Got my first speeding ticket, what should I do?

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FuryX21

FuryX21

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So a couple of weeks ago I was going home for Memorial Day weekend from North Carolina to Georgia. I got off work Friday at midnight, went home and got my stuff and got on the road. Approximately halfway there around 2am as I was passing through Greenville, SC I was pulled over for doing 80mph in a 60mph zone. I'm always very watchful of police but since it was dark outside I couldn't spot them as easily. It wasn't until I was right up on him that I noticed that the car parked on the right shoulder was a police Crown Vic and not some random broken down car like all the others I had passed along the way. The ticket was originally going to be $181, but the cop reduced it $75. It's not the actual fine I'm worried about, its the points on my record and the affect on insurance. I've been driving for almost 6 years now (got my learner's permit when I turned 15, turn 21 next month). I've had a perfectly clean driving record until now. I know I'm guilty of the crime and don't dispute that (though I do dispute that the speed limit should be more than 60 mph on a 4-lane highway, but that's a whole other issue in itself), but I'd really like to keep the points off my record. Should I just pay the fine and take the hit on insurance, or do I have other options? I guess it's probably worth nothing that I'm a full-time student at a tech school in North Carolina so going down to South Carolina for court would not only be a ways out of the way but I'd also be missing class time, but I'm willing to do it if it means I can keep my clean record. Should I get a lawyer, and if so how do I go about getting one? Is it okay to represent yourself in court? What are the chances that the officer will appear in court for this type of offense? I'm new to all of this so help me out please.
 
In Florida, you can take a "traffic school" course online which keeps the points from being put on your license. Call your local DMV and ask if they offer anything like that.
 
Typically if you go to court and talk it over with the officer you can pay an increased fine but get no points. Also you can ask to be put on probation, which typically negates points as well as long as you don't get a ticket within a set period of time. Court takes about 5 minutes maybe and since it's just a small infraction I wouldn't worry about a lawyer. Also there is a pretty good chance the officer will show up since they get paid more or something.
 
Slow down.

*edit* - Sorry, silly early morning response.

Seriously, like others have said, take the fine, stomach the probable small increase in insurance and above all, avoid driving in the area again. I'm not familiar with the US points system but if it's anything like the UK system they'll be gone off your licence before you know it. The court process sounds like a potential waste of time and effort and probably only worth it if you are about to lose your licence and your job depends on it.
 
FuryX21
I know I'm guilty of the crime and don't dispute that (though I do dispute that the speed limit should be more than 60 mph on a 4-lane highway, but that's a whole other issue in itself)
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I've been on that very stretch of highway and I agree with the above statement, but when you're there doing that speed, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. As my brother, who lives in North Carolina, once stated, "the entire state of South Carolina is a speed trap."

Should I get a lawyer, and if so how do I go about getting one? Is it okay to represent yourself in court? What are the chances that the officer will appear in court for this type of offense? I'm new to all of this so help me out please.
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When I was sixteen and had been driving less than a year, I received a ticket for doing 76mph in a 35mph zone. My insurance rates barely went up. You'll be fine if you just pay the fine and take the (very) minor rate increase. However, if you ultimately decide to take the enormous time and monetary expense to fight the ticket, retain counsel. They will know what to do, unlike you, who might find that a drive down to South Carolina is a waste of time and money, since your ticket may not be reduced.

By the way, since that incident where I got pulled over for 76 in a 35, which occurred three and a half years ago, I haven't gotten any tickets. The points are off my record, and the insurance rates are back to normal. Thus, my best (future) advice is just to stay safe and stick to at or near the posted limits - especially in South Carolina! :)
 
He told the judge he was trying to get a snap of a Bentley Flying Spur that had just passed by.
 
Just take it to court. Most of the time the officers dont even show up. I have won every ticket I fought besides 1 time where I was on my way to renew my license and registration on my 21st birthday.
Even if the cop does show up you can negotiate with them like Joey D said.
 
In a lot of states there is what is called a "Diversion" program. You pay a higher fine, and the ticket does not go on your record.

BTW, there is a new magazine out called Traction it is more of a "lifestyle" mag for upscale auto owners.
The current issue has a very good article on the subject of avoiding speeding tickets.
 
I would find out if the State of South Carolina (or Georgia) allows you to take a driving school class in lieu of the ticket. It stays on your record, but supposedly it does not harm your insurance rates for one offense in a year. I've never received an out-of-state ticket (I live in Florida), so I'm just making a suggestion. Your best bet is to check out the motor vehicle web sites for your state and NC. Either that, or get on the phone for the next three hours for an answer.

http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/ | http://www.dds.ga.gov/
 
Kentucky has the traffic school program, where you just pay court costs (even though you don't go to court) and no fine or points, once a year.


Another thing is that sometimes states are really bad about transferring points. So, as you are licensed in one state and got the ticket in another the points may never show up. Something about government employees not wanting to do the paperwork of other states.....

I know some instances where people just haven't paid the ticket at all because it was on vacation and they never intend to return to that state.

I DO NOT SUGGEST THAT.

But the points transfer may be a non-issue. However, I would check to see if SC has a traffic school option to avoid the points. I am an almost annual traffic school attendee and three hours of boredom are worth the money saved.
 
On a 4-lane highway? Next time you're on the M25 on a 4 (or more) lane stetch (I can't remember if there's a similar stretch on the M3 or M27), try sticking to 60. On roads like that, 70 is hard enough; you check your speed, slow down to the speed limit, look back at the road again and within 5 seconds you'll be 5mph or more over the limit. Sticking to the speed limit on 30 or 40mph roads is easier than 60 or 70 on the motorway.
 
stumpydino
wow they did a whole article on something that could be two words
DONT SPEED! :dopey: really, its not hard :dunce:
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Actually, if you DON'T SPEED on I-70 in Kansas and Missouri, you are likely to get crushed by a Semi.
The Speed Limit on the Toll portion of I-70 between Bonner Springs, KS and Topeka is 70MPH.
The Average travelled speed is closer to 80.
Going in the other direction toward KC, MO. the median travelled speed is also 80 or better for most cars. The Limit is 65 to 70, dropping to 55 when you reach the outskirts of Kansas City, MO.

Did you know a lot of people that drive like asshats get turned in to the Highway Patrol by cell phone wielding motorists?

Did you know that there is little to no defense against "instant on" type radar?

Did you know that radar (including instant on types) has a crucial weakness that is pretty easy to exploit?

Do you know the proper way to use a Lasar Jammer so as not to make a "seasoned" user suspicious that he's being jammed?

Do you know the easiest way to speed, and escape the notice of those who might call the Highway Patrol on you? and the notice of the Highway Patrol?

Did you know that even if you are stopped for speeding, there are several things you can do that may get you off with just a warning?

Granted, I knew a lot of this stuff before I read the article. But it is good reinforcement.

There are also a lot of things that weren't covered in the article:
Such as: if you happen to have not adhered to the 7P's (Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance) and left way later than you should have.
You pick some fool going way over the limit and latch on to him about a half-mile back and let him be "cop bait".
or,
If you are on an unfamiliar strectch of road, you either keep with the flow of traffic. Or, you use the above advice, but at every non clover-leaf overpass, slow down, as there may be a cop on top with his handy laser gun.

And if you see a cop on the side of the highway with his lights lit up, slow your ass down. I can't begin tell you how many of those "hiding in plain sight" cops I've seen. They are working on the assumption that you will believe that they already have some unlucky fool pulled over...

Also, most cops that do any traffic enforcement tend to pick the same kinds of places to "hide" and watch traffic. Overpasses, medians-next to overpass columns, on the blind side of bridge abutments and billboards, etc.
 
Duke
He told the judge he was trying to get a snap of a Bentley Flying Spur that had just passed by.
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I don't photograph those.

Gil
You pick some fool going way over the limit and latch on to him about a half-mile back and let him be "cop bait".
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A HALF MILE? In the time it takes between him and you to pass by a spot, the cops could set up an entire speed trap! Even at highway speeds a half mile is at least 25 seconds. Lower that to an eighth mile and you'll do much better.
 
Don't bother with court, takes forever, the cop might show up, and it's lame anyway since you know you're guilty. Take defensive driving to get it removed from your record. You insurance rates may not go up much from the ticket, but good luck switching insurance if it's on your record, and you're definitely screwed if you get into an accident and your insurance decides to drop you.

Suck it up, take defensive driving, and move on. Oh, and be more careful.
 
M5Power
I don't photograph those.



A HALF MILE? In the time it takes between him and you to pass by a spot, the cops could set up an entire speed trap! Even at highway speeds a half mile is at least 25 seconds. Lower that to an eighth mile and you'll do much better.
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Here in the KC metro, your standard speed trap consists of a van, two motorcycle cops, and at least one car.

You want the cops to have time to pull over four or five other fools so you can drive on past.:D

But I'll meet you in the middle with 1/4 mile.
 
Here in New Jersey you can take this all day course and it takes away two points off your license. Its basically an easy way out of points.
 
The last time we got a ticket (which was in a bs trap), we paid Ticket Clinic $70 to take care of it and they did. The alternative was to "be guilty" and pay the state $120 and get points on your license. Sorry, but I'd rather give even the $120 to the slimiest of lawyers than to the state.

Ticket Clinic did a good job, though. You don't have to show up to anything-- they just take care of it. Even if you wind up losing, I believe all you have to pay is court costs because they have some kind of guarantee if they take your case. Check out your local attorneys and find your best deal.

Good luck.
 
I was caught speeding just 4 months after I got my license, 52 in a 35. $230 dollars later and 15 bucks for traffic school, Im clean.
 
I was talking to a classmate of mine who is from South Carolina (though not from the same area) and he mentioned that when he previously got a speeding ticket he showed up to court to pay the ticket and since he went through the trouble of going to court they reduced the fine and let him pay it and not put it on his record. But he did say that that was in a small town and it might not work like that in a bigger town.

I did some research and it appears that South Carolina doesn't let you take traffic school, so that's out of consideration. It'd be really nice if I get a hold of some court person or even the officer to talk to, but there aren't any phone numbers listed on the ticket.

I guess another thing worthy of consideration is that I'll be sending off applications to several dealerships around this time next year once I finish school and one of the most important things they look at is driving record....
 
A friend of mine was able to talk down a 30-some over ticket to an "impeding traffic" ticket. $100 and an essay. Nothing on record either, IIRC.
 
Pretty much if you go to court in Michigan you get it reduced to 5 over or Impeding Traffic as long as you don't make a habit of it. All the state wants in money, they don't really care if you get points or not...or so it seems.
 
Just got off the phone with the judge's office.............they indeed did state that if I show up to court to talk to the judge or the officer that I could get it reduced. I then called the dispatcher and left a message for the officer. Does anyone know if the officers actually call you back?
 
Rotary Junkie
A friend of mine was able to talk down a 30-some over ticket to an "impeding traffic" ticket. $100 and an essay. Nothing on record either, IIRC.
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I got nailed in Lake County, Illinois doing 94 in a 55 (it was higher, i think the cop knocked it down since my record was clean) at age 17.

I went to court, dressed nicely in khakis and a polo, with my mom and was as remorseful as possible (even though it was BS i did nothing wrong) and the ticket fee was waved, 30 days probabtion, and 3 day driving class.

I had to pay for the class, but other than that i got off extremely easy. So if you're willing to go to SC, just try to dress professional and just act frightened and remorseful and you should get it knocked down in some way.
 

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