First Speeding Ticket

Aviator16 · 08-05-09, 04:36

Alright guys I got my first speeding ticket on monday, I was doing 75 in a 60 out on the highway with no one around, except the cop apparently. Anyway I'm 17, 18 in september. I live in Texas I could not talk my way out of it this guy just wasn't having it. I can take the driver safety course and get deferred adjudication.
I was hoping I could turn to the masters of beautiful cars to help me a bit on some things about fighting my way out of the ticket in court. But most importantly any tactics you guys use to get out of it BEFORE the cop writes the ticket.

Any advice is greatly appreciated,
Thanks as always,

Garrett M.

Flashtime · 08-05-09, 04:48

Hey young gun,

Pay the fine and go to traffic school. You're only chance of winning, should you decide
to contest to the ticket, is, well, if the officer doesn't show up to court that day.
I did win once...

Quote:

...But most importantly any tactics you guys use to get out of it BEFORE the cop writes the ticket.

1. If you were speeding (ya kinda know these things) don't play dumb.
Sounds a bit corny but i've gotten out of many with, "Hello, officer, you got me.
Not sure just how fast i was going but i was going over the speed limit."
It's not something they hear often... Be polite. Show respect even if you
get the ticket.

I just recently finished traffic school too. Went online: Traffic School - Online Defensive Driving, Drivers Education & Traffic School Courses

MuttGrunt · 08-05-09, 04:54

there are a lot of different philosophies on traveling above the speed limit while not being cited for it.

I have a radar detector (Passpost Escort 9500ix) and love it, but it won't do anything about laser. google guys of lidar and radardetector.net to do some good reading. They're basically the autopia of all things radar/laser detection.

overall - do whatever you need to not have this on your record. Whatever you spend will be saved in higher insurance rates of being guilty for speeding, and will save your butt down the road if you get stopped (clean record) again

DeanMachine · 08-05-09, 05:01

I say show up to court. Try making a phone call to the station to see what days he works and try to get a court date on the day he is not working. "Hopefully" he will not be able to make the court date (hoping that he can`t make it due to it being his day off and/ or he won`t get rescheduled or payed for OT). If the cop doesnt show up , (it used to be that) you win!
If he does showw up the go to court in shirt tie and jacket, clean shaved no piercings and respectful to the judge. Plead your case (ie. never had a ticket prior/ clean record, appreciative that the officer slowed you down to be safer on the road, and ask for a warning not a fine or to possibly reduce the fine). You have nothing to lose just be extremely respectful and worse comes to worse you take the ticket, go to online traffic school and nothing goes on your record. Just a little pricey that way.

JSFM35X · 08-05-09, 05:29

Find a lawyer, prefeerably one who is an ex traffic cop or ex head of the PBA. He can get you an equipment violation or something else.

The town gets their $$$$$$ and you get off without points. The money you spend on the laywer will be a fraction of what a 17Year Old would get hit with higher insurace rates for years. In the worst case you loose but that is your best shot.

longdx · 08-05-09, 05:41

Ok, as a former Police Officer, remember that court is usually easy O/T hours for police. Do not expect that the officer is going to "fail" to show up. "JSFM35X" is right on point in acquiring the services of a lawyer. If you choose not have one, plead guilty. Depending on your jurisdiction, that infraction will can place over 2-4 points on your record. In your brief description, there is no way of explaining your way out of it. Also, take the driving course, get the deferred adjudication.

If you get pulled over again, the best advice I can say is to be polite, have both hands on the steering wheel and do not be verbally abusive. Remember, right after every traffic stop, a diligent officer will document the stop, number of people in the car, weather conditions, direction of travel, ticket y/n, driver's attitude and any deragatory comments. This information is at his/her disposal during traffic court and can/will be used.

87ninefiveone · 08-05-09, 05:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSFM35X

Find a lawyer, prefeerably one who is an ex traffic cop or ex head of the PBA. He can get you an equipment violation or something else.

The town gets their $$$$$$ and you get off without points. The money you spend on the laywer will be a fraction of what a 17Year Old would get hit with higher insurace rates for years. In the worst case you loose but that is your best shot.

I've had numerous well earned speeding tickets and this the above advice is the best route. Fighting a ticket without paying into the system is a joke. Find a good traffic lawyer. The lawyer will probably run between $100-150, but the fine will probably end up being the same as whatever your speeding fine is and they'll get you an "Improper Equipment" judgement which is a non-moving violation. You'll easily get the extra $100-150 back as your insurance rates won't sky rocket for the next 3-5 years.

jDizzle · 08-05-09, 05:54

ask for probation before judgement, when yuo get to court... they balled it PBJ (not the sandwich lol)... when i was 16 i got a ticket for 69 in a 35... had to pay the fine which was only like 70 bucks, and that was it, no points, insurance company never found out... it only works once, for people with clean records, so im going to keep reading what others have to say for my next ticket, which is bound to happen sooner or later haha. good luck

jswhitley · 08-05-09, 06:11

dang jdizzle i wish i wouldve known about that i just got my first speeding ticket im 20, 100 in a 55 got it down to 80, spent 900, and lost my license for 6 mos., but i did get temporary license

OTG Signs · 08-06-09, 04:51

Go ahead and start talking to the prosecutor / solicitor. It makes a massive difference.

This coming from a guy whose had probably 20-25 tickets for various things in the past eight years. I got my first speeding ticket the week I got my license.

Aviator16 · 08-06-09, 03:33

Wow thanks for all of the feedback, I'm looking into PBJ that looks like a good option, my ticket is going to be $210 and tack 50 more on if I go with the deferred adjudication route.

longdx,
As for your advice about being pulled over again, (lets hope that doesn't happen), I was not aware of the hands on the steering wheel, I just had them in my lap, but the officer did thank me for the politeness. Thats about the time I wanted to tell him a few choice words about not to giving me the ticket since I was so polite.

jdizzle,
That is crazy you got away with a 70 dollar ticket w/ that much speed, I'm looking into the PBJ route it sounds like it is going to be less headache than sitting through a DSC course for the deferred adjudication, how did you apply for that etc.

To everyone,
Great advice alot of stuff I didn't know and tons of stuff I guarantee I will be using on my next police encounter.
OTGsigns how do I go about talking to my prosecutor?

Freaky Fresh · 08-06-09, 03:42

Ouch that blows...I've been pulled over twice but got warnings both times