Looking for opinions as to what I should do since I've never had a ticket before...


Obviously i Was going 87 apparently in a 65 and the cop came from nowhere.

Im only 17 so i think he gave me the ticket to get the point across from me but it is a lot of points, 6, on my license and my insurance is gonna skyrocket.

Wjat do you guys think I should do? People are telling me to plead not guilty and ask the cop to help me out and lower the offense or what not.

When you do that are you in front of a judge?


This sucks.....

 

Do defensive driving, it won't go on your license. Or you can do deferred and they'll put you on a "probation period" for 3-6 months.. if you don't get another ticket it won't go on your record. I wouldn't plead not guilty and try to fight it.. you were going 22 over the speed limit.. gonna be hard to disprove that I would think. And it's not worth the risk of getting 6 points on your record.

 

You can always ask for community service.

 

17 with a Z holy cow

 

I agree with the defensive driving class, but not until your ordered to, or after the case is closed. Reason being (from experience) after one of the tickets I got, I thought I would be good and take the class before the court date and it would look good....wrong, I had to take it again and that was another $100. Make sure they know you are willing to do it though. Also, get a lawyer. The $500 that is will cost you is nothing compared to the insurance hike. I had an instance where I got a reckless driving ticket, my lawyer worked the following deal: If no tickets within a years time then this would be erased, but IF I got a ticket then $500 fine and 30 day suspension. Just make sure you dont get another ticket in that year. Best part is for that year, it is not on any record because the case is not technically closed yet. After the year, I had a crystal clean record Oh dress nice for court too. Shirt, tie, and slacks.

 

Haha at 17 I was driving an '89 Ford Taurus with rust holes all over it. How things have changed (I'm only 20 so I guess it hasn't been that long)

 

its bad enough with kids driving Srt4's

 

yea im 17 and got pulled doing 80 in a 55 should i take driver improvement before my court date is that the same as defensive driving?

 

Get a Lawyer

 

lawyer should be around $200, not $500. and their worth everypenny. I recieved probation for 31 over, and a $50 fine.

 

god reading all this has me more nervous than before.

so you guys dont think its worth it to plead not guilty and see if its lowered?

if i plead guilty, id get the same points and fine anyways right so isnt it just like taking the chance to see if it helps any?

 

Would a lawyer just be showing up to court with me to discuss what could be done instead of just outright pleading guilty which I obviously am?

 

Plead no contest and take defensive driving! It won't go on your record. You just pay the court fee ($95 here in Texas).. pay $25-$35 for the class and you're done. Pleading not guilty, going to court, hiring a lawyer is a waste of time and money. Pay the court fee, take the class and be done with the ticket.

 

In some courts if you plead Not Guilty, you do not have a chance to take traffic school after they find you guilty. I would do what white_s2k said, just pay the ticket and go to traffic school; the points will not go on your record so there is no issurance rate hike.

 

I dont know about DMV's in other states.
All I can tell you from experience is to...

1)Forget about the lawyer, its not going to help
2) You are definately guilty so dont try to fight the ticket because as soon as a NY judge see that you are 17 and went 22 miles over speed limit, "GUILTY, fine of "$XXX", NEXT!"

I know this because when I was 17, I got a speeding ticket for going 40 MPH in a 30 MPH(Grand Central Pkwy Service road). I though the ticket was so BS because I drive througt it everyday and EVERYBODY goes over 40 MPH. I paid this lawyer $100 just to represent me.
This was how it went it court...
-Officer plead his case
-I plead my case
-Dumb as$ lawyer just stands there next to me
-5 mins later, "GUILTY, fine for $120, pay at the register outside.
NOTE: The lawyer didn't even do anything. He just stood there to look pretty. I had to take off work and wasted a whole day. On top of that, I paid this "lawyer" for nothing.

3) If this is your first ticket, you don't have to worry about it if you dont get anymore speeding or moving violation tickets that will get you suspended. Anything over 11 points in NY will get you suspended. So you will have 5 points as a cushion and in 1 1/2 years your record will be cleared.
4)As for the defensive driving class; I never took any, but if you feel that your "driving habits" will get you in trouble with the law within 1 1/2 years, definately spend the extra $100 to take the class. Good luck

 

Usually, they will throw it out if you go to a class (not familiar with your state). In Chicago, you can ask for a "supervision" & don't even need to attend a class.

My first Z ticket was 106 in a 65

 

Here is the problem , anything 20 mph or over is wreckless driving not good this is very expensive but you can plea bargin to lower charge, sounds stupid but I donated to the drug fund they dropped it period but had to donate 250.00 ... Lawyer will not help at least in TN ...I have had so many tickets its unreal it all depends on the county around here ...maybe the cop wont show up in court and then they have to throw it out good luck.. 12 points and you lose your dl for a year stinks again good luck

 

Well said and this way cost less money.

 

Thanks all for the advice although it definetly seems like in some states people have it easier.

I called a friend of the family who works at a driving school and she said to show up, admit to speeding, explain that i will pay the ticket with no problem but that the charge be lowered, apologize and show that i have a clean record otherwise, and try to at least lower the charge to 4 pts. with just 4, i can take the class which would bring me down to 0 again, the insurance stays the same, and parents get off my back.

in any case, they want me to get a job now which sux

 

Hey I'm in your same stituacion, I got an 85 in a 65. my court date is 12/13 and I'm hoping the cop doesn't show. If he does I just plan on trying to talk him out of giving me the ticket. Wish me luck.
Zach