wakipaki

I just got my first speeding ticket in Memphis, TN, for going 41 in a 35. The road I was on, Summer Ave, had a speed limit of 40 and then all of a sudden it changes to 35. The cop was hiding on the alley to the right shortly after it turns to 35.

He pulled me over and all that, and he handed me the ticket and said I can either go to the location at the back of the ticket or pay it online. I asked him how much it would be and he said $32. If I want it off my record, I can go to court and pay a little higher, around $61 bucks.

My question is...why do I have to pay to go to court? Isn't going to court appealing it? Also...do you guys have any suggestions on what I should do? I really don't want my insurance doubling for 6mph over, and I've never gotten a ticket, esp not out of state (i'm in Memphis for college).

If anyone could help me out, I'd greatly appreciate it, preferably someone from TN.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

So is your license and insurance from Texas?

If so, just pay the fine, your insurance will not go up b/c it's out of state...

stright-(paint)balling

i agree with bean: if it doesn't stick points on your record just go pay the 32 bucks and learn from the mistake.
hell i've had parking tickets(near detriot) that was 32 bucks. 32 bucks on a speeding violation is crazy cheap

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

FWIW, I checked the Texas DMV website and didn't see anything mentioned about out-of-state tickets affecting your Texas license... so you should be good if you just pay.

You should reference the site or talk to a lawyer to verify though...

wakipaki

Yep, my license and insurance are from Texas. I'll look into the whole out-of-state tickets not affect your record, hopefully it's true. Thanks for the quick replies

AMGala

iTrader: (4)

What a douchebag of a cop! I mean, a $32 ticket? Come on!

wakipaki

I looked more into the out of state tickets not affecting your record thing, heres the info i found out:

Thank you for contacting CarInsurance.com. Tennessee did drop out of the Drivers License Compact (DLC) in 1997 but the state still reports tickets back to your home state (Texas) and other states can still report moving violations to TN. See this link for information on what Texas does with out of state tickets, http://www.carinsurance.com/kb/content18754.aspx, you will see that the TX DPS does note that it adds out of state tickets to a TX driving record.

From the link they referred me to:
"According to the Texas Department of Public Safety they will place out of state offenses onto your TX driving record. The Texas points system lists that it is 2 points for a moving violation conviction in Texas or that in another state. Points however are not assigned for speeding less than 10% over the posted limit or for seat belt convictions. "

Since i was more than 10% over the posted limit...i guess i'm subject to getting points on my license. However, one of my friends who lives in Memphis told me to just go ahead and take it to court because more than likely the cop won't show up, they're just trying to meet quotas most of the time...so I guess only time will tell.

Bearcat94

If you go to court ask the DA/Asst DA/Judge for a reduction to 38 in a 35. That'll get you off the hook in TX. Fine will probably be the same.

Not sure about TN, but here if you have a clean record, you can ask for a "Prayer for Judgement" which is basically court costs plus a dimissal of the charge/fine.

You need to bone up on TN traffic law a little bit to understand what's what.