I received a speeding ticket about a month ago, my first one... In fact it was the first time I have ever been pulled over for it. And I have had my license for about 4 years (I'm almost 20.) Anyways, I have tried contacting the district attorney and have tried to find a way to reduce my penalty..... A lot of people have told me about "Prayer for judgment" or "faulty equipment" test. I wanted to talk to the DA before my court date, but they won't let me and I have to come the Friday, Oct 5.
My biggest concern is my insurance. I don't want my first offense to affect my car insurance. I know I will have to pay the court costs, but is there anything I can do to get it reduced so it doesn't affect my insurance? And what do you know about the faulty equipment or prayer for judgment? Have they ever worked for anyone?
2007-09-26 09:17:13 · 12 answers · asked by KC_Meag42 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
If this is your first offense, you probably are eleigible for the traffic school option.
Contact the traffic court to find out if your are eligible.
Once you complete the course, there are no points against your driving record.
Good Luck!
2007-09-26 09:26:27 · answer #1 · answered by MenifeeManiac 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
October 5th may and may not be the final word on the matter. That may be the date you show up and plead Guilty or Not Guilty. If it's Guilty, you pay the fine, your insurance goes up, and that's that. If Not Guilty, a trial is scheduled, and those probably aren't much fun if you don't have an attorney and it's your first time at a trial.
If that's what the 5th is, the DA probably won't talk to you before then because they aren't even going to look at the file until the 5th comes, not even if you hired an expensive attorney to call the DA for you.
What MIGHT happen is if you have an attorney on the 5th, they can talk to the prosecutor and work something out in your favor. You probably won't be able to do it alone, because the DA doesn't want to explain to you what is required for the deal you are asking for. Your attorney will (hopefully) already know and it can be rubber-stamped and done (if you qualify for whatever it is).
2007-09-26 16:27:27 · answer #2 · answered by open4one 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but nowhere have you stated you weren't speeding. What you want is not a factor. The punishment will be what it is, and if the insurance company raises your rates it will be because they decide you are a bigger risk than they first thought.
Some jurisdictions allow traffic school for a first offence. Investigate that possibility. If it is an option, pay the ticket, go to school, and slow down. Don't try bothering the DA, if they took the time to talk to everybody about a ticket your appointment would be in 20 years.
2007-09-26 16:31:41 · answer #3 · answered by Fred C 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have heard of neither "Prayer for Judgement" nor "Faulty Equipment"...
Though I DO laugh at your statement "it was the first time I have ever been pulled over for it"... that clearly states you have been speeding before.
I think you should consider yourself lucky that this IS your first ticket and not the 5th or 6th... you can PROBABLY take "traffic school" to reduce the "points". Just be ready and accept that you're now going to pay more for your insurance.
2007-09-26 16:37:02 · answer #4 · answered by mariner31 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In California if you have faulty equipment, they write you a ticket, you get it fixed and then signed off by the CHP office. You may still have to pay a fine.
If you get a speeding ticket, you pay the fine and go to traffic school and it won't go on your record for the insurance company. You also have to pay to go to traffic school.
If you're talking about the cop's faulty equipment, like the "radar gun", give it up. They usually side with the officer.
Other states have their own laws.
2007-09-26 16:46:38 · answer #5 · answered by Frosty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best way to avoid all of this is simple: stop speeding. It doesn't matter if you have faulty equipment, everyone else on the road was doing it, you were driving with the wind at your back, there was a full moon, blah blah blah.......
The bottom line is there is a speed limit and you went over it and the officer saw fit to write you a citation for it. Nothing else matters. If you have a speedometer that does not work or is not accurate, that is your problem. No one else's, just your's.
2007-09-26 17:17:25 · answer #6 · answered by Jax Cop 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Faulty equipment is no excuse. Unless your speed is really high, you are probably worrying about nothing. If you want it lowered you should go to court and explain why you think it was unfair. They will probably offer to lower it a bit to help you decide to plead guilty and accept the fine. Traffic school usually means there will be no increase in insurance.
2007-09-26 16:24:22 · answer #7 · answered by bravozulu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In some states you can go to traffic school and avoid getting points for the first offense. If not, then call your insurance agent and try to strike a deal.
2007-09-26 16:48:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can go to traffic school; the incident will not be reported to your insurance company and you will not get a point on your record.
You do, however, have to pay the fine.
2007-09-26 16:25:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it has never worked for me. it doesn't matter if its reduced or not a ticket will raise your insurance but it may never hit your record if you pay it now and not go to court i had 3 and not one hit my record and was cheaper buy paying before court would most likly been more if i would have gone to court
2007-09-26 16:28:55 · answer #10 · answered by glenn_montgomery88 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋