Got my first speeding ticket yesterday..

aberdeen5

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
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I was doing 54 in a 35 and well, got pulled over. I was talking to my friend and she said that she got the same ticket a week ago and was going to try to get it changed to reckless driving (no points but $130) which I would love to do if possible. Think they'll cut me any slack since its my first one?
 

Imported

Lifer
Sep 2, 2000
14,679
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81
Plead guilty and hope you can take traffic school. I would think reckless driving would get you more points than a speeding ticket would.
 

crab

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2001
7,330
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Dont ask questions like that here...this here is highway angel territory.
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
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I'm not sure what state you're in, but where I am (Cali), reckless driving is far worse than a simple speeding ticket.
 

aberdeen5

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
906
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Originally posted by: HaxorNubcake
if it's your first ticket go to traffic school

That was my first thought before I talked to my friend. Who do I have talk to to set that up? I'm not required to show up to court.
 

aberdeen5

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
906
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Originally posted by: Astaroth33
I'm not sure what state you're in, but where I am (Cali), reckless driving is far worse than a simple speeding ticket.

She might of been thinking of something else.
 

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
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Originally posted by: aberdeen5
I was doing 54 in a 35 and well, got pulled over. I was talking to my friend and she said that she got the same ticket a week ago and was going to try to get it changed to reckless driving (no points but $130) which I would love to do if possible. Think they'll cut me any slack since its my first one?

i got a 52 in a 35 a year or so ago...did traffic school to keep it off my record.

i'm not sure what's up with NJ's laws but my ticket was a 1 point ticket (vs your 4 point) and cost double yours. anyway if you tell the judge you want it to be switched to reckless you might get a laugh out of him.

EDIT: just read you quote the 4 points thing...i would check on that. i REALLY doubt it's 4 points. btw, driving UNDER THE INFLUENCE, while suspended or revoked (= DRIVING WITH NO LICENSE), RECKLESS DRIVING, and hit and runs are 2 points in Cali. CHECK UP ON YOUR LAWS
 

aberdeen5

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
906
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Originally posted by: alimoalem
Originally posted by: aberdeen5
I was doing 54 in a 35 and well, got pulled over. I was talking to my friend and she said that she got the same ticket a week ago and was going to try to get it changed to reckless driving (no points but $130) which I would love to do if possible. Think they'll cut me any slack since its my first one?

i got a 52 in a 35 a year or so ago...did traffic school to keep it off my record.

i'm not sure what's up with NJ's laws but my ticket was a 1 point ticket (vs your 4 point) and cost double yours. anyway if you tell the judge you want it to be switched to reckless you might get a laugh out of him.

i think u made a typo with that 4 point thing....iirc drunk driving gets you 2 or 3. anywhere that values drunk drivers over speeders should burn in hell. either way, stay off whatever your friend's smoking...who says reckless doesn't get you points?

She's my ex girlfriend so I guess she could be plotting against me:p
 

smack Down

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
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Just plead not guilty and send a not saying you wish to plead guilty to a leaser charge. The DA will make an offer which should be less points and a smaller fine.
 

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
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Originally posted by: aberdeen5
Originally posted by: alimoalem
Originally posted by: aberdeen5
I was doing 54 in a 35 and well, got pulled over. I was talking to my friend and she said that she got the same ticket a week ago and was going to try to get it changed to reckless driving (no points but $130) which I would love to do if possible. Think they'll cut me any slack since its my first one?

i got a 52 in a 35 a year or so ago...did traffic school to keep it off my record.

i'm not sure what's up with NJ's laws but my ticket was a 1 point ticket (vs your 4 point) and cost double yours. anyway if you tell the judge you want it to be switched to reckless you might get a laugh out of him.

i think u made a typo with that 4 point thing....iirc drunk driving gets you 2 or 3. anywhere that values drunk drivers over speeders should burn in hell. either way, stay off whatever your friend's smoking...who says reckless doesn't get you points?

She's my ex girlfriend so I guess she could be plotting against me:p

maybe...i'm not sure u read my edited post or not but check up on it. the MAX u get in cali is 2 points (which included driving under the influence, reckless driving, hit and run, no license
 

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
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NJ Handbook Link

Page 1:

How to Lose Driving Privileges:
...
...
reckless driving
...

page 5 (in the box with points listed):
..
..
..
Reckless driving...........5 points
..


man u guys got some crazy point system going on...2 points is the lowest for any violation...and passing a red light gets 2 points while tailgating gets 5??

i don't think i can live in NJ after reading up on your driving laws...
 

aberdeen5

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
906
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Originally posted by: alimoalem
NJ Handbook Link

Page 1:

How to Lose Driving Privileges:
...
...
reckless driving
...

page 5 (in the box with points listed):
..
..
..
Reckless driving...........5 points
..


man u guys got some crazy point system going on...2 points is the lowest for any violation...and passing a red light gets 2 points while tailgating gets 5??

i don't think i can live in NJ after reading up on your driving laws...

Yeah, it does suck.. a lot. I looked up the defensive driving course and it only take 2 points off. So my mission right now is to get the points taken down so I get 2 and then to take the course. Should I show up to court and talk to the judge?
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: alimoalem
Originally posted by: aberdeen5
I was doing 54 in a 35 and well, got pulled over. I was talking to my friend and she said that she got the same ticket a week ago and was going to try to get it changed to reckless driving (no points but $130) which I would love to do if possible. Think they'll cut me any slack since its my first one?

i got a 52 in a 35 a year or so ago...did traffic school to keep it off my record.

i'm not sure what's up with NJ's laws but my ticket was a 1 point ticket (vs your 4 point) and cost double yours. anyway if you tell the judge you want it to be switched to reckless you might get a laugh out of him.

EDIT: just read you quote the 4 points thing...i would check on that. i REALLY doubt it's 4 points. btw, driving UNDER THE INFLUENCE, while suspended or revoked (= DRIVING WITH NO LICENSE), RECKLESS DRIVING, and hit and runs are 2 points in Cali. CHECK UP ON YOUR LAWS

There are speeding tickets in NJ that are 4 points. Drunk driving is something like 8 points. Reckless driving is a worse offense than speeding. Perhaps the OP's girlfriend meant careless driving, but that's 2 points. They may let you plead guilty to a non-point violation, but that will likely cost more.

State laws and point systems do differ...
 

iversonyin

Diamond Member
Aug 12, 2004
3,303
0
76
Go to a place that get you a speedometer checkup and tell them to write you up for a defected speedometer. Then go to court and talk to the judge.
 

Shadowknight

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
3,959
3
81
Get a lawyer. I spent $50 on a lawyer, and I was about 17 over the speed limit. I got it dropped to improper use of equipment. This means nothing goes on my driving record, no points, no traffic school... nothing.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: alimoalem
NJ Handbook Link

Page 1:

How to Lose Driving Privileges:
...
...
reckless driving
...

page 5 (in the box with points listed):
..
..
..
Reckless driving...........5 points
..


man u guys got some crazy point system going on...2 points is the lowest for any violation...and passing a red light gets 2 points while tailgating gets 5??

i don't think i can live in NJ after reading up on your driving laws...

Tailgating is dangerous. If you run a red light and cause an accident or nearly cause an accident, you'd probably get a ticket for reckless driving.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: aberdeen5
Originally posted by: alimoalem
NJ Handbook Link

Page 1:

How to Lose Driving Privileges:
...
...
reckless driving
...

page 5 (in the box with points listed):
..
..
..
Reckless driving...........5 points
..


man u guys got some crazy point system going on...2 points is the lowest for any violation...and passing a red light gets 2 points while tailgating gets 5??

i don't think i can live in NJ after reading up on your driving laws...

Yeah, it does suck.. a lot. I looked up the defensive driving course and it only take 2 points off. So my mission right now is to get the points taken down so I get 2 and then to take the course. Should I show up to court and talk to the judge?

Call the number on the ticket and ask the clerk. I did that when I got a ticket for careless driving in NJ. She said I could plead guilty to a non-point violation, but it'd cost about 3x as much. I didn't bother, because my insurance company doesn't raise your rates for tickets.
 

SoulAssassin

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2001
6,135
2
0
As someone who has gotten many tickets in Jersey, the best thing to do is get a court date, show up very early and talk to the prosecutor. Tell him it's your first offense and you'll never do it again. Dress respectable and show him respect. You'll have to pay ~$30 in court costs but you should be able to get it drastically reduced.

Guy I work w in Jersey who isn't a citizen (he's legal but wasn't born here, might be on an H1B, I dunno) but he got a ticket for running a red light. He was so paranoid about getting points he hired a lawyer for like $500 and got the charge changed to something else that still cost him like $400 but no points so a simple stupid running a red light damn near cost him $1000.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: Astaroth33
I'm not sure what state you're in, but where I am (Cali), reckless driving is far worse than a simple speeding ticket.

No kidding. Maybe it was "inattentive driving" or something like that?
Originally posted by: alimoalem

i don't think i can live in NJ after reading up on your driving laws...

Plus you can't even pump your own gas, and then there's all the chemicals. NJ sucks.