I am thinking of pleading guilty

[Monkey muppet]

From my experiance, which will be different as it's in the UK:

I got caught by a hidden, stationary speed camera doing 63mph in a 30mph. (two time stamped photo's with your vehicles license plate)

I knew I was going to be hung up to dry by the court system (double the speed limit or 30mph over any limit is an instant 12 month ban - depandant on the judge the sentance can be a lot more extreme) so I did everything I could to reduce the potential onslought.

The court papers came through an I pleaded guilty. I then applied to become an IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) wher the final test is examined by a Police driving examiner. I explained the situation to him and got a signed letter which I could produce in court.

I also got a letter from work stating that I could loose my Job if my license gets taken away (requires a very understanding boss to explain your situation).

The final verdict was a £115 fine and a one month ban (no points!!) - which is the lowest punishment on record (in my county) for more than double the limit.


Final words of wisdom:

Do some advanced driving courses and get some legal representation

P.s: don't piss off the judge (it's better to plead guilty and that you've learnt your lesson and admitting your driving standards need to improve, by doing to forementioned courses, than it is to pleed not guilty only to be scr3wed over my the evidence supplied by the police)

 

[BriGy86]

how bout a poll

 

[GasX]

Without reading the long post, here is what you have to do.

Pay a lawyer his $500 (or so) fee and get him to plead it down for you. The reduced insurance hit will pay for the lawyer in no time.

These traffic lawyers are buddy buddy with the prosecutor and can do what you simply cannot.

Sad but true, but it is a worthwhile investment.

 

[DorkBoy]

I had a wreckless driving ticket in VA.
I went and plead guilty, I brought my driver license record (printed from the DMV) to the judge and showed him my record.
He dropped it to 'improper driving' which was no where near the wreckless damage that would have happened on my insurance rates.

The judge told me wreckless driving will increase your rates 300%.

It all depends on the judge though.

Good luck

 

[kaymin]

I didn't read all of the threat but I go 80+ all the time on the 495.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: kaymin
I didn't read all of the threat but I go 80+ all the time on the 495.

And it is posted 55?

 

[CalvinHobbes]

If you're not going 70-80 on the beltway there's something wrong. Everyone drives at those speeds. When I go to BWI I go just as fast as everyone around me, just going with the flow. I got pulled over YEARS ago in PG county. The cops were not nice but I got off pretty easy, big fine and 1 point.

 

[RossMAN]

Way too long.

Are you guilty? Yes.

Guilty, pay the fee, and stop posting

 

[TheGameIs21]

Do not use the line "I had control of my vehicle at all times". That doesn't mean squat. I can go 200 MPH and be in control. You are being sited for going 20+ mph over the speed limit not losing control. Don't tell them all the good stuff you do, you will sound like a spoiled 10 year old.

Fact is you screwed up and you need to have an Atty talk to the DA on your behalf. Then after he/she talks to the DA, you need to follow the advise of counsel. Not ATOT. With your priors, you are pretty much screwed though.

 

[Ausm]

You have an interesting life....



Ausm

 

[FoBoT]

why did ElFenix copy my avatar

 

[RadioHead84]

hmm you are in a tight spot. If it was your first offense i would tell you to go and just talk with the prosecutor or judge about getting a lesser penalty but this makes it harder. I just recently got a ticket for going 43 in a 25 which would nomrally be 4 points. I got it down to 3..still sucks...but better then 4.

I didnt think police could drive a jaguar undercover..

 

[Yossarian]

you are a terrible driver. get a bus pass.

 

[HonkeyDonk]

man, I can't even begin to point out all the stupid things you just wrote.

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
I'm not reading all that.
Plead no contest.

I read all that. Plead no contest.

 

[TwoBills]

Boosted it up to 80+ to get around the traffic exiting onto 66? Damn, man, everybody knows to stay to the left and then hit it after they all exit. Move to the right before the on ramp. LOL. Seriously thou, have you ever been to court in Fairfax? Didn't read the whole thread, but here ya go:

Reckless is a mandatory court appearence, as you know by now. It used to be 20 over was automatic reckless, but now they've moved it to 25 over and left it to the discretion of the trooper. If you go to court, then it's pretty simple, plead NOT GUILTY. It's the only way you're even going to get to say anything. If you plead guilty, then it's all over. When you plead not guilty all you're saying is "prove it". Then you get a little mini-trial. The ada puts the cop on the stand, he tells his story, you get to cross ex. him. Then you take the stand and testify on your own behalf. You'll lose, unless the cop doesn't show. Slim chance of that, maybe 5%.

But don't give up hope. After you lose they send you to the clerk's office where you wait with all the other losers. Forget that. Just leave. They'll send you a bill. But wait, don't really leave. You've got the day off. Go to the law library (in the same building) and look up your offence number. The law librarian will help you. What you're collecting is ammo for your appeal. After you get your bill from the courts, or if you went to the clerks office w/the other losers, don't pay anything, simply file an appeal (you've got 10 days). You'll get a new court date, new court, new judge and new ada. This also moves you out of traffic court (a joke on it's best day) and up to circuit court. This is a real courtroom. Everybody else in there is there for serious offences. More on that in a minute.

When you're in the law library you'll be looking for the 3 different offence numbers for reckless driving. Yours is probably the worst, but make sure, one of them is no worse (points and fine wise) than improper driving. You need to know in case you decide to cut a deal w/the ada. It's been a while for me, but if I remember right what you're really looking for is how the law is written for reckless driving (opposed to just speeding). It's only a couple of paragraphs, but read them carefully. Kinda goes like this: For speeding, the officer has to hit the tuning fork before OR after his shift. If he writes a ticket for reckless he has to hit the tuning fork before AND after his shift. In other words, if the officer didn't hit the fork that morning he can't prove reckless. They'll have paperwork to back that up. Speaking of paper work, calibration is the next thing you look for. Used to be every year in VA, but I'm pretty sure that's been changed to 6 mos. Then there's the officer's certification. If this was a state trooper then you're screwed, but if it was a Co. cop then you've got a chance. All this is spelled out in the law books.

When you go to circuit court, don't go with much of a plan. The 3 things you want to get out are the tuning fork records, the calibration records of the device, and the officer's certification. The ada will probably bring this out and they will hand you the paperwork that pretains to this. Take your time, make notes of the dates on all the docs, then hand them back. Wait you're turn, the judge will instruct you. You are basically the lawyer and the defendant at this point.

Damn, startin' to ramble. Where was I? Oh, yeah, circuit court. It goes like this: The cop takes the stand and the ada take his testimony. Somewhere in this is where the paperwork comes out and it's handed to you. Look for those expired dates. Write them down. Keep your mouth shut. When the ada is done, then you get to cross ex. him. Focus on the paperwork. If the ada didn't bring it out, now is the time for you to do it. Ask if he hit the forks that day, if his machine has been calibrated, and if he is qualified to operate it. He must have paperwork to back it up. If you find that any one of these docs is expired, or close to expiration, then concentrate on that. Don't ramble and don't get off the subject. Keep some continuity going. The fact that you were speeding has nothing to do with it. It's all about proving it now.

After the cop leaves the stand, it's your turn to take the stand. This is where you bring up the fact that the paperwork wasn't quite right, or if it was, plead your case. Once you get off the stand, you're either guilty or not. If you're found guilty, the trial now moves into the penalty phase. Quickly. Man if you get this far, and you're found guilty, you've got to be able to make them laugh. Done properly, worst case senerio, you're fine and points will be cut in half. you've got at least a 50/50 chance of not guilty, thou.

Oh, one more thing. If you've had 3 reckless in 3 years, and you lose this case, dmv will probably suspend you. Don't know for sure, but you're close. You need to find out for sure. If you lose the case, and you know that dmv is going to suspend you, then use that as part of your plea in the penalty phase. Something like, "I have no money, I've been a bad boy, suspend me for 30 days, your honor, then we'll be even". The reason is: if dmv suspends you for 30 days, you have to do your 30, then a 90 day probation period, then a 6mo., or more, control period. Takes more than a year to get out of the system if dmv gets you. If a judge suspends you for 30 days, then you do your 30 and you're done. No control or probation periods. Volunteering for driving school will also help. This takes 8 hours and costs $60 or 70.

I'd like to know a little more about that Mustang that popped you. Color? Wheels?

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: wchou

Originally posted by: SilentZero
Well I experienced this first hand so will give you the best advice I can. GET A LAWYER!

When I was 18 I was charged with a Reckless Driving, speeding ticket (15 miles over the limit), fleeing the scene of an accident, and crossing a double solid line. When I got off the highway 4 state trooper cars and a helicopter were waiting for me, and a few came later. The reckless driving is the worst because it is a misdemeanor, but the fact I had a bunch of other tickets to go along with it just deepened my problems. I went to a lawyer which I paid $500 to go to court with me. He went into the DA's office, and came out with all the charges dropped and all I had to accept was court costs and the charge of running a stop sign (which there wasn't even one there). That was by far the best $500 I have ever spent in my life, and I encourage you to do the same. I can't stress the difference it makes. Incidently, I saved god knows how much money on my insurance premiums, because if I had a reckless driving verdict on my license my insurance would have skyrocketed, not even counting those other charges.

The good thing about having a lawyer in traffic court that I have noticed is that you circumvent the judge in some aspects. My lawyer talks to the DA and gets a deal, the judge then discussed it with me and I was finished. I was ticketed just a few months ago for speeding and decided to plead my case, and of course I lost and had to pay. So in your case, a lawyer would be the best option, because $500 compared to all the money that ticket will cause is worth it any day of the week! Just my .02

Oh and btw... I was essentially guilty of these things minus the leaving the scene of an accident, but there were witnesses who said I did, so I was pretty much screwed. Just because your guilty doesn't mean you should just plead guilty and take the penalty. Let a lawyer worry about it.

reckless driving violation is a charge of 250, you got suckered lmao. but if you can prove your innocent without a lawyer even better, these stubborn jackasses will not let you go easy because you are a harmless bug to them. its a f**king ripoff, what's reckless to them is not reckless to you because its the way you drive. so its your words against theirs which means war.

How did I get suckered? I paid $500 for a lawyer plus $75 court fees, and got out of all but one charge, which would have 1. Cost money for fines 2. Put a ton of marks on my license and 3. Increased my insurance three fold. Do the math. I would have been found guilty on all charges without a lawyer, so I made out like a bandit!

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: TwoBills
Boosted it up to 80+ to get around the traffic exiting onto 66? Damn, man, everybody knows to stay to the left and then hit it after they all exit. Move to the right before the on ramp. LOL. Seriously thou, have you ever been to court in Fairfax? Didn't read the whole thread, but here ya go:

Reckless is a mandatory court appearence, as you know by now. It used to be 20 over was automatic reckless, but now they've moved it to 25 over and left it to the discretion of the trooper. If you go to court, then it's pretty simple, plead NOT GUILTY. It's the only way you're even going to get to say anything. If you plead guilty, then it's all over. When you plead not guilty all you're saying is "prove it". Then you get a little mini-trial. The ada puts the cop on the stand, he tells his story, you get to cross ex. him. Then you take the stand and testify on your own behalf. You'll lose, unless the cop doesn't show. Slim chance of that, maybe 5%.

But don't give up hope. After you lose they send you to the clerk's office where you wait with all the other losers. Forget that. Just leave. They'll send you a bill. But wait, don't really leave. You've got the day off. Go to the law library (in the same building) and look up your offence number. The law librarian will help you. What you're collecting is ammo for your appeal. After you get your bill from the courts, or if you went to the clerks office w/the other losers, don't pay anything, simply file an appeal (you've got 10 days). You'll get a new court date, new court, new judge and new ada. This also moves you out of traffic court (a joke on it's best day) and up to circuit court. This is a real courtroom. Everybody else in there is there for serious offences. More on that in a minute.

When you're in the law library you'll be looking for the 3 different offence numbers for reckless driving. Yours is probably the worst, but make sure, one of them is no worse (points and fine wise) than improper driving. You need to know in case you decide to cut a deal w/the ada. It's been a while for me, but if I remember right what you're really looking for is how the law is written for reckless driving (opposed to just speeding). It's only a couple of paragraphs, but read them carefully. Kinda goes like this: For speeding, the officer has to hit the tuning fork before OR after his shift. If he writes a ticket for reckless he has to hit the tuning fork before AND after his shift. In other words, if the officer didn't hit the fork that morning he can't prove reckless. They'll have paperwork to back that up. Speaking of paper work, calibration is the next thing you look for. Used to be every year in VA, but I'm pretty sure that's been changed to 6 mos. Then there's the officer's certification. If this was a state trooper then you're screwed, but if it was a Co. cop then you've got a chance. All this is spelled out in the law books.

When you go to circuit court, don't go with much of a plan. The 3 things you want to get out are the tuning fork records, the calibration records of the device, and the officer's certification. The ada will probably bring this out and they will hand you the paperwork that pretains to this. Take your time, make notes of the dates on all the docs, then hand them back. Wait you're turn, the judge will instruct you. You are basically the lawyer and the defendant at this point.

Damn, startin' to ramble. Where was I? Oh, yeah, circuit court. It goes like this: The cop takes the stand and the ada take his testimony. Somewhere in this is where the paperwork comes out and it's handed to you. Look for those expired dates. Write them down. Keep your mouth shut. When the ada is done, then you get to cross ex. him. Focus on the paperwork. If the ada didn't bring it out, now is the time for you to do it. Ask if he hit the forks that day, if his machine has been calibrated, and if he is qualified to operate it. He must have paperwork to back it up. If you find that any one of these docs is expired, or close to expiration, then concentrate on that. Don't ramble and don't get off the subject. Keep some continuity going. The fact that you were speeding has nothing to do with it. It's all about proving it now.

After the cop leaves the stand, it's your turn to take the stand. This is where you bring up the fact that the paperwork wasn't quite right, or if it was, plead your case. Once you get off the stand, you're either guilty or not. If you're found guilty, the trial now moves into the penalty phase. Quickly. Man if you get this far, and you're found guilty, you've got to be able to make them laugh. Done properly, worst case senerio, you're fine and points will be cut in half. you've got at least a 50/50 chance of not guilty, thou.

Oh, one more thing. If you've had 3 reckless in 3 years, and you lose this case, dmv will probably suspend you. Don't know for sure, but you're close. You need to find out for sure. If you lose the case, and you know that dmv is going to suspend you, then use that as part of your plea in the penalty phase. Something like, "I have no money, I've been a bad boy, suspend me for 30 days, your honor, then we'll be even". The reason is: if dmv suspends you for 30 days, you have to do your 30, then a 90 day probation period, then a 6mo., or more, control period. Takes more than a year to get out of the system if dmv gets you. If a judge suspends you for 30 days, then you do your 30 and you're done. No control or probation periods. Volunteering for driving school will also help. This takes 8 hours and costs $60 or 70.

I'd like to know a little more about that Mustang that popped you. Color? Wheels?

:Q

 

[JulesMaximus]

He wrote you up for 80 in a 55? What an asshole. I'd go to court and try explaining to the judge what happened. Be respectful and try to get him/her to reduce it. If you're lucky maybe the cop won't show up and you'll get off.

That sucks. Hope you beat it! The wrap that is...

 

[Crucial]

Why would the judge buy your story that you had complete control of your vehicle and that you aren't a menace on the road. You have a history of breaking the law in your vehicle no matter how you try and butter it up. Plead not guilty, lose the sob story trying to convince the judge you can handle a car going over the speed limit and hope for the best. In the eyes of the law you should have slowed down to merge no matter what day of the year it is.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
He wrote you up for 80 in a 55? What an asshole. I'd go to court and try explaining to the judge what happened. Be respectful and try to get him/her to reduce it. If you're lucky maybe the cop won't show up and you'll get off.

That sucks. Hope you beat it! The wrap that is...

I got a ticket for 72 in a 55 right here in VA. Drove almost 400 miles from my home in PA all the way back to college, and got pulled over in the last 10.

 

[thomsbrain]

on my commute route they are in the middle of a several-year-long special program to crack down on speeding. they will happily ticket you for 10 MPH or less over the unbelieveably glacial 50 MPH limit. i generally drive... er, "briskly,", but I know all of the several dozen spots the cops can hide, and you better bet I don't pass them at over 55 MPH unless there's someone driving quickly ahead of me to spring the traps. i've watched a lot of people get nailed, but so far so good for myself. if you're getting nailed that often, you simply aren't paying attention. and if you aren't paying attention, you need to slow the fvck down. if i was a cop, i'd nail every guy i see doing 10 over, not because 10 over is dangerous, but because anyone stupid enough to get caught isn't paying close enough attention to safely do 10 over.

i went back-road blasting the other day, and went screaming around a high-speed decreasing-radius sweeper with the inside rear howling like a banshee and the car hunkered down deep into the bend, and came across a slow moving car with a light-bar-less CHP stuck behind going the opposite direction. i increased my trail-braking to check my speed, and as i passed by, now just a normal old station wagon out for a sunday turn around the forest, he held up his hand, palm forward, and gave me a stern look. i have no doubt my ass would have been his if i hadn't seen him instantly and slowed down. he SAW me speeding, but he chose not to do anything about it, and i'd guess it was because my reaction to him was instantaneous and he knew i was paying attention.

later that evening, i just about lit my brakes on fire playing cat-and-mouse with an Audi TT through 10 miles of 10-20 MPH hairpins (when we were done, the brakes just about stank my gf and i out of the car), but that's another story.

 

[d3n]

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
If you're not going 70-80 on the beltway there's something wrong. Everyone drives at those speeds. When I go to BWI I go just as fast as everyone around me, just going with the flow. I got pulled over YEARS ago in PG county. The cops were not nice but I got off pretty easy, big fine and 1 point.

PG County cops have some issues. Tho, I've never seen anyone get pulled over on the PG section of the beltway at the times I drive it.

I saw a local news reporter do a feature on drving the limit on the betlway. He put his life in his own hands. One circuit and he got passed by over 3000 vehciles and more then a few close accidents.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

I can't believe so many people suggest a guilty plea if talking to prosecution/ no lo is an option.

As a general rule they don't have your record in front of them in court.

 

[TwoBills]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: TwoBills

:Q

Hah, you asked. That's what it takes to beat a reckless.

So, what about that mustang. What color?