Speeding Ticket -- Traffic School?

[2Xtreme21]

Got caught doing a 78 in a 55mph. My question is I saw that PA offered Traffic School classes to get your points (and, subsequently, insurance) reduced, so I'd like to try to get that route. Do you need to get a judge's approval to take it? How do you let the state know that you want to take traffic school?

I plan on pleading guilty and not going to court as I was clearly at fault and doing just what the officer said. But do I have to request a time in court to be able to make my request for traffic school though? I'm not sure what the proper procedure is for this.

 

[HaxorNubcake]

Here in Arizona the officer gives you a pamphlet about traffic school with a phone number to call. Once you call, the traffic school takes care of everything provided you sign up for and attend the class. There is no need to go to court.

 

[2Xtreme21]

The cop did not give me anything but the citation.

 

[HaxorNubcake]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
The cop did not give me anything but the citation.

call the court tomorrow and ask them about traffic school?

 

[dbk]

I had to go to traffic school for both tickets I received before I was 21. I had no choice. However, I'm a better driver now because of it (defensive driving).

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
The cop did not give me anything but the citation.

call up the courthouse, they should be able to go ahead and make it happen. Or you can go to court, say I want to take traffic school, but that might cost you an extra buck and time

 

[Lord Evermore]

You may not even have to attend a class. There are online traffic schools. Most states just have a minimum amount of time that a class has to last. In my case I need to take a class for Florida. The one I'm looking at, the text version is timed, you can't go from one module to another until the timer runs out, so the total time is 4 hours, whether you're looking at it or not.

Just points out the fact that they don't care if you are punished or learn anything, they just want you to pay the fine.

But yeah, when you sign up, you provide the citation number, and when you pass they notify the state.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
You may not even have to attend a class. There are online traffic schools. Most states just have a minimum amount of time that a class has to last. In my case I need to take a class for Florida. The one I'm looking at, the text version is timed, you can't go from one module to another until the timer runs out, so the total time is 4 hours, whether you're looking at it or not.

Just points out the fact that they don't care if you are punished or learn anything, they just want you to pay the fine.

But yeah, when you sign up, you provide the citation number, and when you pass they notify the state.

But should I do that in the 10 days I have before I send in a plea?

 

[Scarpozzi]

Here, they give you one of these every 5 years. I believe you have to show up at your court date and ask the judge, unless they have a system setup to save the judge's time.

Usually, you'll have to pay for traffic school and the court costs with is greater than just paying the ticket, but it will help your insurance costs, etc...

 

[Lord Evermore]

Incidentally, this was a PA state ticket, right? Not a city ticket?

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
Incidentally, this was a PA state ticket, right? Not a city ticket?

I guess. It's a Commonwealth of PA citation from a cop who clocked me with a radar gun, so it'd have to be a state cop.

 

[Shadowknight]

Pay $50 for a lawyer. I've gotten two speeding tickets in my life, in both cases they got it knocked down to "improper use of equipment." Nothing goes on your record, no points, you give them money for the court fees and they're happy.

 

[spidey07]

Show up for your court date. Ask for traffic school in leiu of points....all done. 15 minutes.

This has worked for me with tickets from 15-45 over.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Yeah, reading up on it, it looks like you do have to show up in court to request traffic school.

Hopefully there's a way around that, since I live 1500 miles from where I got the ticket.

 

[Corporate Thug]

http://www.trafficschoolonline.com/?mv=6&aid=0000&lcode=0000&ts=1170722905

 

[2Xtreme21]

Thug: Says it's not approved for my County.

So I guess I'll just plead not guilty and show up in court, asking for traffic school in lieu of points because I feel that it'll be able to teach me how to drive better than just a punishment will?