how do i fight it? i got a ticket for 85 bucks. do i pay it or do community service, if so, how long will it be?? help please
2007-03-10 07:46:49 · 20 answers · asked by Maven m 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
also, i got a court date, if i pay the fine, do i have to go to court?
2007-03-10 07:51:56 · update #1
also, im only 17....so its my first ticket
2007-03-10 07:59:11 · update #2
ALSO, DOES IT DO ANYTHING TO MY INSURANCE?
2007-03-10 08:12:07 · update #3
Pay it. Mail your ticket in with a check, and all will be well. It would cost more to take the day off from work, drive into the city, and wait hours impatiently for a moment with the judge.
The only way you could fight it, is to show the zone wasn't posted. There is no way you could win.
2007-03-10 07:50:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
If this is your first ticket you should definately go to court. Was this a limited access freeway by chance? If that is the case then going 10 over is called an energy speed ticket. Insurance companies may not use energy speed tickets against you to raise your rates (for Michigan anyway). If you decide to pay the fine you will not have to appear in court. I would suggest setting up a formal hearing with a pre-trial if you can. In this case you will go to a hearing with just the DA and the cop will not be there. There is a good chance you can bargain it down. If you do not come to an agreement you may go to trial and have a hearing with the judge, DA, and the police officer who wrote you the ticket.
If you set up an informal hearing there is still a good chance you may get some break since it is your first offense. Usually if the police officer does not appear to the hearing the ticket will be dismissed and you will not have the ticket on your record or have to pay the fine.
I encourage everyone to fight their tickets. You really have nothing to lose but time since court fees are included in the price of the ticket (unless you hire an attorney).
Good luck!
2007-03-10 11:02:53 · answer #2 · answered by kosh 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From personal experience it would be difficult to contest and win. You would have to show that you were not exceeding the speed limit. Your signature on the ticket shows you were the one driving. The radar is considered to be a reliable instrument by the court for giving evidence. The police officer will show up with the binder for his particular unit showing its calibraiton log and manufactures paperwork demonstrating how accurate it is. You would also, fairly or unfairly, have a strike against you because of your age.
Punishment is all up to your jurisdiction. If you can, request traffic school, it costs you a day or two of your time but it will keep your insurance costs down.
Most places allow you to pay the ticket in lieu of appearing in court. Be advised that if you fight the ticket and lose you could be liable for court costs that double the price of the ticket. See if you can contact the clerk of the court for more information. Usually the ticket will be dismissed if the officer doesn't show up for court.
I got a ticket once for driving in the wrong lane. It was dismissed when the officer didn't show up.
2007-03-10 08:18:12 · answer #3 · answered by anonymouse 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because it is your first offense it is very likely that you can take traffic school and have it removed from your record. You will have to pay the fine and the traffic school- but you will have a fresh start. If you do this it will not effect your insurance.
Being a stand up person is taking the road less travelled. If you were not speeding (fight it) and you know how fast you were going- ride your beef and be a man/woman.
Listening to the advice of people who are simply trying to get away with breaking laws because they are not responsible or accountable for their actions is lame and will further to serve that you will become just like them- Arrogant, self riteous pricks who dont respect anything or anyone.
Do you really want to be like that? Being a good person is far less competitive!
2007-03-10 08:31:26 · answer #4 · answered by darrellkern 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ok 65 in a 55 is not a serious ticket its only 10 over, each state is different, a felony usually is not until 25 mph over the posted speed limit, u can fight it but u'd also be safe just paying the ticket there should be a 1-800 number on the back of the ticket you can call that and get additional answer from ur state.
2007-03-10 08:21:33 · answer #5 · answered by armyboysmith 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If your state allows it, take defensive driving. You'd have to get clearance from the court to do this, and once you complete it, submit documentation to the court, and your ticket will be dismissed. The only catch is, defensive driving to dismiss a ticket can only be taken every 2 years. Texas allows defensive driving, but I'm not sure about other states.
2007-03-10 08:43:21 · answer #6 · answered by JoJo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pay the fine. You won't do community service, unless this is like your fifth ticket in three years. You can also request a pfj or Prayer For Judgement. It wipes off the ticket, but if you receive just one more within three years, you get the hammer for both tickets!
2007-03-10 07:51:15 · answer #7 · answered by panthrchic 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
at your age your state may have a driving school for 1st time offenders...costs the same as the tickets,but you go to a saturday class for 8 hrs and watch films about wrecks,but it doesnt go on your record...or you could fight it and lose and pay the same plus have a citation on your recors...if you buy a radar detector and it doesnt help you and the cop walks up to your window and its beeping you WILL get a ticket...thats a clear statement of intent to speed....so go ahead and get one....
2007-03-10 08:33:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do you want to fight it?
If it was a speed trap, then i could see youfighting it or if you were in an unfamiliar area then maybe you could fight it
But your question suggests that you know you did something wrong, and now you want to get out of it unpunished, pay the ticket, own up to what you did and get over it.
2007-03-10 07:52:54 · answer #9 · answered by Stupendous Man! 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You should contest it. You'll at least get it reduced if you go before a judge. It's very difficult to prove that you were going as fast as it says on the ticket. First, it must be proven that it was actually you driving. It has to be proven that it was your car, and not someone else near you. The officer must show that his radar was properly configured that day.
It's a lot of work, and the typical judge will just reduce the fine to hardly anything, which also keeps you from getting too many points on your license.
2007-03-10 07:59:58 · answer #10 · answered by txchnswmscra 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋