There are a few different things that happened...it was 2am (wasn't endangering cars by speeding) was following behind another car going faster than I was...and the cop pulled us not by radar but by looking at his spedometer. We both ended up with a 90 in a 60..yet I know the car in front of me was going at least 100. The cop shined a flashlight in my face..didn't even use his lights, smelled like smoke, had red eyes, was very rude yet I was saying yes sir, asked me why I was speeding and I said I thought this road was 70 it has been the whole way..and he said no where in NC is it 70..come to find out 15 mins later it went back to 70...Is there a way that I could call the D.A. & see if I could take driving school instead, or call for a continuance to hope the cop doesnt show up in court, or try saying what happened in court? Ive called lawyers but they just say they can get it reduced and I dont have to show up, but I'd rather show up & have a chance than it go on my insurance n-e way
2006-10-14 14:48:24 · 7 answers · asked by Sarah 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
I don't know how the laws are in your state but my advice is if you can take traffic school and not get anything on your record just do it. If you don't qualify just fight it, you have nothing to lose, if you don't contest it it is the the same as you pleading guilty and if the cop doens't show up in court you win. So you have a 100% chance of being found guilty if you don't fight it and a 50% chance if you do fight it. It really sucks to get a ticket, and it sucks more to have to go to court (trust me I know) but those are your options.
2006-10-14 14:53:54 · answer #1 · answered by warpdesign 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm not really sure why you think you should fight it as you've clearly admitted that you were speeding.... and it was recklessly if you were going 20 mph over the limit. Although it doesn't seem like you were treated nicely, there won't be any judge who will take pity on you that he "smelled like smoke and shined a flashlight in my face." Most people driving erratically at 2am are usually up to no good, so I defend his position of being nasty to someone who wasn't following the law. Furthermore, he caught you, not the other driver, and that doesn't make you any less guilty. Most tickets will have instructions written on them if you want to contest the ticket and you need to follow those directions. However, you will still need to pay the court costs and go to court in NC in front of a judge for a hearing. Being an out-of-state driver doesn't help you either.
You are guilty of speeding period. And reckless speeding at that. You do not deserve to get a break, these are to teach you a lesson to slow down and make the roads safer for me and other drivers. Be a grown up, take responsibility for your actions, and take the charge.
2006-10-14 16:16:26 · answer #2 · answered by Rexy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some times the law is the law. What was wrong with your speedometer that you gauged your speed by his apparent speed? Hey, it doesn't matter whether the limit was 70 or 60, you were doint 90. You shouldn't have to pay a ticket becaue the cop was a smoker? He had red eyes you could see while you had a flashlight pointed in your face? The limit changed another 20 miles or so down the highway so you weren't really speeding? Pay the ticket.
2006-10-15 10:03:35 · answer #3 · answered by Fred C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reckless driving is not a violation (like simple speeding is) in most states, it's a crimminal offense -- a misdemeanor. Getting a lawyer to plead it down is definitely the way to go! RD is a 5-point violation in most states and will hit your insurance MUCH harder than if a lawyer can plead it down. It will be expensive with a lawyer, but is cheaper in the long run.
2006-10-14 16:09:13 · answer #4 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even if the limit was 70 you were going over it by 20 MPH!
Suck it up, girl, pay the ticket, and learn to drive more safely.
2006-10-14 14:56:25 · answer #5 · answered by John's Secret Identity™ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I will go to court and get ask for a PJ if you don't have any tickets in the past 3 years and it won't show on your insurance. It will get thrown out. You'll just have to pay the court cost.
2006-10-14 14:53:45 · answer #6 · answered by lyn 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To fight it you would have to go to where you got the ticket. Would it be worth it for you to go there and do that? If not it might be worth it to pay the ticket I think if you take trafffic school it also has to be in the state you got the ticket in. Good luck
2006-10-14 14:56:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋