Have you ever gotten a ticket of any kind?

[Lady's Human]

I plead the fifth!

Sirrahsim, I know your pain with the MP's. Thankfully, I now outrank most of the MP's who patrol.

[KYS]

I have had three in my life time.
(one was a bogus one for a Calif. Stop when I was 18 years old.)

I have gone to traffic school on all of them so I would not have
any points against my driving record.
(I have not had a ticket in 10 years so I am not sure if that has
changed.)

Good luck in court and let us know what happens.

[Logan]

I don't know about you guys, but in SC, regardless of whether the DMV drops the points, the insurance company still knows they are there and it costs a lot!

I'm knocking on wood as I say this, but I haven't had but one speeding ticket in my life. I always make sure to be no more than 5 mph over the speed limit, all because I got nailed many years ago in Charleston, SC, in a red car, going 50 in a 35. There was no way that the policeman was going to let me out, either, no matter how much I batted my eyes at him! LOL!!

Pam, I'm so sorry you had this happen.

Logan

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I voted on "parking ticket", but I also got 2 speeding tickets.... .
That parking ticket: my parking time was exeeded by 2 minutes

Speeding: hadn't seen the "works-sign"

[Randi]

Oh yes, I have! Only about a month ago I was stopped on my bicycle going around a corner on red light. It was a right turn and there was no traffic coming, but the police were behind the bushes by the lakes.

However, when I got the ticket (KR. 500,-), the letter also said that if you earn below a certain amount a year, you can have it reduced to KR. 300,- So I called them to ask a few questions and then wrote them a letter. They said they would put it on hold. I've not heard from them since.

You can see the corner here - the yellow P is where the police was hiding.

[Pam]

Thanks everyone for your comments. Now I don't feel so alone in this. I think this penalty carries 4 points, if I understood what I read online correctly. Hubby said if I go plead my case I might also incur court costs and who knows if they will wind dropping the points. Also sitting in court can be a long ordeal since I called the police station yesterday and they said there are 6 pages of people scheduled for that evening.

I think I will call the insurance company on Monday and see what they have to say and decide what to do after that. They will obviously find out one way or the other, and Logan, if NJ is the same as SC I wouldn't really gain anything by going. *sigh* I am going to become a speed limit sign reader for sure in the future.

Randi, I can't believe you were ticketed on a bicycle. I didn't even know bikers could be ticketed. What a sneaky man to hide behind the bushes, but they do that here too.

[Cataholic]

I don't know about you guys, but in SC, regardless of whether the DMV drops the points, the insurance company still knows they are there and it costs a lot!
Logan

Sadly, that is the case. If you could get them to drop it to a non-moving violation, you would get no points, and no insurance surcharge. Just ask for the maximum on fines.

If I were you, I would call the officer ahead of time, tell him what you are requesting, and see if he would go along with it.

[CultureJunky]

I got a speeding ticket about a month ago, for going 56mph in a 40mph zone, doh! I've been driving 10 years and that's the first thing that's every happened to me, I had to pay a £60.00 fine and have 3 points on my licence.
My car insurance was charged a £35.00 aministration fee for updating my details on their database, but luckily my premium didn't change though probably will next year, grrrrrrrr.
my fault though really.

[Pam]

Sadly, that is the case. If you could get them to drop it to a non-moving violation, you would get no points, and no insurance surcharge. Just ask for the maximum on fines.

If I were you, I would call the officer ahead of time, tell him what you are requesting, and see if he would go along with it.

Johanna, if I go will there be additional court costs for taking up the court's time? I am really weighing the pros and cons of going because this occurred 50 miles from home and I hate the thoughts of driving there (have to be there at 5:00 PM) and getting tied up for several hours and making the drive home late at night. *sigh*

[caseysmom]

Pam, You could call and ask if they offer driving school, you still have to pay the fine but your record stays clean.

I once had a few points on my record and my insurance company never found out

[ramanth]

I'm so sorry to hear that Pam.

I've received three speeding tickets in my lifetime...all in 1997.

My worst ticket was when I was doing 70 in a 55.

The others were 50 in a 45 and 30 in a 25 (coasting down a hill because I didn't feel like riding the brakes). I tried to fight the latter but lost.

Since then, I've been stopped a few times (rolling a stop sign at 3 a.m. and crossing the yellow line on a highway), but was just given a warning and no ticket.

[Rachel]

Pam, You could call and ask if they offer driving school, you still have to pay the fine but your record stays clean.

I once had a few points on my record and my insurance company never found out

Pam, although I'm certainly not speaking from any personal knowledge, just my gut reaction. I'd put my bet on the chance the insurance company may not find out (glut of papers - too few employees) rather than calling them and hoping for some consideration to be given. You'll feel worse if you are the one who called it to their attention.

[Cataholic]

Johanna, if I go will there be additional court costs for taking up the court's time? I am really weighing the pros and cons of going because this occurred 50 miles from home and I hate the thoughts of driving there (have to be there at 5:00 PM) and getting tied up for several hours and making the drive home late at night. *sigh*

Pam,
This is how it works where I prosecute. If the person had NOT talked to the officer and gotten an agreement to a lesser charge- no deal. And, at least the officers I know are decent, and hardworking. They are just doing their job. It isn't personal (well, most of the time). In the courts that I am familiar with- there isn't any additonal fine imposed for having a trial, so, explain away. I am not sure what the explanation is on a speeding ticket....unless it is a broken speedometer, being chased by the mob, or a medical emergency. I would imagine the officer will testify that he is qualified to operater the laser, that it was in working condition, and that he was certain he had your car in view. So, IMO, tough to 'beat' a speeding charge. And, usually, you would only be arraigned that night (must be a mayor's court you are appearing in, since it is at night, and from my experience, they are much easier to deal than a county court), and your case would be continued for trial- when the officer could be there.

So, MY advice? Pay it and move on. One ticket isn't going to set you back that far. And, I wouldn't tell the insurance company voluntarily, but, they might ask it as part of a yearly renewal. Then, of course, you would have to tell them.

Any more Qs, just pm me, okay?
Johanna

[Pam]

Thanks Johanna. My thoughts are right now to just pay it. I was getting so many suggestions from my co-workers on how to avoid the points (tell the judge that I have been driving for decades and this is my first ticket and also that I was on an unfamiliar road and did not see the speed limit sign.....). All of these things are true, but I really don't have it in me to fight. I was doing wrong and that is that.

[Rachel]

If I were you, I would call the officer ahead of time, tell him what you are requesting, and see if he would go along with it.

Yeah, Pam, you could say, *Remember me!*

Joanna, I'm negating the idea here, it's just that this guy was less than cordial with our Ms Pam.