Went to court and got out of a speeding ticket..almost

[Doggiedog]

Got busted going 52 in a 35 a few blocks from my house. I've actually never in my 13 years of driving gotten any kind of moving violation or warning. I was just being careless after passing a guy on a bike. Never had a chance against the cop. He was hidden well.

So I plead not guilty on the ticket and got a court date.

Went to court, saw a woman get hauled off to jail for 90 days for shoplifting $526 worth of goods at Pathmark (a supermarket for those who don't know them). The judge was kind of funny and read off the list of stuff she stole like suntan lotion, razor blades, shampoo. He admonished her for being so stupid and how on earth could she steal $526 of razor blades?

Spoke to the prosecutor and he said 2 points (from 4) and $xxx fine. I was like "great...".

Waited my turn and saw the justice system at work. Waited 4 hours and ended up being the last person there. The prosecutor completely forgot about me. I went up to him again and explained how I am normally a careful driver and have never had any violations, warnings or accidents ever. Then he said that was a great defense of myself and said no points and $87 fine.

So I got lucky and got off with careless driving. That probably saved a thousand bucks in higher insurance fees for me.

 

[rgwalt]

Nice work, and congrats.

Ryan

 

[HiveMaster]

So I got lucky and got off with careless driving. That probably saved a thousand bucks in higher insurance fees for me.

Until the next time an insurance company pulls your record and sees that you were adjudicated guilty.
Then you are fscked.

When it comes to tickets....
ALWAYS GET A LAWYER.
NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE IN.

 

[rgwalt]

HiveMaster- In many states, careless (or inattentive) driving is a non-moving violation. So, when the insurance company pulls your record, they don't see any points.

Ryan

 

[Gulzakar]

never give in? People like you amuse me...your as guilty as they come yet you won't take your punishment like a man. I can see reducing your fine, but getting a lawyer so you can get out of your mistake?

 

[Doggiedog]

In NJ, I heard that you can get up to 3 careless driving violations until the DMV starts counting them as points.

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: Gulzakar
never give in? People like you amuse me...your as guilty as they come yet you won't take your punishment like a man. I can see reducing your fine, but getting a lawyer so you can get out of your mistake?

would you like to pay that guys insurance? A lawyer will be able to talk to the DA for you and get your fine/points reduced. Moving violations are not a serious crime like murder, shoplifting, etc... Being guilty has nothing to do with it. Anyone who, on the first violation, pays the maximum fine and has their insurance raised 25%-400% is stupid. I suppose you could if you wanted to, but why? No one else does...

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: Gulzakar
never give in? People like you amuse me...your as guilty as they come yet you won't take your punishment like a man. I can see reducing your fine, but getting a lawyer so you can get out of your mistake?

The mistake would be paying higher insurance rates for 5yrs because you are now an extra risk even though there are speed limits set slower than 80+% of the population drive. That's right the MAJORITY of people speed. Check it out for yourself. Maybe not on EVERY road, but, try it out...

How many times have you stayed at or below the speed limit going somewhere, especially on a highway? Try it and then tell me that you feel safer doing the speed limit (slower) than going the flow of traffic and then tell me that it's right to have to pay 1000's of dollars more (in insurance over 5yrs) because you were the "example" that day.

Now running a stop sign, going crazy fast, or reckless driving I can see your point. Tickets for casual Speeding 8-15mph over depending on where you are is just a money raiser for the local govn. and insurance companies.

 

[Doggiedog]

I was actually getting kind of pissed off sitting there because alot of the people who seemed to be getting off without points looked like they were racers or rich ditzy drivers.

I've been really careful with the way I drive. I never had any problems with the law.

When I got the ticket, I had to speed up to pass a guy on a bike because I was in the slow lane of a local 2 laner and there was a guy slightly behind me in the passing lane. I was talking to a buddy of mine and wasn't really thinking. Then boom. Cop car right there. Pulls me right over.

Though guilty of speeding I thought it was kind of unfair since I wasn't racing or in a hurry or being a menace. I was just trying to pass a bike without hitting the brakes.