Question about court/ speeding ticket

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Frosty3799

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2000
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ok, i got a speeding ticket (51 in a 35) and when i got it the cop told me the best thing to do is to plead not guilty then go back to court on the second date they give you and then take a lower sentence thing.
ok, i mailed in the ticket not guilty, and received my second court date back. now how do i go about asking for a lower punishment thing? and how should i present myself when asking for it?

thanks all.

Josh
 
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Frosty3799

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2000
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summed up words of the officer as he handed me the ticket:

being a younger person in the suburbs, you outta know how to go about dealing with a speeding ticket. what you should do is plead not guilty, and when you go to your second court date they will offer you a lower sentence.

i just did what he said? ive never gotten a ticket beofre, so i jsut followed the instructions he gave me.

Josh
 
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chrisjor

Golden Member
Dec 4, 2001
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The only thing you can do is plead "no contest" and try to explain why you were speeding. Maybe you will get a cool judge. I have a feeling you are gonna get screwed because you may have to pay the original fine plus court costs!! Also, often the police officer will not show up to court, the case may be dismissed if that happens, it's like gambling!
 
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chrisjor

Golden Member
Dec 4, 2001
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Oh, no contest is admitting the offense occurred, but there were extenuating circumstances.
 
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Frosty3799

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2000
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is there like a way to just talk to the DA or somehting and they might offer something lower? that is what i hear

thanks for the help
 
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chrisjor

Golden Member
Dec 4, 2001
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gee, everything depends on the municipality, the Judge, etc. I know several people here in Cincinnati who beat speeding tickets because they go to court and the Officer does not show up, if this is the case, plead not guilty. This may be because I am in a large municipality and the police have more important things to do. If you are in a rural area, they may show up. If so, plead no contest and and explain why you were speeding. The Judge then decides whether you are guilty or not and your penalty (it could be less). Before court begins you may be able to get the attention of the DA and ask, it would never hurt. Be ready to explain why you were speeding though!!!
 
N8Magic

N8Magic

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
11,624
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If it's the same as Ontario, as long as you show up you won't have to pay court costs.

When you go, the DA or a Justice of the Peace will likely take you aside and ask you if you would like a reduced sentence to save time. You can either take it, or say no and go see the judge in court. Pretty much the only way you are going to win in court will be if the cop who gave you the ticket doesn't show up. If he does, you lose and pay the full amount unless the judge is nice and reduces it for you. If the cop doesn't show, the judge will grant you the victory or throw the case out and you win.

I just recently beat a ticket because the cop didn't show up. :D BTW, show up to your court case, because if you lose and you didn't show up, you pay the full amount of the fine AND court costs ($$$).

Good luck!
 
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Frosty3799

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2000
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ok lets jsut say i really didnt have a reason to be speeding, i didnt even know i was speeding really. it was like 1230 at night and i was just on my way home from eating at a restaurant with a friend. there wasnt anyone else on the road, so i didnt really notice the fact that i was going fast. first car to pass was the cop ;)

so if he asks for a reason i have nothing to say, cept i didnt even know iwas speeding
 
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HappyPuppy

Lifer
Apr 5, 2001
16,997
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1. The cop scammed you into a bigger fine.

2. The DA has nothing to do with speeding tickets.

3. The judge is gonna be really pissed that you plead not guilty and then have no evidence to back up your claim.

4. When your are called before the bench just plead guilty and take it like a man or woman, whichever the case may be.
 
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Frosty3799

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2000
3,795
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<< If it's the same as Ontario, as long as you show up you won't have to pay court costs.

When you go, the DA or a Justice of the Peace will likely take you aside and ask you if you would like a reduced sentence to save time. You can either take it, or say no and go see the judge in court. Pretty much the only way you are going to win in court will be if the cop who gave you the ticket doesn't show up. If he does, you lose and pay the full amount unless the judge is nice and reduces it for you. If the cop doesn't show, the judge will grant you the victory or throw the case out and you win.

I just recently beat a ticket because the cop didn't show up. :D BTW, show up to your court case, because if you lose and you didn't show up, you pay the full amount of the fine AND court costs ($$$).

Good luck! >>



this sounds similair to what the cop said to me, they will pull you aside and ask you to take a reduced fine. so i should try to find them when i get there?

Josh

 
N8Magic

N8Magic

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
11,624
1
81


<< 1. The cop scammed you into a bigger fine.

2. The DA has nothing to do with speeding tickets.

3. The judge is gonna be really pissed that you plead not guilty and then have no evidence to back up your claim.

4. When your are called before the bench just plead guilty and take it like a man or woman, whichever the case may be. >>



1. How so? As long as he shows up for court, he doesn't pay court costs.

2. Up here the Crown Attorney (DA equivalent) prosecutes speeding tickets.

3. No they're not. I have experience with this, and the judge knows you are there to see if the cop shows up.

4. If the cop shows, plead guilty with an explanation. 99% of the time the judge will 0wn you and order you to pay the whole fine. It doesn't hurt to ask, but don't sit there stammering trying to explain yourself. He's heard it ALL before. Just ask for a reduced fine. All he can say is no.
 
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geekender

Platinum Member
Apr 26, 2001
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Go to court and tell the judge that you will pay whatever fine just don't let it go on your record. Sometimes they will let you plead guilty to a lower # of miles over like 9 over which doesn't go on your record (in my state). Need to check your local laws though. Pay whatever fine you have to but try like hell to keep it off your record. They should agree if it is your first offense.
 
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bozo1

Diamond Member
May 21, 2001
6,364
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What geekender said. In most places, just show up, find the prosecuting attorney and ask him if there is any sort of deal you can work out. If you have a clean record, normally they will let you pay a smaller fine and they'll leave this one off your record as long as you don't get another one in x amount of time.
\
 
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hx009

Senior member
Nov 26, 1999
989
0
0
What's with all of this talk of "DA's" and "pulling you aside"? I've been in traffic courts in 3 states... and as far as I've seen in all of them, you sit in a courtroom, wait your turn to be called up, stand in front of the judge and give your plea. If you get the opportunity to "strategize" with DA's or other court officials, lemme know where you live, I'd LOVE to move there. Also, as far as court costs go, if you show up, and you talk to a judge, you pay court costs in my experience.

From the sounds of your circumstance, assuming your state offers it, the lesser sentence will probably be traffic school and no hit to your record (assuming you don't show up dressed like a slob and copping an attitude). If they don't offer traffic school, he might just slap you with court costs alone and/or a small fine and still not put it on your record.
 
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Frosty3799

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2000
3,795
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ok, yea i do have a clean slate, so i was just hoping to be able to get off with a smaller penalty. thanks all for the help
 
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