Got my first speeding ticket..how to proceed?

[ebaycj]

Pay the ticket, then continue speeding for the rest of your driving career, like the rest of us.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: state 08

Originally posted by: OVERKILL
1. be a man

2. pay the ticket

3. Learn not to speed

4. Move on

Quite possibly the dumbest thing you could do.

First of all, you're going to want to appeal it. They'll send you a letter the mail for the court-date. Most likely, the officer that gave you a ticket that day will have given a buncha ppl a ticket that day, so you're gonna want to call the court and tell em' you have to reschedule for a later date. They'll mail you another letter, and give you a new date. You're gonna want to do this until they say you can't anymore (I did it 4 times). This way, there is a smaller chance of the officer showing up if its 3-4 months down the road.

If he shows up, make sure you plead not guilty, have a good alibi ready, and bullsh1t if you need to.

At best, you shouldnt receive points.

lmao

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Wrong address, maye you can win it because of that?

Anyway, check if your county has a deferral program. I got a speeding ticket and while the deferral cost me about $245, it removes it from my record, includes all costs (ticket, court fees, etc. which you had to pay whether you went or not) and keeps my insurance down. The down side is that if you get caught speeding again within a year from the date it's approved, you have to pay this ticket AGAIN and go to court for it along with whatever the new one requires. That puts two tickets on your record.

It's 32F and early in the morning and so that might not make sense, but basically check if there's a deferral program available.

 

[Patt]

Pay the damn ticket.

 

[beyonddc]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Wrong address, maye you can win it because of that?

Anyway, check if your county has a deferral program. I got a speeding ticket and while the deferral cost me about $245, it removes it from my record, includes all costs (ticket, court fees, etc. which you had to pay whether you went or not) and keeps my insurance down. The down side is that if you get caught speeding again within a year from the date it's approved, you have to pay this ticket AGAIN and go to court for it along with whatever the new one requires. That puts two tickets on your record.

It's 32F and early in the morning and so that might not make sense, but basically check if there's a deferral program available.

It's okay if they've the wrong address written down as long as they've your license number and car registration stated correctly. It happened to me once.

I think when I received my first speeding ticket, I pay the ticket, but they didn't add any point to my driving record. Don't trust my word though, maybe I was just lucky.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: WA261
It is your 1st ticket. Go to traffic school and it will be dropped. Nothing more to it.

Didn't work for me (FL) -- paid the ticket, but they dropped the points.

Depends on the judge. Most traffic judges automatically assume that you are guilty. Unless you have some witnesses and a good story, its your word vs a cop's. In any case, they will most likely give you traffic school (what I got) and drop the ticket in some form. Sure beats the insurance crap I would've got.

 

[TXHokie]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: state 08

Originally posted by: OVERKILL
1. be a man

2. pay the ticket

3. Learn not to speed

4. Move on

Quite possibly the dumbest thing you could do.

First of all, you're going to want to appeal it. They'll send you a letter the mail for the court-date. Most likely, the officer that gave you a ticket that day will have given a buncha ppl a ticket that day, so you're gonna want to call the court and tell em' you have to reschedule for a later date. They'll mail you another letter, and give you a new date. You're gonna want to do this until they say you can't anymore (I did it 4 times). This way, there is a smaller chance of the officer showing up if its 3-4 months down the road.

If he shows up, make sure you plead not guilty, have a good alibi ready, and bullsh1t if you need to.

At best, you shouldnt receive points.

lmao

This actually worked on my second ticket. I rescheduled the original court date and the cop did not show up so my ticket was dropped. Cost me half a day at court but no $$$ and no points.

 

[SViper]

Honestly, chances are the judge is going to throw it out because of the incorrect information on it; however, you should assume otherwise and get this taken care of. Go talk to your DA to see about getting the ticket reduced because it's your first one.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: sciwizam
I know I'll be paying the fine, it's just the thing with the insurance that is confusing to me. On the RMV site, it says I get no increase in points because, it's my first offence, but people I've talked to say my insurance will get a hike.

Insurance companies don't work by the RMV/DMV/BMV point systems. They work on their own "risk assesment" programs.

It will be on your record, regardless of whether you take a class or whatever, the offense is already noted, and your record will be pulled next time you have to renew your insurance.

As far as a rate hike, it all depends on the insurance company's view on what a first speeding ticket means. It's all stats. Are people who get speeding tickets at age 19 more likely to have a high value accident? Are people who get speeding tickets at age 19 more likely to slow down and have better driving records after the incident than other people? Are they likely to get caught speeding again?

It's not too hard to figure out that they probably are more likely to need insurance pay out for a wreck or something, but it's also likely that they have already factored that risk in and made you pay for it long before this ticket.

Your BEST bet is try and take whatever classes you can or get the offense lowered (because they do see things like "20 over" vs "10 over" as different risks, but in the end all you can do is learn your lesson and hope the next 3 years go by fast.