In trouble, please help!?

Question

I'm 18 years old and I live in California. This evening while driving home, I got a speeding ticket. I was doing 75 in a 65.

The cop said it's a "admitting to guilt ticket" and that I have to go to court for something. He was a jerk so he didn't really explain it and had a really bad attitude. I've been pulled over before, but they were all for problems with the car, not speeding.

So, my question is How much will the ticket cost in California?
Should I plead guilty? (I heard that many people don't plead guilty and they get off the hook or something?)
When I plead guilty, can I go to driving school and not have it shown on my record so my insurance doesn't go up?

Any other tips/info. would be very much appreciated.


*** The reason why I was speeding 10 miles above the speed limit was because I'm a hemophiliac and today I did something and so I had a really bad internal bleed. Bleeds that go untreated immediately can have very bad effects in the long run.

I know it wasn't a good reason for speeding, but it was an almost deserted highway. I had a hand bleed and since I have SEVERE hemophilia, it was rather VERY important that I got home in time to take my medicine.

I would have gone to an emergency room, but I know for a fact that they do not have my medicine there (from past experience).

So, please keep your criticism to yourself. I'm not stupid to endanger other people's lives just for my own.

I was being very careful and I was VERY stressed out. Try to be a little understanding.

Answer 1

I see we are getting the usual wrong answers of "the fine is on the ticket" (it is not) and "it is $5 per mph" (it is not). However, it is correct that what you signed was NOT an admision of guilt, it was a promise to appear. (Look at it, it says "without admitting guilt" right on the citation.)

The state-wide schedule for going 1-15 mph over the limit is $146, so your fine will be within a few dollars of that. If you want to go to traffic school, you will be able to take care of that through the mail or on the superior court's web site without ever going to court. You will have to pay the fine plus a small traffic school fee and, of course, the cost of traffic school (which can also be done on line). If you go to traffic school, your insurance company does NOT hear about it, and your rates do NOT go up.

Of course, you can go to court and hope the officer does not show up, which is pretty much a rarity. If he does show up, you can still ask for traffic school. You could also try telling your tale to the hearing officer and hope he gives you a break. Frankly, I don't think that possibility is worth spending the day in court, but that's just me.

Answer 2

The reason you stated is not a valid reason to speed - it just isn't for speeding was necessary for the protection of life you should call an ambulance...there just is no provision in the law for speeding.

The ticket will likely cost a few hundred dollars. Because its a first moving violation you can go to traffic school and probably get a small discount - but more importantly help you insurance rates and keep the point off your record.

All tickets are the same in California by all agencies (the signature is required and its not an admission of guilt) it is a promise to appear or settle your case (meaning pay your fine).

Going to court is not a sure thing - you admitted your guilt here and so you have no case in court - don't waste the time.

Answer 3

The judge will not except that as a reason for speeding. The way the judge will look at it is you should have called 911. Really if you were bleeding internally you shouldn't have been driving at all you could have passed out and caused an accident. If I were you I would try to go to traffic school so it doesn't go on your driving record.

Answer 4

http://www.worldlawdirect.com/article/903/Fighting_a_speeding_ticket.html

the above link takes u to a great article on the general process of a ticket...even though I do not know the laws in California the process is pretty much the same anywhere you go..."Fight,Plea or Pay"...your last option should be to pay ...your ticket (usually on the back somewhere should disclose the step process for fighting, paying the ticket, it should also disclose the amount of the ticket in question...if it does not contact your local DMV http://www.dmv.ca.gov/online/onlinesvcs.htm for help....

always opt to show up to court, in most states if the officer does not show up you'll automatically win the case, what do you have to lose...remember if you do not make an attempt to fight (even if you ultimately opt for driving school) the points assessed can cause your insurance rates to go up drastically...I even used an attorney once to represent my husband on a ticket he had been given, needless to say, the attorney rate was far less than what I would have had to pay if I paid for the full amount of the fine..so check out a local attorney, perhaps a friend can recommend one to you (sometimes when you receive a ticket you will also receive correspondence from some of these type of attorneys soliciting your business)

Remember you only have 30 days to make your decision, don't wait til the last minute, do your homework...Best of luck to you...I hope you are successful and come out winning!

Answer 5

get a statement from the hospital or er you went to and take that to court. tell the judge you are sorry for speeding but you believed your life was in danger. he or she just might be leaniant torwds you. also if you go to court to fight the ticket. chances are the cop who wrote the ticket wont show up. in that case they throw it out. as far as a fine gos you should estimate about 5$ for every mile over the limit you went. plus court costs . national average is around 170$ total ticket. driving school will keep points off your license but your insurance will go up any ways.
good luck

Answer 6

two things . one do not listen to anyone here on yahoo that tells you that you just admitted guilt. you are not in court here and you are not under oath.

you should go to court / maybe you will be lucky and the cop will not show. if he shows up / ask to continue the case / you need to get a lawyer .

secondly, i would be careful about making any statements regarding your health. you will end up having to submit to a million tests by the DMV who will hassle you / suspend your license. Never talk to cops / make statements about your guilt / do not seek advise from policemen / there is no reason to talk to them for very long . be polite and go to court . the courts make the decisions. if you have legal questions, consult an attorney for a consultation.

Answer 7

I would read the ticket and contact a lawyer. If you fail to follow instructions (or proper procedure, it may not even be written on the ticket) and miss a document deadline or a court date then they will issue an arrest warrant for you.

Answer 8

I don't know about California specifically but I know that if you bring it to court (which you have the legal right to do), police often don't show up because it's a waste of their time. If the officer does not show, you win.

Answer 9

I firmly believe in NEVER pleading guilty. Even if you are. Prosecutors may still charge you with something, but usually by pleading not guilty, they will work a compromise with you to get your Guilty plea.

Answer 10

If you go to court you will most likely get the death sentence.