Speeding ticket - need advice - Page 2

masraum · 05-13-2022, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

It isn't the fine. It is the insurance cost that goes up for YEARS.

Get a good lawyer. Not a friend or a friendly lawyer. But one who can get you to pay the fine but on "something else", like "Failure to observe a traffic control device. One without points.

In Texas, you can apply for "Deferred adjudication". You pay the fine, take traffic school and they now hold this over your head for 18 months. No stops in 18 months and "Poof - Gone!"

I've done deferred (more than once) but it's been years. When I did it, it was pay a fee, keep your nose clean for 30-90 days, and that's it. No traffic school, and no 18 months.
I hate to admit it, but I even had 2 once, and had the 90 days overlap.

dad911 · 05-13-2022, 06:39 AM

Just consider yourself lucky you are not in NJ.

In '92 I was pulled over for 67 in a 55, I was moving with traffic. Told it was just 2 pts so I paid it. Many hundreds in insurance surcharges over the next few years, and to add insult the limit was raised to 65 shortly after.

KFC911 · 05-13-2022, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

Not offered as legal advice. Sorry but have to say it.

I'd take my lumps. The cost isn't worth it for an attorney, unless it is me back in the day doing tickets for my BMW mechanics for $150.

As someone else said, go and speak with the ADA (remembering that these may not be the brightest bulbs since they are at traffic court). Plea it down or ask to take defensive driving in return for a dismissal. They probably have a solution that will work for you without having to pay an attorney and possibly keep your record clean.

^^^^ This. In NC, 15 over is automatic lose your license in theory... (occuring in any state too).
They just want $$ and will reduce it or make it not appear against ins. rate increases for 3 years... that's what costs. No one speeds over 15+ here

rfuerst911sc · 05-13-2022, 07:12 AM

Some good advice here , many smart Pelicans 😁. I will wait to hear from the lawyer I contacted this morning. I want to have a conversation on what the options are. I don't feel comfortable representing myself in court ........... I am no Perry Mason 😋. Court date is 8/3 so I have some time to get my crap together.

rfuerst911sc · 05-13-2022, 07:27 AM

Also I was very pleasant and professional to the officer . I gave no attitude or BS . We actually had a fairly pleasant conversation . He told me don't sweat it there are worse things in life . I respect officers they have a tough job . I just want to attempt to keep a clean driving record and no points so I don't get insurance raped . I have no problem paying a fine and/or a lawyer to achieve those goals .

Fast Freddy 944 · Fast Freddy 944's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Earlier this week on a nice sunny day I was in a Porsche enjoying a mountain drive . Windows down just enjoying the day . On a downhill section I lost my reference to speed and was nailed for 74 in a 45 😡.

It's a two lane road and I was the only car on that section of road . So I was not racing I honestly just lost track of speed . I am 64 years old with a clean driving record.

I contacted a lawyers office that was recommended. They suggested go to my court date , plead no contest and see what happens . If the no contest plea is rejected ask for a continuance and get back with the lawyer for consultation.

Has anyone here used a online service like " offtherecord " ? You apply online , answer some questions and send a pic of the citation . They hook you up with a lawyer.

Yes I made a mistake but I want to try and maintain a clean record. At the very least I want to reduce or eliminate the points for insurance protection . Any advice is appreciated . Thanks

Speedo stopped working correctly? Hey man, I believe you, but the question is, will the law believe you?

Pay the fine, I reccomend Defensive driving courses, it take your little error off of your record and everybody's happy. I suggest you get a Radar detector, I had one, but some workers at pep boys stole mine.

masraum · 05-13-2022, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy 944

Speedo stopped working correctly? Hey man, I believe you, but the question is, will the law believe you?

Pay the fine, I reccomend Defensive driving courses, it take your little error off of your record and everybody's happy. I suggest you get a Radar detector, I had one, but some workers at pep boys stole mine.

I can tell you what Defensive Driving does in Texas, at least, as of 15-20 years ago. It leaves the ticket on your record, but sets the points to 0.

Many years ago, I had taken defensive driving and then had some other issue, and ended up having to request my record from Austin. When I received it, it showed the tickets that I'd taken defensive driving, but then showed "points assessed" as 0.

At least the last time that I got a ticket if you used deferred adjudication, the ticket disappeared off of your record as if it had never occurred.

MRM · 05-13-2022, 07:55 AM

Each prosecutors office has guidelines for how to handle speeding tickets. They will either give you a break or they won't, depending on their office policies. Almost any prosecutor offers you 1/2 off the fine if you plead guilty without making them go to a court trial. Remember, PLEADING NO CONTEST IS PLEADING GUILTY. So is pleading guilty with an explanation. Prosecutors love to get people to do things like that because it seems to make the defendant happy and it results in a conviction. I don't know if something got lost in translation with the first lawyer or what, but if you plead no contest you are convicted, will pay the fine, the ticket goes on your record and there is nothing a lawyer can do about it later.

You really need a lawyer to handle this for you, but it should only be a couple of hundred dollars. The lawyer will know or find out what the office policy is for you and get you your best deal. You can't really do it yourself because without being a lawyer you don't know what you don't know.

The gold standard is to get the prosecutor to either amend the charge to some non-moving violation that isn't certified to the state or do some sort of deferred prosecution where the case is continued for a period of time and dismissed if you don't have any other charges and you pay an amount equal to the fine as prosecution costs. At the very least they will give you half off the fine, but you get stuck with a conviction.

So call a lawyer who knows what he's doing in traffic court and he'll do for you what can be done. Good luck,

Fast Freddy 944 · Fast Freddy 944's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

I can tell you what Defensive Driving does in Texas, at least, as of 15-20 years ago. It leaves the ticket on your record, but sets the points to 0.

Many years ago, I had taken defensive driving and then had some other issue, and ended up having to request my record from Austin. When I received it, it showed the tickets that I'd taken defensive driving, but then showed "points assessed" as 0.

At least the last time that I got a ticket if you used deferred adjudication, the ticket disappeared off of your record as if it had never occurred.

I bet I have had more speeding tickets than most of y'all on this forum. LOL! I really dont keep up with my records, all I know is Defensive driving helps folks who have fun hot-rodding in what ever heap they drive. My last ticket was for speeding, I took an on-line course and almost got a 100% because I sat through it in 4 hours, Hey it had a cute broad teaching me. I wanted to take the test in the same day, but the computer said "Go to Sleep"! I almost got a 100% but missed just one answer, LOL!!!! I took the results to the clerk and her eyeballs popped out of her head from my score, I knew I have taken this mutha many times, she didnt!

matthewb0051 · matthewb0051's Garage

I prefer the Euro method of speeding tickets like I got hooked up with in Austria: you pay the cop on scene. It was scary as poop but 30 or 40 Euros later I was on my way.

stomachmonkey · 05-13-2022, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

I prefer the Euro method of speeding tickets like I got hooked up with in Austria: you pay the cop on scene. It was scary as poop but 30 or 40 Euros later I was on my way.

If I ever move to Austria I'm going to get a fake popo car and go "collecting"

masraum · 05-13-2022, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

I prefer the Euro method of speeding tickets like I got hooked up with in Austria: you pay the cop on scene. It was scary as poop but 30 or 40 Euros later I was on my way.

I remember a comedian talking about something like that in one of the midwest states. he got pulled over for speeding. The cop gave him a ticket, and the fine was $5. He said "It's only $5? Here's $40 to cover the rest of my trip through your crappy state." or something like that. It was funny when he said it.

matthewb0051 · matthewb0051's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

If I ever move to Austria I'm going to get a fake popo car and go "collecting"

They also put up cardboard cutouts on side of roads to make you think the cop is standing there. My situation, cop literally jumped out in road and motioned me over. Although the photo below doesn't look realistic, in person it is a bit harder to tell and the pucker factor goes up.

matthewb0051 · matthewb0051's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

I remember a comedian talking about something like that in one of the midwest states. he got pulled over for speeding. The cop gave him a ticket, and the fine was $5. He said "It's only $5? Here's $40 to cover the rest of my trip through your crappy state." or something like that. It was funny when he said it.

I think that was in reference to Montana

masraum · 05-13-2022, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

I think that was in reference to Montana

that's what I was thinking, but I wasn't positive. I thought it was hilarious.

jamesnmlaw · 05-13-2022, 08:40 AM

Hire a local attorney. Someone who appears in that court very often.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

I prefer the Euro method of speeding tickets like I got hooked up with in Austria: you pay the cop on scene. It was scary as poop but 30 or 40 Euros later I was on my way.

Romania and Mexico are the same way...sort of...

Baz · Baz's Garage

Plead no contest and take driver school = no points - but still have to pay a fine and school tuition.

But no points on your record.

masraum · 05-13-2022, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

Romania and Mexico are the same way...sort of...

I've never been to Romania. I was going to say that I'd never driven in Mexico, but I have driven in either Cabo San Lucas or the Puerto Vallarta area (can't remember which). I have to assume that many/most tickets in Mexico if paid on the spot end up being "shared" by the cop many/most times.

masraum · 05-13-2022, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz

Plead no contest and take driver school = no points - but still have to pay a fine and school tuition.

But no points on your record.

Gotta be careful with that though. I'm sure each state is different, but here in Texas, "no points" just means that your license won't be cancelled because you got too many points. But the ticket is still on your record, so it may still impact your insurance. Maybe now that most of us are older, and assuming we have clean records, maybe one ticket with no points won't impact your insurance or maybe it will, I have no idea.