

LS20

Banned
Jan 22, 2002
5,858
0
0
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Ok, so a cop gave me a notice to appear in court for doing 77mph in a 55mph freeway ramp. (1+ mile long ramp at 3pm and there were literally no cars, still not an excuse I guess). Ok, so how bad is this?? This is my first ticket. I was thinking of following ticketasassin.com and fight it thru the mail. Anybody has experience fighting tickets thru the mail?? One thing I didn't understand is that it seems I have to pay the bail first and then if I win my case or its dismissed I will get my money back in the mail. :confused:

Any advice is appreciated.

22mph isnt THAT severe... in texas, if its 25 under, you are allowed to take traffic court..which probably is the best option....especially now that you can take it online

just go to the county court clerk office or whatever, and say that you want to do that... after completing it the ticket will be erased from your record then you can speed again....with caution =x
 

ed21x

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2001
5,411
8
81
online traffic school your way outa half the cost of the ticket and to prevent higher insurance.
 

Kenji4861

Banned
Jan 28, 2001
2,821
0
0
I heard it's always good to go to court. On 7thgencivic.com
people have said 1. the police doesn't come so you automatically get dismissed.. 2. judge will give you a lighter fine

Either way.. take the 2-3 hours to go.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Hmmm according to ticketasassin.com 99% of the people never contest traffic citations. Hopefully there are Anantechers in that 1% that can help me.

Own up to your responsibilities and mistakes as a member of society?
rolleye.gif
Pay the fine. You earned it.

I admit I was driving over the posted speed limit. I want to fight it because all the cars do at least 70 on that ramp. NO vehicle is supposed to drive over 15mph and you probably know the way cops drive on the freeway. My ex-gf's brother in law was LAPD, and they all drove like sh!t.

So two wrongs make a right? Because nobody else is getting caught (that you know anyway) means that you shouldn't either?
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: Kenji4861
I heard it's always good to go to court. On 7thgencivic.com
people have said 1. the police doesn't come so you automatically get dismissed.. 2. judge will give you a lighter fine

Either way.. take the 2-3 hours to go.

Okay, you don't seem to know how these things work. You show up at the time and date on the ticket. You plead to the court clerk. If you plead guilty, you pay. If you plead innocent, they send you away and write you a letter with your new court date, and the officer gets notification that he is required to show up. You then show up and plead your case on why you're somehow different than all the other speeders out there along with the officer pleading his case no why you got it. Then the judge decides your fine if he decides that you're guilty, or lets you go if he thinks you shouldn't have gotten the ticket. Cops always show up for court. In fact, it is quite rare that they don't show. So don't bet on the fact that the cop won't show up. Because he will.
 

murphy55d

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
11,542
5
81
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Hmmm according to ticketasassin.com 99% of the people never contest traffic citations. Hopefully there are Anantechers in that 1% that can help me.

Own up to your responsibilities and mistakes as a member of society?
rolleye.gif
Pay the fine. You earned it.

I admit I was driving over the posted speed limit. I want to fight it because all the cars do at least 70 on that ramp. NO vehicle is supposed to drive over 15mph and you probably know the way cops drive on the freeway. My ex-gf's brother in law was LAPD, and they all drove like sh!t.

When you go fishing, do you catch ALL the fish ?

You got caught, deal with it. :)
 

rufruf44

Platinum Member
May 8, 2001
2,002
0
0
Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Originally posted by: Kenji4861
I heard it's always good to go to court. On 7thgencivic.com
people have said 1. the police doesn't come so you automatically get dismissed.. 2. judge will give you a lighter fine

Either way.. take the 2-3 hours to go.

Okay, you don't seem to know how these things work. You show up at the time and date on the ticket. You plead to the court clerk. If you plead guilty, you pay. If you plead innocent, they send you away and write you a letter with your new court date, and the officer gets notification that he is required to show up. You then show up and plead your case on why you're somehow different than all the other speeders out there along with the officer pleading his case no why you got it. Then the judge decides your fine if he decides that you're guilty, or lets you go if he thinks you shouldn't have gotten the ticket. Cops always show up for court. In fact, it is quite rare that they don't show. So don't bet on the fact that the cop won't show up. Because he will.

In most cases you can also talk to the DA and settle before court (they would rather do this than having to go to court and prepare for all that crap). Usually you'll get the fine reduced and/or prevent the ticket from showing up in your driving record. If you have the time, always contest traffic ticket and go to court. Chances are your fine will be reduced at the very least. After that take driver ed. to stop the ticket from showing up from insurance record (where you'll pay dearly for them).
Just to rub some salt on the wounds, your fine helps pay the salary/benefit/cost for the bafoon that wrote you the ticket in the first place, or for his department. Its a double whammy indeed, so try to avoid giving free donation like that next time(and its not even tax deductible :p )
 

Ausm

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,213
14
81
Originally posted by: murphy55d
Originally posted by: bolido2000
Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Originally posted by: bolido2000 Hmmm according to ticketasassin.com 99% of the people never contest traffic citations. Hopefully there are Anantechers in that 1% that can help me.
Own up to your responsibilities and mistakes as a member of society?
rolleye.gif
Pay the fine. You earned it.
I admit I was driving over the posted speed limit. I want to fight it because all the cars do at least 70 on that ramp. NO vehicle is supposed to drive over 15mph and you probably know the way cops drive on the freeway. My ex-gf's brother in law was LAPD, and they all drove like sh!t.
When you go fishing, do you catch ALL the fish ? You got caught, deal with it. :)

agreed

Ausm
 

JOSEPHLB

Banned
Jun 20, 2001
1,779
0
0
Face up to the consequences of your actions... You felt the need to do 22 MPH over the posted speed limit, and the state is going to "charge" you..

I mean.. come on.. .you go into Burger King , and ask them to king size your meal... do you expect them to not charge you..
So.. you pay your license and registration fees, and the state assumes you are going to be a safe, sensable driver.. but you are caught doing excessive speeding on a ramp... So, the result is, the state is going to get theirs.. and theirs is by way of a fine..

You do know in some states anything 20 MPH over the speed limit is considered wreckless driving...

Was there an ABSOLUTE need to be doing 77 in a 55 ?? Are you pregnant?? Was your leg amputated? Were you going to die that minute if you didn't get to a hospital? Basically, there was absolutely no reason for your speeding situation. Go to the drag strip/race track if you want to speed. You are the guy I have to watch out for, when I'm cruising along an off ramp on my motorcycle

 

Bulk Beef

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2001
5,466
0
76
Go to court.
Do not fight it. You are guilty. If you offer the judge (or whoever) your lame-ass excuse, they will laugh at you. I did.
You may get a reduced fine, reduced points, traffic school option, etc.
Pay up.
Move on.
Slow down.
Okay, you don't seem to know how these things work.
I don't know about CA, but in my jurisdiction, if you show up for court and the cop does not, the charges are dismissed. Period. It is rare that the cop doesn't show up for court, but it does happen, and it saved me five points on my already trashed record.
 

Aceshigh

Platinum Member
Aug 22, 2002
2,529
1
0
I live in Houston, TX. I got a ticket in Lake Charles, LA for going 75 in a 70 mph zone. This was on Interstate 10.

I was not going over 70 mph, and I was determined to fight it. I made the trip to court on the scheduled day. I pled not guilty and rather than hear the case, they rescheduled my court appearance. Couple of months later I went back to court. Same thing happened. The third time I could not spare the time away from work and just sent in the payment. Nice little scam they have going on there in LA. Ticket out of state drivers and hope they send in the payment, no questions asked. If they insist on fighting it just give them the runaround till they give up.

In your case I don't know why you would fight it. You were clearly speeding. The argument "everybody else does it" is very weak. Pay the fine and have it over with.
 

JOSEPHLB

Banned
Jun 20, 2001
1,779
0
0
Aceshigh , did you send in the exact payment amount? I've read and heard from other sources about a little scamming you could have done yourself. If you send in the payment... Lets say the fine totalled out to be 55.95.. lets just use that as an example.. and you then send a payment in for the amount of 60.00 .. so basically.. they owe you some change.. They'll send this back in a form of a check...
Well the catch is, you dont cash the check.... Supposedly if that check isn't cashed, and the check number noted in the accounting records for your fine.. etc.. then supposedly the transaction is incomplete, and resulting in the fine posted on your driving record...

Thats just what I've read and heard... who knows though...
 

Antisocial Virge

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 1999
6,578
0
0
the police doesn't come so you automatically get dismissed

This rarely happens anymore. Wife did a ride along with a cop ( got to see a dead guy who was still twitching, ran plates and even clocked speeders) and he LOVES it when people try and fight tickets. Its 4 Hrs of OT for him for doing nothing.

? I've read and heard from other sources about a little scamming you could have done yourself. If you send in the payment... Lets say the fine totalled out to be 55.95.. lets just use that as an example.. and you then send a payment in for the amount of 60.00 .. so basically.. they owe you some change.. They'll send this back in a form of a check...


Snoops says false