I got this speeding ticket on 22nd July,2007 at about 11:50 pm.I was doin 39 mph in 30 zone.The Officer gave me a ticket of $80 and 1 point off my license.I can either pay the fine or go to court.I think the ticket is unfair because 39 is normal, people always do around 50-55 mph on this road(by the way if u live in Prince Georges County area in MD,the route where I was driving was Route 1).If any of you think this is not a big deal and I should go for the trial,what are the possible things I can mention in the court to void the ticket.Also if anyone thinks that I should jsut pay the ticket,please response with appropriate explanation. I ask you to write honestly and not make a mockery of it.If otherwise I will post abuse for that answer,so please only logical answers.
Thanks !!!!!!!!
2007-07-23 06:10:25 · 18 answers · asked by vishal1987 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Does the speeding ticket make your insurance rate go up ?
2007-07-23 06:48:09 · update #1
First, dont admit to the Judge that you were speeding. Infact, avoid the question all together.
You can try to explain that you were simply maintaing the flow of traffic, keeping pace with the car in fron of you. Also, you may want to find out if you were radar clocked or the the cop speedometer clocked. If it's the latter, you off the hook.
Worse case against you, you talk to the city attorney about pleading the case down to 34 MPH. The fine will be lower and may not cause points on your license. This may only work if you have a spotless driving record.
*I like Jode's answer
2007-07-23 06:18:20 · answer #1 · answered by Jeremy A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure about your insurance policy in specific, likely depends on the company, if you've already had any traffic tickets, etc. But I'd say it's not so much the speeding ticket as the point taken off your license that MIGHT cause your rates to go up. So, personally I'd go ahead and go to court, first off just to try to plea to get the point reinstated. I wouldn't argue the ticket. Just explain that you were moving with the flow of traffic and didn't realize you'd been speeding a tiny bit until you got pulled over. Be willing ot accept the ticket, it's a big eat -crow/kiss-*** contest anyway, but request that the point not be taken off, especially if this is the first traffic ticket you've had. One of my roommates Freshman year was able to avoid a point deduction on her license when she agreed to take a single class of traffic school, so thre's that option. Also, if the officer doesn't show up, then you don't have to argue anything.
2007-07-23 07:32:04 · answer #2 · answered by eyes_the_color_of_insanity 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You pretty much have to pay the ticket. I would say going to court would be a waste of time unless the officer doesn't show. You will spend hours waiting for them to say the burden of proof of your innocence is on you...your innocence will be nearly impossible to prove, and will cost way more than 80 dollars to do so. It seems any judge would give you the two wrongs don't make a right spiel about the other drivers going faster than you. As ridiculous as the speed limit may be, its still the law, and there is not much you can do about it...
2007-07-23 06:34:36 · answer #3 · answered by chavito 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even though you will have to pay the fine ,you should take it to court any way...Because ...They're profit margin well not be as great ...Thy say tickets are to make the roads safer for every one.But the truth is that, its a BIG business.It bring much money to the county or state.I go to court every time i get a ticket because they're profit margin goes way down .Thy have to pay an attorney to prosecute and the cop has to appear in court .This ties up a lot of there time. And if every one went to court every time thy got a ticket it would bankrupt the system.
2007-07-23 06:52:59 · answer #4 · answered by tdwatch 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the officer used radar to check your speed. Ask if the radar gun has been recently calibrated and ask for the certificate date. Also if there were trees or anything to obscure the beam between you the so called "speeder" and the radar. The speed count could have been distorted. Was the Speed Limit sign clearly visible to the driver?
2007-07-23 06:42:03 · answer #5 · answered by jode101 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The best thing you could of done, was when you were pulled over, you should have asked to see the radar. A lot of the time they will have cleared it already or lie and guess how fast you were going. Eighty bucks isn't that bad, you can try and fight it, but is it worth your time. For me in California, it cost more than that for traffic school.
2007-07-23 06:21:41 · answer #6 · answered by Mike F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's tenuous but you could check the speed limit signs are to code for your area i.e. are they correctly sited and positioned and that the sign dimensions (size, color, markings) are correct. If you can prove they're not then you might just have a chance. If they are OK then pay the $80 and smile, it could cost you more if you go to court.
2007-07-23 06:19:57 · answer #7 · answered by Del Piero 10 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to court and hope the cop doesn't show up. If he doesn't you automatically win. If he does, you automatically lose. That's the way it is. If you get a lawyer, you might have a chance....but even so....probably not and you will be wasting attorney fees on a traffic ticket. I look at traffic tickets, especially speeding and parking tickets, more like a road tax.
2007-07-23 06:16:17 · answer #8 · answered by Eisbär 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The fact the other people speed does not help you with the ticket. You are the one he caught at that time. Pay the fine.
2007-07-23 06:27:23 · answer #9 · answered by mnwomen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The speed limit is 30 and you were doing 39.
You broke the law dude - just pay the ticket.
You have absolutely no argument.
Not trying to mock you - just stating the facts as you gave them.
2007-07-23 06:16:24 · answer #10 · answered by Trapped 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋