Busted speeding, now what

[hpmad]

Hello,

I just got busted doing 71 in a 55 zone (stinks)...
As this is my first violation, and I am not familiar with US laws and all that stuff, I was wondering what I should do?

I am in Idaho, the fine is $53, I have no idea if this will go on my driving record at all, if it will mean increased insurance or no, if I have points on my licence (and will lose some or not)...
I told the cop I was doing 65 (don't know if it was wise or not...)

so, should I just pay the fine or try to go to court? any advices?

thanks, cyrille

1980 Canary Yellow 911 SC Targa

[hpmad]

Hello,

I just got busted doing 71 in a 55 zone (stinks)...
As this is my first violation, and I am not familiar with US laws and all that stuff, I was wondering what I should do?

I am in Idaho, the fine is $53, I have no idea if this will go on my driving record at all, if it will mean increased insurance or no, if I have points on my licence (and will lose some or not)...
I told the cop I was doing 65 (don't know if it was wise or not...)

so, should I just pay the fine or try to go to court? any advices?

thanks, cyrille

1980 Canary Yellow 911 SC Targa

[Joe Bob]

Pay the fine or got traffic school...one ticket isn't gonna kill ya....

[stefang]

Yes, it will go on your driving record. Insurance increase depends on whether your insurance company checks regularly to see if you've accumulated points.
Usually, there is a cutoff for 15+ mph, so you might want to try to have it reduced. SOP seems to be - send in ticket with 'not guilty' plea. They will send you a notice with a courtdate. Go to court - find the cop beforehand and arrange for a plea (drop ticket to say 65). Usually the cops are around before for just that reason.

You could also have a traffic lawyer do it for you.

Also - reread your ticket - some states let you plead "no contest", which essentially means you don't admit any guilt, but you'll pay the fine. No points for you, $ for the state - everyone's happy.

Guilt is irrelevant - work the system.

Disclaimer: I'm no lawyer, but "been there, done that"

Stef

[jdowty3]

Do traffic school if it's an option. You probably still need to pay a fee but should be less. Here in Texas, you pay a fee, say you want trafiic school, get paperwork from the court, pass the traffic school (online, video, or class, take your pick, online is the cheapest) test before the 6 month time limit and send the paperwork back in. The court says OK and your done. It's only good 1 time per year and you can send a copy of the traffic school certificate to your insurance company to get a rate discount for being a safe and informed driver.

[ted]

Seems like a cheap fine for speeding. I think in So Cal that would be more?

Where I live there is a service that will get you out of your ticket, he's called Mr Ticket. I think they file for court extensions untill they can be sure the cop can't attend?

If you go to court the only way you will get out of it is if the cop does not show. Judge will throw it out and you'll be off.
If the cop shows he'll have notes of your admission to going 65, 10mph over the limit. The best you could hope for is reducing the 71 to 65. Might reduce your bail from $53 to 40 something.

Not sure of the laws where you live, but in So Cal.
You are allowed to go to traffic School once every 18 months. You cannot have had a ticket within 18 months to be allowed to attend traffic school. So go on your first ticket. If you do not go to school and you were to get a 2nd ticket then you would have 2 on your record and possibly your insurance rates will go up. You also would not be eligible to attend school until 18 months after your last ticket.

In So Cal if you elect to go to traffic shcool you still have to pay the bail/fine $53. You will also have to pay an administrative charge and you will have to pay the School their fee as well.

It might cost you $100 by the time you are done with school.
But then your record is clean.

Someone was telling me in Montana? or Idaho? speeding on the freeway was only a $25 fine. Seems very low, as a cop it would not be worth the risk to me or my equipment to even chase speeding cars.

[jdowty3]

My last ticket was for 17 over and the fine would have been about $150. The traffic school court fee was $65 and the online traffic school cost $35. Saved me $50, the points on my license, and I got an insurance discount.

[Neilk]

Ticket lawyer. If there was a way to pay the fine without it affecting your insurance rates, I would pay the $53. Unfortunately, that small fine might cost you $100s in premium increases.

[PorscheRB]

I'm not sure about Idaho, but I think in some states you can pay a higher fine (something about 3x) and not get any points on your liscense... It's well worth it because the ticket is a one-time hit but the insurance is the gift that you keep on giving to.

Ian

[Rick Lee]

$53 is a gift. I've never had one for less than about $120. As much as I hate to give money to the state, you might just oughta pay up on this one and forget it.

[TerryH]

$53? I don't think we have a violation in California that low except maybe running a toll booth.

I went 17 years without a ticket then got nabbed coasting down a hill at 62 in a 50. Cost me $110 and I opted for traffic school. It wastes an entire Saturday, but the ticket is expunged and no record is sent to the DMV. In California you can attended traffic school once every.... 18 months, I think. So if you space your minor violations out by a year and a half, you can keep your insurance record spotless.

[svandamme]

do you still have your original french drivers licence???

if so , then all the points and other tricks might not be applicable
look it up...

[svandamme]

mail in traffic school , what a joke !

[avendlerdp]

I did internet traffic school and it was even easier then that!! Running a toll booth costs way mose than $55 by the way.

Alex

[SilverPoly]

I've paid more than that for a parking ticket.

[TerryH]

Originally posted by svandamme
mail in traffic school , what a joke !

Lends a new meaning to "home schooling"! Internet traffic school is very limited in certain counties. It's really up to individual cities to offer it.

[FLAT6FAN]

I would go with traffic school. $53 is very cheap, parking tickets are $45 in So Cal.

[nostatic]

yup...online traffic school. gawd bless the network...

[scotsman60]

I just want to point out that even if you go to traffic school and work it off a moving traffic violation, such as speeding, is still maintained on your record by DMV and the courts but it is masked from public view.

Furthermore, these citations should be declared to your insurance provider. Insurance companies cannot increase your premium or refuse you insurance cover on the basis of these citations but they _COULD_ refuse to pay up in the event of a claim if you have not declared them.

How do I know this? I just completed the second half of traffic school last night and this subject was discussed at length by the instructor.




Doug

[Raymond]

a street sweeping ticket in newport beach is $38. pay it if you were speeding... that's cheap. i don't think the insurance goes up till the second and third ticket.