Is this worth fighting?

[Earnhardt132000]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

Damn, $128 for 22 over? I got $250 for 15 over, WTF!?

I wouldn't pull out any excuses, I would simply plead not guilty and explain that it is (hopefully) your first ticket and possible explain the situation and maybe bring up how you are working to pay for **** and stuff like that. Judges understand speeding tickets, most of the time they aren't out to get you like the police are. They may knock it down to a non-moving violation and you can get off easier than $128 fine and insurance boost.

[bigbrian442]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

What do you have to lose if you go to court?... Nothing! You have everything to lose if you don't. 22 MPH off for putting snow tires on the car???? I personally would bust out laughing if I heard someone say that in court trying to get out of a ticket, the judge would too. Judge's are some of the smartest people you will ever meet. Your best bet is telling the truth about where the cop was sitting and shooting the radar in relation to the lower speed limit sign. Dress nice, don't wear shorts or jeans to court. Dressing nice shows you respect the judge. Last time I was in court the Judge threw out 3 defendants that were wearing shorts! Told them it was disrespectful toward him. Call the judge " Your honor" and refer to the cop as " The officer". Make sure the cop didn't put a star or any other kind of mark after your signature, if something is there, it tells the Judge you were an *** while he was giving you the ticket. Maryland has something called "probation before judgment" if you get that it means you were not found guilty, but you have to go the probation period with out getting any more tickets or this one comes back. I'm sure other states have this as well.

Good luck

Brian

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

whats it like when you go to court? I'm goin monday to fight a ticket for my bud (I'm a witness) do they give you a chance to say you version of the story or is it like really strict and difficult for you to say what you wanna?

this varies by state (and I've done this in a few) but typically you'll go to court. BEFORE you get in front of the judge, the DA or officer will call your name to chat. They will make an offer right there. WHATEVER the offer, TAKE it. It's the best deal you will get. Say thank you. Stand in front of the judge and plead guilty to the lesser charge. Pay the clerk and go home.

Now, if the officer is in a bad mood, he may ask you "Why are you here?". simply state, "I was hoping for little consideration to help me with my insurance costs." Period. No excuses, no lies, no BS.

It's very simple, but you may have a wait a while for the officer to show up and your name to be called.

Do not stand in front of the judge and say innocent!

[kala]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

What do you have to lose if you go to court?... Nothing! You have everything to lose if you don't. 22 MPH off for putting snow tires on the car???? I personally would bust out laughing if I heard someone say that in court trying to get out of a ticket, the judge would too. Judge's are some of the smartest people you will ever meet. Your best bet is telling the truth about where the cop was sitting and shooting the radar in relation to the lower speed limit sign. Dress nice, don't wear shorts or jeans to court. Dressing nice shows you respect the judge. Last time I was in court the Judge threw out 3 defendants that were wearing shorts! Told them it was disrespectful toward him. Call the judge " Your honor" and refer to the cop as " The officer". Make sure the cop didn't put a star or any other kind of mark after your signature, if something is there, it tells the Judge you were an *** while he was giving you the ticket. Maryland has something called "probation before judgment" if you get that it means you were not found guilty, but you have to go the probation period with out getting any more tickets or this one comes back. I'm sure other states have this as well.

Good luck

Brian

AMEN!!! you pretty much nailed it!


just be honest about it and they'll probably drop the charge. Be polite to them, don't be an A$$. I don't know if dressing nice helps but both my court date, i went very well dressed and I used "your honor" in every sentence when I was talking to the judge. Judge really liked me (he was a cool guy too) and i ended up paying only $110 (including court fee and 2 less points)



:)

[ViperRider]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

Thanks for all the responses. I think I'm going to go to court to fight it, like bigbrian said..what do I have to lose? I would like to make a deal with the DA before I have to talk to the judge and just plead guilty to that charge, instead of worrying about pleading innocent and trying to explain about the speed limit signs. Ugg....this is such a headache, from now on speed limit signs are my first priority and I'm traveling 5 mph under. I would also like to mention that the fact that while I was sitting on the side of the road, car were flying by me. One truck sounded like he floored it to pass someone in the right lane and he must have been doing at least 60. I even saw the cop in my rear view look up at the truck as he was writing my ticket. Actually I'm scared to drive now. I haven't since Thursday.

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

Thanks for all the responses. I think I'm going to go to court to fight it, like bigbri Actually I'm scared to drive now. I haven't since Thursday.

Don't be afraid to drive. Pay attention to traffic laws, and don't speed excessively (5 - 9 over is typically OK).

Tickets, imho, are just are part of driving. I call it my driving tax. I typically pay it once a year. :)

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

Thanks for all the responses. I think I'm going to go to court to fight it, like bigbrian said..what do I have to lose? I would like to make a deal with the DA before I have to talk to the judge and just plead guilty to that charge, instead of worrying about pleading innocent and trying to explain about the speed limit signs. Ugg....this is such a headache, from now on speed limit signs are my first priority and I'm traveling 5 mph under. I would also like to mention that the fact that while I was sitting on the side of the road, car were flying by me. One truck sounded like he floored it to pass someone in the right lane and he must have been doing at least 60. I even saw the cop in my rear view look up at the truck as he was writing my ticket. Actually I'm scared to drive now. I haven't since Thursday.

What do you have to lose??? Are you kidding, MORE DAMN MONEY, MORE POINTS ON THE LICENSE IF YOU ARE GUILTY!!! You f*cked up, pay the ticket, pay your higher insurance rates, take the points on the license, and deal with it. I get tired of these posts day in and day out. Someone is always looking to f*ck the system, find some loophole and grease themselves thru it. NO ONE takes responsibility anymore, NO ONE. Everyone wants to point fingers, or look for the hookup, or whatever. Its stupid. PAY THE STUPID F'ING TICKET!!!

[ViperRider]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

What do you have to lose??? Are you kidding, MORE DAMN MONEY, MORE POINTS ON THE LICENSE IF YOU ARE GUILTY!!! You f*cked up, pay the ticket, pay your higher insurance rates, take the points on the license, and deal with it. I get tired of these posts day in and day out. Someone is always looking to f*ck the system, find some loophole and grease themselves thru it. NO ONE takes responsibility anymore, NO ONE. Everyone wants to point fingers, or look for the hookup, or whatever. Its stupid. PAY THE STUPID F'ING TICKET!!!

So your saying if I try and contest it, I will get more points then I was going to have in the first place? And no..the paying more insurance is not an option, considering I'm on my parents plan and I will be kicked off if this ticket goes through with me getting the points.

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

So your saying if I try and contest it, I will get more points then I was going to have in the first place? And no..the paying more insurance is not an option, considering I'm on my parents plan and I will be kicked off if this ticket goes through with me getting the points.

I know in Indiana they could possibly tack on more points than the original ticket, because they will extend whatever penalty to the maximum extent of the law.

As for the insurance, how would you get kicked off the insurance? Would your parents do it? Or the insurance co. themselves?

[rt1]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

I know in Indiana they could possibly tack on more points than the original ticket,

That was my point about the wreckless driving. I think the cop was cutting you some slack. $125 for 22 over? That's the fine for 10 over here.

Rob

[ViperRider]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

I know in Indiana they could possibly tack on more points than the original ticket, because they will extend whatever penalty to the maximum extent of the law.

As for the insurance, how would you get kicked off the insurance? Would your parents do it? Or the insurance co. themselves?

My mom called the insurance company and asked what would happen if this ticket went through, the guy said that I am going to have to fight it or they are gonna raise it a lot, so my parents said they would drop me from it.

[ViperRider]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

Whatever screw it then. I'll start riding my bike to school and work.

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

Then your parents are f*cking cheap, and you should be on your own policy anyway.

I was never on my parents policy, but I never had an fbody till I was 19. Every car I had before that was a POS, barely running, but something I could put on a liability only policy.

BTW, is the car OWNED, or does your parents pay the bank for it?

[ViperRider]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

Then your parents are f*cking cheap, and you should be on your own policy anyway.

I was never on my parents policy, but I never had an fbody till I was 19. Every car I had before that was a POS, barely running, but something I could put on a liability only policy.

BTW, is the car OWNED, or does your parents pay the bank for it?

I'm 19 and I have only had my Firebird for 6 months. I don't own the car, i still owe the bank about $5000 which I pay towards monthly. And yes, my family isn't the richest in the world.

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Is this worth fighting?

Well, out of curiousity, why don't you have your own policy? You can't afford to pay for your own insurance and your car payment at 19 years old?