well i received my first ticket for speeding yesterday. 73 in a 55. I forgot to turn off the cruise control when the sign went from 65 to 55. I come over this hill and theres a state trooper lookin right at me, i glanced down at my speed saw a nice 75 on the line and slowed down as he pulled out of the median. I knew he was comin for me so i just pulled over as soon as i saw the lights. He was cool though, not a dick by any means. But it was so perfect yesterday afternoon. 70 degrees, clear skies, no traffic, windows down and music blaring. Now i just have to find an affordable attorney to handle it. but ya gotta be careful with these TLs, they ride so smooth at high speeds you sometime just forget how fast you're goin. court date is my mom's birthday haha


edit: I have received a ticket before when i was 16 (5 years ago) for careless and reckless because the tire of my ford escort barked but it got dropped to faulty equipment

 

that sucks but at least the cop was nice. it couldve been worse.

how long does the ticket you got 5 years ago stay on your record? its not forever is it? i guess it might depend on the state too.

 

What part of NC are you from?

 

Your going to try tO fight it?

 

eh.. you're gonna fight it even though he clearly saw you coming down his way and caught you at 73? im gonna guess you'll use the cruise excuse haha

 

nah, its not forever. that case the officer was just looking for someone to bust

I talked to one of my friends who is a state patrolman and he said best thing to do is get an attorney. the DA kept gettin onto them for dropping tickets for friends and even though i work for a police department none of them said they could do anything about it. I spoke with an attorney today and they said i will have to pay their fines, maybe court costs if it doesnt ultimately get dropped. But i just have to give the attorneys some info and pay them to go to court for them and they plead it down to a non-moving violation and just pay a small fee so that way my insurance won't go up. it'll be an inconvenience money wise now but in the long run will save me.

Greensboro

 

I see...

 

When your getting a ticket, there's a couple things you can do to get out of it. First, request that the court date be set in a county far away. Obviously this doesn't work well if you got a ticket in your neighborhood. However, if you live a decent distance away from where you got the ticket, then the cop will have to drive all the way to your house/county. Most likely, the cop won't show up and the ticket will be dropped. Works great if you go to college in a different city than you live in.

 

no traffic school in NC?

 

I live in Maryland and just for a speeding ticket its going to cost more for the lawyer then it would if you just went to court alone. Just an example: they might lower your speed to 59 and cut the fine in half. They lower the speed so its only 1 point instead of 3. As long as you admit guilty in court that is.

But again i live in MD.

 

Damn that sucks. I had my license almost 9 years and I got speeding ticket twice. I was visiting family today at Queens and while driving back I spotted 4 cop cars hiding tagging people. Just got to be more careful and don't drive too fast. Good luck hope everything works out for you.

 

that doesnt seem like a bad idea cause actually i do live in a different county than where i go to school. i mean i live on campus but my parents/permanent postage is in a county below it

 

honest question:
they actually allow you to use that,,??? I live too far away to come to your court???
are you sure thats valid in 2011??
maybe in NC --anyone else try that?

while I live in a different state,,never heard of such a thing as -'send the cop to place of my convenience'
but I have attended court with friends in local and out of county court
(never know when they may suspend someones license, take a buddy to drive home- cops next best game is waiting outside to arrest for driving without a lic.!!)

note: if you require the officers presence to fight ticket accuracy or procedural error-where you are hoping they wont show up-- they always schedule it for their day off and the cop gets paid overtime to be there,,,
do you really think you are leaving there with a refund or reduction with that in mind?

You can plead guilty and ask for fine reduction based on xx years of spotless driving record,,that better be more than 5
maybe pay the fine but no points or minimal points
or traffic school is often the best option is offered- at a certain point-say 20 mph over- no school for you- fine and points

hint: if its a regular local speed trap, many in court will be there on same offense-
Judge knows the game,, and you are not getting a break
the cops hang out where limits drop for a reason~ safety and easy money

this info is based on many years of driving, observing others in court, had a few tickets in my youth, wife had ticket for 17 over,,in a 35!! =$231

your situation may vary, times have changed etc yada full disclaimer use at own risk

 

most states have a website for court where you can ck rules for fighting tickets

It never hurts to attend an hour of traffic court now-
find out if thats a speed trap and what the judge does for various offenses
Good way to get location of other speed traps too as Judge reads charge- You were cited on freeport and xyz southbound going 75

 

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f106...ifornia-33009/

/
It doesn't hurt to ask. If he denies it, tell him, “Excuse me officer. I would like request my right to appear county seat.” Do this only if you get a ticket in another county other than the one where you work or live. When he grants your request, he should ask you which court. If you get a ticket in San Diego, but live in LA, you could say Santa Monica for example. If you get a ticket in California near the border of Nevada, but live in Orange County, you would say Santa Ana. Obviously, if you're getting a ticket a few blocks away from your home, you can't do this.

If he denies your request, tell him, “According to CVC 40502(b), upon demand, I can request my court appearance closest to my residence or my principal place of employment. Can I request my right to appear county seat?”

...

Hopefully, you got your ticket far from your location of residence. The latest statistic I have from a couple years ago say that a traffic ticket case in court is in the defendant’s case approximately 12% of the time. A majority of them are due to the cop not showing up. By having your court case outside of the cop’s favorite court, he is even more likely not to show up.
/

 

So yea Tom, there's some validity/credibility in it. States obviously vary in regulations, but it never hurts to try right?

 

yes NC does have traffic school. You can take it one time. I forgot how much it costs.

 

Just once? That sucks. In AZ, you can take it once every 2 years to delete a ticket. I took a class for my first ticket, and I got another ticket exactly 2 years later on the same day. Took another class, and my record is still clean =]

 

just go in and talk to the prosecutor. dont admit guilt, dont say what u just told us because you admit guilt.

go up to them and say "is there any way to reduce this to a lower speed so that i dont get points on my driving record? i havent had any violations in five years and i wouldnt want my insurance to go up."

 

oops I made a mistake-you can take it again but I do not know how long you have to wait between. I do know you can take it online-

 

ok k7--I dont search the net for traffic offense info in other states~ and used my disclaimer

each place varies
I look at the financial situation of govt everywhere--and chuckle at the thought of them reducing a fine when they are so far in the red
thats the wrong side of zero in the bank balance
--(points maybe,, but cash money?!!!)

in Ca the traffic school kills the points, but you have to pay the full fine plus 25 to the court for fun, plus 25 for online traffic school

a note to online schoolers- complete at least 2 weeks before due date-
they dont issue certs online!! snail mailed to you --then you take to courthouse
--except a few Ca counties have it all online- process-pay-proof-done

 

I didn't mean to discredit your comment. I'm just trying to spread some info if it can help someone.

I took an online class and they took care of everything when I finished. It depends on the school, but more and more full online classes are incorporating this.

 

first speeding ticket i don't remember how many i have had

 

Wow, finally a subject I might have a bit of insight. I am more of a reader here that anything else.

To the original poster, how did he catch you, Radar or Laser?? because both are different and there is usually different defenses.

I don't get the whole, California CVC 40502(b), change of venue thing. I have been in several states that don't work like that.

In Colorado we have what is called an automatic plea bargain. If the offender pays the ticket in 20 days, then the charge is lowered to a non-moving and the points are lowered by 2. Example, speeding is 4 points, if the ticket is paid then the charge is lowered to something like defective vehicle and the points dropped to 2.

Lawyers are expensive, so if the ticket will cost less, then represent yourself and save the cash.

P.

 

Ha, gotta love Arizonas traffic laws. Only got a ticket once since I got my license. Only take one ticket to keep me from speeding and its been 7 years. lol

 

actually I thank you-I do not want to pass on info that is not true.

 

Are you sure? I thought you have to attend the court where ticket was issued as each County has different laws.

 

I can't confirm, as each state has different laws. I cited my source up there, as I learned all my info from it. I didn't have the balls to try it, as I got pulled over going 130+.

Here's the link again:
http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f106...ifornia-33009/
This info is made for Cali laws, so I'm sure it differs for others.

 

not always though.... have had multiple tickets that made me go to court for them



and you say lawyers are expensive; maybe.... but they can always pay for them when you are already close to the points limit though (but then can also save you from an increase in insurance preminuims, so not always "that" expensive)









btw when are you going to go to the regionals?

 

i found an attorney who will handle the case for $40 and get it dropped to a non moving violation. I'm only paying $180 out of pocket total which saves me a 30%+ increase on insurance costs. I'll take $180 total when other lawyers charge close to $150 just for their fees.

 

is he even allowed to pratice law , because that is good to be true (or he will nickle and dime you after you sign the contract with him)

 

^That seems way to good to be true.

I live in NY and we have such batshit ridiculous charges for EVERYTHING.

though I always find it easiest to just go to court, plead not guilty and accept the DA plea.

I was a terrible driver when I was 17, so my first two tickets were reduced to parking violations, no points. Had been spotless for 4 years until this year I got another ticket (damn 62 in 55) and the DA gave me 2 points and 100$. But I took defensive driving (1 5 hour course) and I got the two points taken away and some insurance discount.

It was funny because I just got my renewal for car insurance and I was 575 for the last 6 months and this time I'm only down to 350!

Can't complain you know?

 

Hey Matt!! Long time.. need to get that tool still, my wife almost got her head chopped off by the trunk of my car.

I'm sorry because I don't know what is to be at the top of the point scale.. Haven't got a ticket since '01.

You might be right about the lawyers.. i just don't like them.

I think, I will be more active this year going to the meets. My car is in the shop right now getting a new tranny.

 

now i remember who you are , i was trying to think, with where do i recognize you from... , but i just remembered





i just gotta find that tool now.... (i know it is in one of two places though)

 

Well in Cali they are way less leniant. Stricked laws out here.