Got my first speeding ticket. Suggestions?

[bruceb]

NAC ... the prosecutor lied to you ... 80-65 is 15MPH ... so you got yourself a lower fine, but 4 points on your NJ license. I also live in NJ and have been that route, but not at that speed. What road were you on ? ? We only have 65MPH limits on RT287 / RT80 & RT78 I believe ... also maybe some parts of NJ Tpke .. as to radar detector, yes, it would help but not if he was using Instant On or if you were the only car on the road. I like my Passport, but some folks swear the Valentine 1 is an even better unit. Also in a 65MPH zone, the fines are Doubled.

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: bruceb
NAC ... the prosecutor lied to you ... 80-65 is 15MPH ... so you got yourself a lower fine, but 4 points on your NJ license. I also live in NJ and have been that route, but not at that speed. What road were you on ? ? We only have 65MPH limits on RT287 / RT80 & RT78 I believe ... also maybe some parts of NJ Tpke .. as to radar detector, yes, it would help but not if he was using Instant On or if you were the only car on the road. I like my Passport, but some folks swear the Valentine 1 is an even better unit. Also in a 65MPH zone, the fines are Doubled.

86-65 = 21.

my advise to the OP, get a lawyer and save yourself the aggravation of not knowing whats going to happen. I got a ticket for 37 over and the lawyer took care of it.

 

[Gand1]

Slow the fuck down....

 

[bruceb]

Richie ... see the post by NAC at 9:36PM .. he was cited at 92MPH in a 65MPH Zone and offered a deal at 80MPH in a 65MPH Zone
That's why I said it was 15MPH over and in NJ that counts as 4 Points on the Driver License ... as to his getting a lawyer, it sounds
like he already made his deal and paid the fine.

 

[NAC]

I was ticketed for doing 92 in a 65. That is 27 over and would be 4 points.
I wrote that they reduced it to 80 in a 65. But it must have been reduced it to 79 in a 65 and I wrote (remembered) incorrectly. I'm confident no one lied about anything and my ticket was reduced to a 2 point ticket. At the time I had read up on the law, the different fine amounts, etc. But now didn't remember the detail of 80 vs 79.

I was on 287 going north, probably at about exit 20. Actually, the long part of the story is this was literally the first drive I took after registering my new (used) car, and wanted to try it out. I was boneheaded because I saw cops elsewhere on the road. I had been going faster than 92, but was clocked at that.

 

[bruceb]

Well certain parts of RT287 get a lot of enforcement. We see cops in the Riverdale / Wanaque section (exit 54 or so) all the time.
And they are not always marked cars. Cops up here have a few of the Dodge Chargers, in silver or black ... totally unmarked except for when you see the red & blue lights. Now and then we also see the State Trooper car in the median. I am glad you only got a 2 pointer out of it. That will save your insurance & license, since at the speed you were going, they could throw the book at you.

 

[Pardus]

I got a ticket 4-years ago for not coming to a complete stop at a yield sign, the cop wouldn't let me say anything, he was very rude-total ass. Tried to show him in the driving book which i had in my glove box, that you do not have to come to a complete stop at a yield sign.

Instead of arguing further with the cop, i just took the ticket, went to court and had it dropped. The cop didn't show, but the district attorney said that doesn't matter, she had the notes from the cop during that day.

I went back to the scene and took a video of cars going though that same yield sign slowly, some drove though it full speed.

The video helped as i later found out this cop made a habit of giving out b.s. tickets which was originally $180 and 2-points.

That was the last time i ever got a ticket. Speeding is not that different, just mention to the DA you are willing to pay the fine if there are no points involved and even will take one of those traffic school classes. I took one just to reduce my insurance and it was funny as hell.. they went around the room asking everyone why you are here.

One lady said she was doing 75 in a 35 and didn't pull over for the cop for a few miles as she thought someone was trying to kill her. Another was driving with his headphone on and apparently didn't hear or see the sirens of a ambulance who was trying to pass him.

Good luck with your ticket.

 

[dannybek]

Was in similar situation as OP. 88MPH in a 65MPH zone on I-87 near New Paltz in a minivan. State Trooper caught me from a speed trap. I went to court. Pleaded not guilty. Fortunately the trooper came not for me but for other violations. We worked out a deal, "broken speedometer" since it was my first time offense. Paid the $160 fine and walked out of the courthouse with no points.
Of course each case is different.
Don't go on a guilt trip and say you deserve the maximum punishment and then plead guilty. Acknowledge to yourself that you were in the wrong then plead not guilty. If this is your first offense and you had no record before then you may have a chance of working something out in the back. But if you got a history then get a lawyer.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

1st ticket? PBJ. I've had a cop not show up for a ticket before also. So it does happen on occasion.

 

[Throwmeabone]

I have an update. I sent in a plea of not guilty. They gave me a new court date and instructions to apply for a reduction. I have to send in a copy of my driving abstract and write a letter requesting the reduction. A friend of mine who has a bunch of speeding tickets suggested I write the letter and then hire a lawyer only if they don't reduce it. Since I have no other speeding tickets and no points on my license, he thinks I have a pretty good chance of getting it reduced to no points.