Got a speeding ticket today...

[ChiLLaXtodaMaX]

On this road, it's usually 50 MPH, except for one little stretch. There's a sign that says "Reduced Speed ahead", down to 40MPH. This is displayed before a bridge that goes over another road. I was going about 56 over that bridge and on the other side of the bridge was a cop. He clocked me going "60 on a 40" even though the 40 zone just started right where he was at. Unfortunate for me...however I do have a few questions.

1. I have a Escort X8500. The cop says that he lasered me going at 60. Shouldn't that laser have notified me as it hit? I'm wondering if he actually shot it at me or not.2. He gave me a 5MPH over ticket, which means fines + 2 points. How do I fight this in court? I've gotten a speeding ticket in the past, but that was without points (over 3 years ago).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[LinkNuc]

if your numbers are true then at least go to court, if not pay it and be done...

I have a solo which does register laser but its too late when it hits...but remember FCC only applies to radio and the like, laser jammers are still legal, but there aren't any that work....

[notaverage]

1. I have a Escort X8500. The cop says that he lasered me going at 60. Shouldn't that laser have notified me as it hit? I'm wondering if he actually shot it at me or not.

Even though you get a ticket from a laser gun, it may not show up on your laser detector due to the fact that the cop probably pointed his gun to the lower part of your car, like your bumper. This way, your detector may not catch it.

[razah9]

Plead not guilty, go there and get take a plea deal they'll throw at you ifyou go early & talk to the DA. Usually theres a line at their desk, get onit and see what they have to offer.

[vballer22]

If your laser detection didnt go off, then look for his records and logs on the tickets. But as for proving it because it didnt go off, good luck. Your laser detector unfortunately won't count as evidence.

[nismofool]

fight back.

i got a stop sign violation ticket today. The thing is..i did stop, and it was in front of a high school, and there were no cops around, and once i entered my community the cop pulled up behind me..guess he saw me from the campus parking lot....except he saw WRONG...

[SniperJoe]

1 - Don't tell the judge that your radar detector did not go off.2 - The Officer will have to complete an affidavit for the citation you received ... listing which speed measuring device he used, speed limit, your speed, his observations....Ask for a copy3 - If your record is pretty clean ask the judge if he will dismiss the citation citing the fact you have not received one in XX years.4 - You can ask for a reduced fine ....5 - The worst he can say is No.6 - If you are guilty & see no way out, pay the fine & hope the insurance company does not find out7 - You might find some info here ... told about it by a friend - have not explored the site: http://www.ticketassassin.com/

Good Luck

[quick_shift]

1 - Don't tell the judge that your radar detector did not go off.2 - The Officer will have to complete an affidavit for the citation you received ... listing which speed measuring device he used, speed limit, your speed, his observations....Ask for a copy3 - If your record is pretty clean ask the judge if he will dismiss the citation citing the fact you have not received one in XX years.4 - You can ask for a reduced fine ....5 - The worst he can say is No.6 - If you are guilty & see no way out, pay the fine & hope the insurance company does not find out7 - You might find some info here ... told about it by a friend - have not explored the site: http://www.ticketassassin.com/

Good Luck

I wouldnt mind getting a copy of that template for pleading Not Guilt by mail.

[ChiLLaXtodaMaX]

I don't want to tell the judge about the radar detector, otherwise it's downhill from there.

Would it be wise to plead guilty and then explain to the judge? or plead not guilty and ask for the points to be removed? Technically, I was speeding in an area where it was marked 40, so all I want is the points to go away. I'd rather not pay, but I would definitely prefer paying the fine over getting points.

[Chels]

I recently got a ticket doing 58 in a 40. I plead no-contest, paid $112 and took on-line defensive driving. With the defensive driving, it won't show up on my record and my insurance won't go up. Is that not an option where you are?

[leifab]

Here in WA, we have a thing called deferment. As long as you havent had a ticket in the last 5 years or so..and it wasnt in a school zone, you qualify. Pay the filing fee and thats it. And if you dont get another moving violation in the next year, it never shows up on your record. Dont they have something like that where you're at?

[quick_shift]

I don't want to tell the judge about the radar detector, otherwise it's downhill from there.

Would it be wise to plead guilty and then explain to the judge? or plead not guilty and ask for the points to be removed? Technically, I was speeding in an area where it was marked 40, so all I want is the points to go away. I'd rather not pay, but I would definitely prefer paying the fine over getting points.

If you plead guilty you will not have a chance to plead your case to the judge. You usually have to send a part of the ticket back with either guilty & your payment, or not guilty and request a trial or submit your case in writing

[Sensors]

plead not guilty and see what the DA can do for you, you can also call the department and have them take the radar gun into court. every radar gun has to be calibrated every so often, and if they don't do it, and it expires any speeding ticket after that time and before its recalibrated can be dropped. but plead not guilty and have the DA get u deal or off clean.

[Frosty Coupe]

Here is the scoop on your two situations:

- With the court thing. Go to court and talk to the clerk. Tell them you have had a clean record for the last X amount of years. They will check, and more than likely ask you to pay your court fees and be done with it. Make sure you ask them straight up if it will go on your record.

- As for the radar detector. It really depends on how close you were to the cop. If you were within a couple hundred yards, the laser beam wouldn't have been large enough to create enough "wash" for your detector to pick it up. A laser detector is really only effective if aimed at the license plate or another flat part of the front of your car.

[SniperJoe]

Would it be wise to plead guilty and then explain to the judge? or plead not guilty and ask for the points to be removed? Technically, I was speeding in an area where it was marked 40, so all I want is the points to go away. I'd rather not pay, but I would definitely prefer paying the fine over getting points.

I don't know if I'd plead guilty ... not sure what your choices are ... Here you have three choices ... Guilty, Not Guilty and one with mitigating circumstances ... kinda like I'm guilty but here's why I was speeding .... Wife in labor ... new to the area & not paying attention .... some reason why it happened. Keep in mind that the judges have heard every excuse in the book ... tell the truth, give him a reasonable answer why it happned & ask for the mercy of the court ....

[Humboldt01]

Get the Valentine one!

[LongBeachCoupe]

Hey take it from a SLICKDEALER man.... You plead guilty if you are a chump!

What you do is (unfortunatley i am all too familar with this) is show up to court... or postpone the court date (even better)... when the new date comes... show up... ALONE without a lawyer... and plead NOT GUILTY... the DA will make you an offer (in private) to lower points or fine... If he will make it a 0 point NON-moving violation... THAT is what you plead guilty to... If you arent happy with what he is offering you, you can say you want to get representation, and you can come back another day with a lawyer... NEVER PLEAD GUILTY TO ANY OFFENSE YOU GET CAUGHT DOING... THE DA WILL ALWAYS LOWER IT, JUST BECAUSE YOU CAME TO COURT!!!!

Also, just to put your mind at ease... you wont get points on this... in actuality they just want to generate revenues... theres no way a DA will give you 2pts for 5mph over... he will say... lets knock it down to a unsafe operation etc... most likley they will make it something with a decent fine, but no points...

For instance this "unsafe operation" is a "gimmie" in NJ... its like... section 209.3 or something, and you can get 2 a year i believe... they just do this to generate REVENUES!!