Speeding ticket, should I go to traffic court or just pay it?

[jdb in AZ]

In California, if you go to court and it is your first violation in many years, you can often go to traffic school, and upon completion, it never goes on your record. And no insurance increase.
Many of the traffic schools are online and inexpensive (like $12). But you have to go to court to get traffic school.

In Arizona you don't have to go to court to get traffic school. It's available on line but not cheap -- depending on the offense it's usually over $100. but still cheaper than the insurance increase would be. Also, you can only do traffic school once every two years. If you get another ticket during that two years you're stuck with the ticket and insurance increase.

 

[MSLRAC]

I'd go to court to see about getting it reduced and avoiding points because my DH had a ticket that he just paid and our insurance went up significantly afterward due to the points associated with the ticket.

 

[pooh2001]

Go to court
If the police officer does not show up
The ticket is moot and no longer valid.
At least that is the law in NY.

If the police officer shows up - pay the fine and say you will
take the defensive driving course.
Your local bank or insurance companies may offer it.
We paid $25 a person for the 6 hour defensive driving class from
our Credit Union.
In NY it removes up to 4 points on your license and gives you a discount on your car insurance.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

YES GO TO COURT AND SEE IF YOU CAN PLEAD IT DOWN!!!
I feel like paying it is the biggest mistake people can make!
It's flat out saying you are guilty and you can get points on your license.
Generally if you go they will plead it down which most times means no points and much lower fee for you plus they get the money instead of the state.

 

[Kaytie]

I know this is what I keep saying that I should have done!!!
Still not sure what I'm going to do. I have til Oct 12 to decide. There is something on the bottom of my ticket saying I could possibly attend Traffic Safety School and reduce the points.

Sorry, I really wasnt advising what you should have done (pointless anyway, until time travel is perfected .) I was just responding to the poster who said you were going with the flow of traffic

Do they have prayer for judgement in your area (I know NC and SC do)?

Unique to the Carolinas.

 

[melissapealo]

Can you submit the ticket along with a letter to the judge asking for a reduction. I know we can do that in NY and have seen it work for friends. It never hurts to ask to get the ticket reduced, heck the only thing the judge can do is say no and nothing lost by asking.

edited to add, sorry I meant can you submit the ticket and letter through the mail, not by going to court.

 

[wonder whisper]

I agree with hiring a local attorney, specifically one who handles a lot of traffic cases (the old fashioned yellow pages is the best way to find them). They know the local courts and in particular how to negotiate with them and the police to usually get the ticket waived or changed to a lower violation. I used one once and he was less expensive to retain than what my insurance premium increase would have been if I had not contested the charge.

 

[Moana of Motunui]

We really can't give you an answer as every court is different. In my county there are a dozen or more jurisdictions and each handles traffic differently. There's no universal answer except that it can't get worse if you go to court. If they don't offer you something lesser, you can just pay off the ticket.

The only way it could get worse is if OP doesn't pay or doesn't show... then you'll get a traffic or arrest warrant. But it's unlikely that and outstanding traffic warrant will lead to an arrest years down the road.

 

[sam_gordon]

I agree with hiring a local attorney, specifically one who handles a lot of traffic cases (the old fashioned yellow pages is the best way to find them). They know the local courts and in particular how to negotiate with them and the police to usually get the ticket waived or changed to a lower violation. I used one once and he was less expensive to retain than what my insurance premium increase would have been if I had not contested the charge.

But what would have happened if you went to court by yourself? I'm guessing you would have had the sentence reduced, meaning the lawyer probably didn't do much for you.

 

[Bilberry]

I would contact your attorney about the ticket. He/she should be able to put you in touch with an attorney that handles speeding tickets. Attorneys and prosecutors often have working relationships together. With that, from there the issue most likely will be handled quickly with some advantage to you.

 

[Christine]

I probably would pay it in your situation. You know you're guilty, you were speeding and there really weren't mitigating circumstances to excuse it.

Last year, my son (then 21) was passing a semi on two lane highway. The legal speed limit on that road was 70 mph. He went over 80 to get past the truck which put him over 80 mph at one point. In our state, reckless driving is anything 80 and up (not the typical 20 mph over). We did get him an attorney because it had become a misdameanor (sp) charge and possible suspension of his driver's license. The attorney was very good at working with the judge and prosecutor to work a deal to get the reckless charge dropped.

 

[blana]

Go and see if you can get it reduced. Make sure you get a copy of your driving record before you go. It will show the fact that this is your f first ticket, which should help. (If you're in NC, you have to have brought a copy of it in order to request a prayer f or judgement.) Based on my one and only time in traffic court, just showing up was enough to get them to reduce the sentence, but you still had to pay the whole fee. It just lowered your points.

 

[Nancyg56]

Here in NJ, you can go and plead guilty to the prosecutor, have your fine increased, but points lowered or removed. Dd21 got a speeding ticket, $250, 2 points, ended up paying $500, no points.

I did that here in CT. I got a speeding ticket, went to court. The Prosecuting attorney offered to reduce the fine for me, but I asked if I could pay the entire amount to a non profit, and have the points removed. he agreed, so I gave my check to my sister, who used it to buy children's helmets for LifeStar. I had gotten that approved before I even left the courthouse.

 

[Fat01]

Go to court
If the police officer does not show up
The ticket is moot and no longer valid.
At least that is the law in NY.

If the police officer shows up - pay the fine and say you will
take the defensive driving course.
Your local bank or insurance companies may offer it.
We paid $25 a person for the 6 hour defensive driving class from
our Credit Union.
In NY it removes up to 4 points on your license and gives you a discount on your car insurance.

This info is very outdated in regard to New York, especially in regard to the comment "If the police officer does not show up The ticket is moot and no longer valid."

Police Officer no longer has to be there. Actually, unusual that Police Officer is there anymore. Prosecutor is now there that you talk to asking for infraction reduction, etc..

 

[Nagle]

You were speeding. Pay the fine.

 

[declansdad]

YES GO TO COURT AND SEE IF YOU CAN PLEAD IT DOWN!!!
I feel like paying it is the biggest mistake people can make!
It's flat out saying you are guilty and you can get points on your license.
Generally if you go they will plead it down which most times means no points and much lower fee for you plus they get the money instead of the state.

Probably because in most cases the person is guilty of speeding.

 

[mom2rtk]

Many years ago, my husband was in grad school and I was the only one with a (very low paying) job. He had an internship and got a $500 speeding ticket on his way home one night...I was so upset because we were pretty much living on pb&j sandwiches at that point and could NOT afford to pay a ticket! I "strongly encouraged" him to go to traffic court. They ended up reducing the fine to $200 (which was still really rough on us) and he was able to do community service at the local library to make up the rest.

Obviously, that's not so much an option for many working adults. But I mention it as an example of how they will sometimes be willing to work with you if you are polite and respectful when you explain the situation.

Also...he's never gotten another ticket and is much more careful so I like to think his time served was a good lesson, haha!

Just how fast did one have to go "many years ago" to get a $500 speeding ticket?

 

[marcyleecorgan]

I would only go to traffic court to fight the ticket IF... the second truck driver was driving in a manner that prevented you from being able to pass. Like if HE was speeding 20 miles over the limit or weaving his truck across the lane, and that's why you gunned it.

Just curious though, when you saw the passing lane ending, why was your choice to gun the engine and speed up, rather than put on your signal and get in front of the first semi? The driver knows that lane is ending, he's not going to be offended that you need to get back in your own lane. Unless of course you cut him off! Leave lots of clearance! If there are passing lanes every 10 miles or so, you have lots of opportunity to pass the next truck on the next pass...

Bad choice this time, very expensive lesson, but I don't think that the ticket should be reduced or dropped, because you were actively making a decision to drive over the speed limit and to make a illegal passing move while other vehicles are in the road. You chose to try to be a more assertive driver but when the lane is ending, you just have to drop back and wait for the opportunity again.

Annnnnnnd trucks are dangerous! You could have been in a serious accident! My mom was run off the exit ramp by a semi driver and he just continued to claim, "I didn't see her,"; after many years fighting in court she got a small settlement but NOTHING could take the place of making a different decision at the time of the accident. She paid for her mistake of, "Well, I want to get off the exit NOW, that truck should slow down!" with numerous discs in her neck replaced with titanium. She SHOULD have either pulled off the exit ramp entirely onto the grass, or she should have noticed the truck barreling down the exit ramp at full speed and followed suit by speeding herself onto the exit road, merging and continuing, or pulling over and parking. Noooooo she decided to be stubborn and drive the 40 mph off-ramp speed because "...he should be...."

Doesn't matter who is right or wrong, it's who's left. Glad you are safe! Don't try to double-pass semi trucks!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Probably because in most cases the person is guilty of speeding.

That's kind of a "well duh" but my point was admitting it generally ends up worse in the end.
If you go to court they lessen the charge generally.
BTW this is coming from someone that does not even drive so no I haven't gotten a bunch of speeding tickets in my life in case you were wondering lol.

 

[Marchand63]

She wasn't, though. With the passing lane ending shortly, the proper move would be to pull back into the travelling lane between the two semis.

Disclaimer: not an opinion of the OP, the speed, or whether or not to fight the ticket.

I didn't say it was the truth, I just said to say it. If she had pulled in between 2 semis that could put her and other drivers at risk depending on how much space there was.