Issued first speeding ticket. Should I go to court or just pay for it?

Question

I was pulled over for "supposedly" going 49 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. It happened in a little town called Northmoor, Missouri and the officer clocked me at the very top of the hill. Now the most I recall going looking down when I reached the top of the hill was 40 MPH. When I saw the first posted sign stating the speed limit I slowed down and was actually going 35 MPH. About a block down the road the cop pulled me over. I told him I was that I was only going 40 at the most but he said he clocked me at 49. When he issued me my ticket he wrote down 48 instead. Its been almost two weeks since the ticket was issued and I never recieved it in the mail. I just got off the phone with the court clerk and it was returned because it had the wrong address. The clerk said the ticket would cost me $90 to pay. This is my first speeding ticket ever. I'm really good at following the speed limit and usually catch myself only going about 5 over. When I see it I slow down and use my cruise control.

Now my question is should I pay for the ticket or should I pay my lawyer $125 to take care of it or handle it myself. I had the court date extended because I will be out of state so my new date is Sept. 21st. If I decide not to take this to court do I have till the 21st of Sept now to pay for the ticket?

I'm upset because I never speed and this is my first ticket since I have had my drivers license which has been 12 years. Do judges usually give you one warning if you go to court and its your first offense?

Answer 1

Paying the fine will take away all the stress and worry of filing a police complaint. If you comply and pay the fines, then the violation may not even show up on your insurance. If you do go to court, and end up losing, then it definitely will show on your insurance. Also, when he said you were goin 49, and actually wrote down 48 on the ticket, you might be able to investigate that. Remember, when police pull over someone, they are required to have it caught on videotape. If not, then it is a violation of the law. So you might be able to see if he actually said 49, and wrote down 48.

Answer 2

I don't know how it is in your state, but it wouldn't matter whether it was 48 or 49 in a 35 in my state. Same price ($90 is cheap.) My advice, call the court clerk and ask if you can get a deferred sentence (which means it stays off your record) if you pay it through the mail before court. If you can't get a deferred sentence, go to court, plead no contest (that means you're not pleading guilty or not guilty ) and ask the Judge for a deferred sentence. Explain you have a clean driving record and would like to keep it that way. In my state, everything over 10 miles over the posted limit goes on your MVR for 3 years. If this was a local cop in a small town court, you're gonna pay, don't bother pleading not guilty. Judges don't give warnings, only a copy can issue a warning. Judges can dismiss the ticket with or without court costs, but they don't normally. But if it was a Missouri HP (you didn't specify whether it was a local cop or HP), you probably have a better chance of getting a deferred sentence in a district court. Go to court if you have to, pay the ticket, kiss the Judges *** and keep it off your record. Good Luck!

Answer 3

i got my first ticket about a year ago. My ex-husband is a State trooper. He told me to just pay the fine and send the judge a note saying that you're going to defensive driving. The DD instructor will make sure the Judge gets proof that you went. You deserve the ticket if you were going over the speed limit plain and simple. Trust me it's not worth the headache of going to court. After taking DD class they'll put you on probation and if you get another ticket they'll both go on your driving record at the same time so take it slow after that.I know I've slowed it down. The DD class is like 8 hours long and it costs somewhere around $25-30 in AR. Good Luck

Answer 4

Good Grief Wendy, you're over analyzing the entire thing. Leave the atty alone. Bite your lip, pay the fine, read the back of ticket and see if an in-class or on-line driving class is available. Normally if you take one along with paying the fine they will not put points on your license. This keeps your insurance from being affected. Count yourself lucky. Doing 49mph in a 35 lane in the state of Florida will cost you roughly $150-$160.

Answer 5

I would never pay a speeding ticket. If you go to court you might not have to pay the fine and you could get probation so you don't get points on your license and your insurance won't go up.

The worst thing that will happen is that you will have to pay the fine but if you don't go to court you won't have any chance of winning.

I'd recommend you check out this ebook http://www.informationsourcebook.com/trafficticketsecrets It has a lot of advice on how to beat tickets in different states.

Answer 6

don't pay it.. Paying the ticked is admission of guilt.. I've got my driver's licence suppeneded for six monthes becuase I paid it. and I couldn't get a lwayer because my lawyer couldn't do anything after I admited the guilt.. So don't pay it, get a lwayer and go to court..

The clerk said that i only have to pay the ticket. I tursted her that nothing would happen to me .. 3 months later I got a letter in the mail that my driver's licence is suppened to for 6 months. Not only that.. My insurance went all the way up. and Yes, it was my first ticket in my life!

Answer 7

if your record is clean you stand a chance of leniency when you go to court and have the fine reduced. if you decide to go just be honest the judge will appreciate that plus he/she may ask the officer how was your demeanor when pulled over (whether you were polite and cooperative or uncooperative.)

Answer 8

Do defensive driving it will help keep your insurance down.

Answer 9

File a police complaint against the officer just to piss him off.

Answer 10

ok your question is way too long, but dont pay it, pay your lawyer to fight it, otherwise your insurance will go up and it will be on your record.