Just so everyone knows (I do know since I averaged 10 points on my license for 3 years) that in Ohio, you only get to take Driving School if you have ten or more points. What the DMV then does is add 2 points to the total that you can obtain (they don't subtract anything). So, in Ohio, once you incure 12 points, your license gets suspended for one year. Taking driving school gets you up to 14 points, but yes, you can only take it once.

When I moved to texas and got my first ticket, 73 in a 55, I was so surprised that I could go to driving school and it would be like it never happened. I gladly paid the fine and went to school. In Ohio, I had to go to court, ask the Judge to let me take it, then pay the fine, and then go to school. Once in the driving school, I went to the one at UC, everyone was laughing at me by the reason that I was there. I was the only one there that was there because of speeding. Everyone else was there because of DUI's or other criminal acts that got their license suspended.

Bottom line, you made the right decision. Pay the fine and wait 3 years for it to drop off your record. The point system in Ohio is ridiculous, but that is the way it is. Oh yeah, and I have been "paced" before. I actually outran the cop (I didn't know it was cop) in my supra through some winding roads before stopping at a stop sign (for about 5 minutes because of all the cars that were passing) and about crapping my pants when those lights came on. Yeah, had to call the attorney that night!

 

This is exactly what I was told when I called the court house.

All things considered, once you get the ticket, unless you can get it dropped or thrown out, you've got the violation on your record, you've got the points, and you've got the bill.

 

moved

 

I would goto court. Get there early and talk to the prosecutor. Tell him it is not the fine that you are worried about it is the points. Even though your INS dosent go by MV points it will go by what the ticket is. They will end up giving you a non point violation with a higer fine. Which intern when Should not be anything that the INS company will give you any points for. In NJ we get what you would call 2 free bees. basically if you get a speeding or other ticket with points you can use this as a get outta points deal. once you use it twice you are done. the third ticket you are getting. Most likley unless they are like years apart.
Anyway good luck goto court.

G

 

Someone I work with - her husband is an ex cop. I was talking with him once at a work party and he'd say how he used to play games with people's radar detectors. He'd follow people speeding at night so they couldn't tell if it was a cop following them or not and wouldn't turn his siren lights on. He'd just follow them and occasionally do a quick zap of the radar gun just to see the radar detector lights go off inside the car.

Actually a lot of times he'd do that and not pull them over if they slowed down. But still he could see the radar detector lights and would toy with them lighting up

 

if i were you, i'd just take what i can get considering that going 100mph is considered reckless... and traffic school isn't even a hassle because they have online courses (in cali, anyways) and it took me 2 hours to do it via the internet.

i just left the info pages open so that it would look like i was reading through it and instead i watched a movie on tv. every few minutes or so, i'd answer the quiz questions (very easy... similar to the license written exam) and that was that. the traffic school even sent the certificate directly to the court so i didn't even have to do anything!! (except pay $30 or so for the course)

but i ramble... just be thankful that you got off without a reckless driving citation and be done with the matter.

 

I would be careful you understand the calculation method for your insurance company. I am sure they base some portion of their calculation of the risk of insuring you (and the corresponding premium you pay), on the number of violations as well as the severity (point total). At least in Pennsylvania, I have been able to have officers reduce / eliminate the points associated with speeding violations by adjusting the mph over the limit. On most occasions the court appearance is settled informally with the officers cutting the defendant a break with reference to the speed. Obviously there is more benefit to someone who is nearing the license suspension level of points, but if you don't have any prior violations, you may be able to sweet talk the officer, especially since its unlikely he will remember much about you other than the fact that you were very cooperative as he noted on his ticket...

On the other hand, he may be pissed you are making him come to court on the morning after the graveyard shift, and he'll tell you to pound sand..

Best option would be the officer not showing up, and the charges should be dismissed (at least in PA). Here, when you contest a ticket, you are immediately scheduled for a trial and before this trial is when you try to work out the deal.

Anyway, I recommend calling an attorney and getting yourself a free initial consultation to get some information on the procedure and your options, and at a minimum you'll know for future reference... though, OF COURSE, you'll never speed again... right?