Speeding tickets

RomanticViolence - 4-18-2007 at 04:18 PM

I don't know if there is already another thread about this.

I got my first speeding ticket today.
It's for $160.00.
I'm already borderline broke as it is.
I was thinking about taking it to court.

This is my first traffic offense.

Can someone give me some advice on how to do this?

MyOwnWay - 4-18-2007 at 04:22 PM

I've never fought one. But that really sucks you got it.

BDx13 - 4-18-2007 at 04:26 PM

i've never gotten a ticket, but from what i understand, the first thing to look for is any inaccurate info on the ticket. did the officer get your license plate or car model wrong, etc? i'm not positive about this, but if you fight it and the officer doesn't show up to court, I THINK, it's thrown out.

Voodoobillyman - 4-18-2007 at 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BD
i've never gotten a ticket, but from what i understand, the first thing to look for is any inaccurate info on the ticket. did the officer get your license plate or car model wrong, etc? i'm not positive about this, but if you fight it and the officer doesn't show up to court, I THINK, it's thrown out.

yup, if the cop dosen't show, it does get thrown out. the problem is you don't know what kind of cop your dealing with. Is he too busy to give shit, lazy? By the book and shows to all court appearances? Takes it as a personal insult and really pushes it? it's a tough call, I have just paid all of mine, never went to court to contest.

JawnDiablo - 4-18-2007 at 04:52 PM

I've had plenty of them.
Never bothered to fight one though.
I was always guilty as hell anyway.
In PA you get points on your lisence if guilty.
I nearly ost the lisence at one point during my wreckless youth.

JUICE MAYNE MSHC - 4-18-2007 at 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Voodoobillyman

yup, if the cop dosen't show, it does get thrown out.

It doesn't work exactly that way down here for speeding tickets. If you fight a ticket you get in line and see a court clerk for about 15 seconds and she offers you a deal on the ticket, like "we can settle this for $50 plus court cost and it won't go on your record." Everyone takes the deal because to further challenge it would mean coming back another day, another line, wait for the judge, wait for the cop. Too much bullshit.

CR83 - 4-18-2007 at 05:28 PM

I have had my share of tickets. I have always paid a lawyer and it came out better that I went that route. It was more economical too. Say for a $150 ticket, I'd pay like $67.

BDx13 - 4-18-2007 at 05:32 PM

...but what the lawyer cost?

RV, check with the local municipality and see if they have something similar to what Juice is talking about.

Discipline - 4-18-2007 at 05:56 PM

If you go to fight the ticket, 99% of the time they'll offer you a deal. What they usually do is offer you the chance to plead to a lesser speed so you don't lose any points, and then you pay the fine. At least in Ontario. I spent a couple of months working in traffic court.