Speeding Ticket

[kboy79]

As I was getting ready for work this morning, I was thinking to myself...wow, it's going to be a great day! There was no traffic from all the buses due to no school today. I have the next few days off. I'm going to eat lots of good food and see family. Since I knew there wasn't going to be any traffic, I decided to take my wife's G35 so I can have some with it. Of course, I end up getting a speeding ticket. I was clocked at 75 on a 55 zone. I didn't get mad at the cop b/c I knew it was totally my fault.

Here's what I get pissed at. The cop hands me the ticket and says, "it seems like you have money driving this car, so I didn't give you a discount on the ticket". "The full ticket is gonna cost you $245.00" What difference does it make on what car I drive?

[tollboothwilley]

first time i ever got a ticket was just because i was driving a BMW...

some cops are just that way. Thats why if being nice doesn't work I get mad.

haha

[mrsmithGrider]

You have days like that.....I deff wouldn't pay the ticket...get a traffic lawyer to take care of that for you...it shouldnt be more than 100 bucks, but least you won't have a traffic misdeameanor and the points to deal with.
Modified by mrsmithGrider at 6:41 PM 11/26/2008

[Kendahl]

There are always a$$holes envious of anyone better off than they are. It's easier than improving themselves.

My usual reply to comments like the cop's is that he has it backwards. My G37 isn't a consequence of having a lot of money. I work hard so that I can afford a G37.

[kboy79]

I'll def hire a lawyer that my wife has used before. He charges $150.00; and hopefully, he can at least get the driving class waived and reduce the fine.

But seriously, what does it matter what car I drive? Crap, it's not like I drive a freaken $200,000 car or something. There's so many people out there who are filthy rich who drive beat up old cars.

My point is that what I drive is not an indicator of how much I make.

[Jacko3]

Man, sorry to hear about your sorrows this morning on account of a speeding citation.

I can't even begin to tell you how many cops have taken the pains to follow me as if i was their beyatch. They have gone as far as diverting from their normal route to tail me since I installed the test pipes. Oh yes, it gets worse when your exhaust makes a unique and nice sound.

Well, the only choice i have then is to drive 35 in a 45 so that the my exhaust does not make any sound at all, and inevitably I hold up traffic for at least 1/4 of a mile in order to try and save my little a$$ from the cop who is itching like a dog with ticks, to write me a ticket for aggressive driving. I am not ashamed or repentant or apologetic to any motorist for driving 35 in a 45 when a red-eyed cop is directly on my tail. My rear view mirror has become my best friend these days. I have to look first before I gun the G.

Anyway, enough of my rant. I hope you get the ticket resolved. You will be fine after this. Sorry about that.

I love this bunny

[kmckis1029]

wow yeah police officers dont get paid enough for their job... i think they should get paid double what they get paid... that should be an 80k job in my opinion... but on the other hand people would just be cops for the money. that would be worst.

i get looks everytime i get into my car... i guess cause im young and a minority im not suppose to be able to afford this car... and no my mama name not on the title or insurance.

On my last oil change the rep was like, "what do you do to afford this car?" i politey say "im an electronics engineer, i have my degree in Computer engineering (smile)"

I have got asked that three times already. i dont know rather to be offended or flattered....

[dusred]

I got pulled over for going 75 in a 25 driving a G35 and the cop only wrote me for 10 over. He said "with a car like that I can understand why you are speeding like that but you've got to keep it down."

[Vinny14369]

The cop was trying to bait you to slap you with another ticket. Definitely get a lawyer. Do not, I repeat, do not get a "ticket clinic" lawyer. As an attorney who does criminal law in Florida, oftentimes you pay $79 for a ticket clinic attornye and they farm your ticket out to another attorney who appears on your behalf, with dozens of other tickets. You aren't their client so, they necessarily don't have your best interest in mind since they are merely standing in for the attorney of record. i.e. they may not try to get the best deal on your ticket. Whoever you hire, be sure to ask them if they are going to personally appear on your behalf. Hope this helps!

~Vinny

[smockers83]

I've passed highway patrol sitting in the median speeding in the left lane and they just stay there or flash their spots at me telling me to slow down. I have been pulled over in every car I've owned except my G of a little over 2 years. I thought it would have the opposite effect on my driving record.

Point of this post...it all depends on who you run into and you ran into a cop with a chip on his/her shoulder, which sucks and I'm sorry.

[johnparkyourcar]

im young and a minority

me too! i recently got pulled over for no reason... i was on a 2 lane road that turned merged into 1 and as i was lane changing, the cop pulled me over and asked why i was lane changing and asked if there was a reason why i was trying to avoid him....

I got pulled over for going 75 in a 25 driving a G35 and the cop only wrote me for 10 over. He said "with a car like that I can understand why you are speeding like that but you've got to keep it down."

lucky... wow if i can get that kind of luck when i get pulled over.....

[SVTCOBRA]

There are always a$$holes envious of anyone better off than they are. It's easier than improving themselves.

[telcoman]

As I was getting ready for work this morning, I was thinking to myself...wow, it's going to be a great day! There was no traffic from all the buses due to no school today. I have the next few days off. I'm going to eat lots of good food and see family. Since I knew there wasn't going to be any traffic, I decided to take my wife's G35 so I can have some with it. Of course, I end up getting a speeding ticket. I was clocked at 75 on a 55 zone. I didn't get mad at the cop b/c I knew it was totally my fault.

Here's what I get pissed at. The cop hands me the ticket and says, "it seems like you have money driving this car, so I didn't give you a discount on the ticket". "The full ticket is gonna cost you $245.00" What difference does it make on what car I drive?

Sorry to hear about your speeding ticket.

If this is your first violation I don't think a lawyer is necesssary?Contact the court clerk to arrange a meeting with the prosecutor. Ask the prosecutor to reduce the charge to something other than speeding (obstructing traffic or something) that carries no points which unfairly will raise your insurance rates, possibly affect future employment, possible credit score, blah blah and anything else that you can think of.I doubt the prosecutor will refuse because they usually want to dispose of as many cases as quickly as possible while still bringing in a few bucks.In the event that the prosecutor refuses then ask for all the evidence that will be used against you ( radar, calibration, officer training records in its use etc) and you can then attempt to put the matter off as long as possible as well as reconsider the use of a lawyer?

Good luck

Telcoman

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Ok... Im here to help! YOU DON"T NEED A LAWYER

I have been to every traffic court in the Tri County area of Tampa!

First I need to know what county it is from...

The traffic courts are really stupid down here!

Heres what I do... Assuming your record is fairly clean... NO accidents and no points or very few points on your record.

Take the ticket to court. then the week before the court date, go into the courts office with a typed letter asking them to move your court date because you have to go out of town on emergency for business.

Then they change your date to a new date like 2-4 months later!

Then the day of court, when you get their dress in a suit and look professional!

Plead (no contest) and if you have a clean record they will give you no points and ask you to pay the fine...

Then ask the judge or magistrate to grant you community service because you are having financial trouble!

Then you find a friend that has a business and using his letter head, type that you have preformed the proper amount of community service hours and sign it. You can make up a farm name and you can sign john smith for all the clerks care! That is what I did!

Turn it into the clerks office with in 10 days and you got no points and it didn't cost you more than an hours of your time!

Then speed some more and you can do it all over again!

This is what I do and I drive like JackO

Email me if you have any questions!

I will be going to court in January 2009 for a ticket i got in February of 2008 and I do it all the time. Plus this keeps your insurance down too!

DJ

[Jacko3]

Tampa:

You are a bad man.

[tollboothwilley]

Ok... Im here to help! YOU DON"T NEED A LAWYER

I have been to every traffic court in the Tri County area of Tampa!

First I need to know what county it is from...

The traffic courts are really stupid down here!

Heres what I do... Assuming your record is fairly clean... NO accidents and no points or very few points on your record.

Take the ticket to court. then the week before the court date, go into the courts office with a typed letter asking them to move your court date because you have to go out of town on emergency for business.

Then they change your date to a new date like 2-4 months later!

Then the day of court, when you get their dress in a suit and look professional!

Plead (no contest) and if you have a clean record they will give you no points and ask you to pay the fine...

DJ

Why will pleading no contest keep the points off your record?

I was told this is the same as pleading guilty and point will hit the record either way.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Ok here is how I look at it... You know how drifters do it sideways... Floridians Do it Backwards!

If pleading no contest didn't get your points off then what would be the point.

Speeder: Ok Sir... Im here to plead no contest....

Judge: then why didn't you save us all some time and just pay the ticket

See the point of no contest is to look at your prior record and then if you have a good one Let you off and keep your clean record and then you pay a fine of what ever it is... depending on how the judge feels that day!

They can't.. or should I say Don't deny you community service because you can't afford to pay the ticket. So it is a win win.

If you know the officer and you know what he looks like and he don't show up... then plead Not Guilty because they will dismiss the case because the court doesn't have anyone to argue your "I wasn't speeding BS story"

Go to court... It is fun! as long as you didn't piss the cop off! Because if you do he will remember you!

I know that happend to me once... never ever piss the cop off!

I always say when "pleading not Guilty" Officer how many tickets do you cite on average in a month... Ok so lets round it off to about 20 per month... So lets be simple with math and say you cite 200 a year! So how in the world would you remember specifics on my citation if I didn't creat a reason to jaunt your memory?

Point Proven then I turn to the judge and say "your Honor, this fine officer of the law clearly doesn't have substantial evidence to prove me guilt of (what ever you are here for) therefore I stand behind my not guilt plea"

case Dismisted!

DJ

[kboy79]

Hahaha...

I received the ticket in the Pasco County. I think I might be crazy enough to listen to you. Why not? What's the worst thing that can happen? Go to jail for fraud for faking community service?

[Jacko3]

Tollboothwilley:

When you plead NOLO or no contest, no points will hit your driving record but you will pay the traffic fine. However, you can't plead NOLO for 5 years for another moving violation.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Hahaha...

I received the ticket in the Pasco County. I think I might be crazy enough to listen to you. Why not? What's the worst thing that can happen? Go to jail for fraud for faking community service?

Pasco is great... That is the county I'm in now for the traffic court. I am going in December for a ticket that I got in February!

The don't have time nor resources to track that community service thing... All they asked me for was a contact number that I left off of the letter head... Give them your cell number lol and if they call then just say that "he did do that amount of community service hours on your property or ranch or what not... Make sure it is an agricultural one.. They really can't check for INC. or anything like that!

DJ

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Tollboothwilley:

When you plead NOLO or no contest, no points will hit your driving record but you will pay the traffic fine. However, you can't plead NOLO for 5 years for another moving violation.

Jacko I don't think you are right... I have plead no contest for the last 4 tickets I have gotten and they have been in the last 2 years..

And if you are right.. then they really do keep it off your record!

So I will just keep doing what I have done and play stupid!

[G37 Man]

only 20 MPH over the speed limit with a G35,Man I got slapped with going 32 MPH over the speed limit and the State Trooper hit me with 2 tickets for 7 points.

Got a lawyer who got it down to 4 points,but if he was not there,they were going to pull my license for 30 days because of the speed I was going.

By the way had no tickets or points for over 8 years but they did not care!My attorney was a local one who knew the judge and went to talk to him to get me some reduced points,plus save me from my insurance rates going sky high.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

yea Im normally good for about 20-30 over but I jam the brakes when I see the

DJ

[Vinny14369]

Not to be rude, but the majority of the advice you have been given is completely wrong by some of the other members, and, not too mention unethical and fraudulent. I don't mean to disrespect Tampa or Jacko, but their advice isn't necessarily accurate and Tampa's advice is based on lying to the court hoping they do not deny your letter and not follow up on your request for a continuance (which court's have been known to do). I don't mean to come accros as condescending, but I'm a criminal attorney and deal with traffic violations all the time.

First, pleading "no contest" or nolo has no bearing whatsoever on whether you will receive points on your DL. There is absolutely no difference b/t pleading guilty and no contest. Pleading no contest simply allows the defendant to forgo providing an explanation to the judge. No contest simply allows the defendant to neither admit nor dispute the charge. Look, even if you plead no contest, the court can still assess points on your DL. You could just plead guilty and the result would be exactly the same. What determines whether you will receive points is your driving history and the facts of the current ticket.

Although you should never go to court by yourself, if you choose to do so you could get a hefty fine and your license suspended. Yes, this is extremely unlikely, but if the facts surrounding your ticket are egregious and/or t if you get a judge that is annoyed that day, the fine you receive could be harsher. In addition, do not contact the prosecutor's office First, in Florida, the state attorney's office does not prosecute traffic tickets and, second, anything you tell the cop can be used against you. Talking to the state attorney is like talking to the cop.

If you go to court without an attorney, your only option is to ask the judge for no points. If you hire an attorney, then the attorney can attempt to get the ticket dismissed on highly technical grounds that a non-lawyer is unaware of.

You could go yourself and may come out just fine with simply no points and a fine and court costs, but it could be worse. Remember the old adage of a person who represents himself has a fool for a client. Bottom line, get a lawyer and do not cheap out. It could cost you more in the long run.

~Any questions, let me know

[johnparkyourcar]

not a speeding ticket but FREAKN cop...

start rant:this is the second time in like 2 weeks getting pulled over for no reason...first time i was on the way home (i was DD), cop smelled alcohol and pretty much treated me like a criminal the whole time she was interrogating me... i wrote about it on a competing forum for anyone who wants to read it... cop had to let me go with nothing since i wasnt doing anything wrong. today a cop pulls me over right in front of my apt (knowing i wasnt doing anything wrong and being still annoyed from the last time) i was trying to be nice to the cop but i must admit i was being a smartass since he was treating me like an idiot... "youre 21 years old now and you dont know your own address??" (because i go to school at uci and i live away from home... recently my mom moved and i havent memorized the address yet...) i know its wrong to generalize but as for the area i live in, theres nothing better for cops to do but pull people over for no reason... teh eff bomb!!!1!!!eleven!!ing irvine/newport beach/corona del mar cops need to stop trying to find reasons to give tickets to everyone and instead just do their jobs like make the city safer, etc.... argg!! end rant.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I understand completely but paying thousands of dollars for a traffic violation is worth lying about. They don't follow up on that stuff because it would cost to much!

Why would you spend thousands of dollars a year checking on someone's community service for a speeding ticket that isn't criminal. and to boot you will not be making any money off the research!

Pleading no contest "does not" get you out... Only if you have a clean record and if the guy is in a good mood. Luckily you can always appeal the decision if you feel it is wrong doing. Also in Tampa area... if you plead no contests the cop never says anything to testify to your citation and you get in and out of court fast because they say would all the people pleading no contest please get in line and they have the judge view their history!

"Although you should never go to court by yourself" Like you said you are a lawyer, that would be like going to get your car fixed and the mechanic says here is a detailed picture with step by step instructions on how to fix this problem... The guy would be out of business. And Im only ragging on you now because I'm not an attorney yet!

Good info and thanks for stopping in!

IMHO... In the Tampa area you will be fine with out an attorney! I have only seen 1 attorney in traffic court and I have been 5 times in the last 3 years!

DJ

[tollboothwilley]

That what I have been told in the past...No Contest is virtually the same as Guilty.

How much do people normally pay for a lawyer in something as simple as a moving traffic violation?

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

It is like asking for a pardon for being good!

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I guess their are the ones that pay the system and then their are the ones like me that beat the system at their own game!

[Jacko3]

Vinny14369:

I think I know what I heard from the judge in court---he said, you plead NOLO and you are free with no points on your license, but you get to pay the fine, and you can't plead NOLO for another moving violation for another 5 years. If you plead guilty, you get points on your license as well as paying for the fine. But if you plead not guilty, a new court date will be set for you, and the risk is there that the judge might rule against you, especially if you don't have a lawyer. the costs may include the fine plus court costs as well.

I am not a lawyer. But I have no reason to doubt the words of a Judge either. On the other hand, different localities do these things differently. I am only speaking from my experience. You may want to talk to the Judge that gave me this information.

And on the day I plead NOLO, there was no need for lawyer. And, one gets less than 5 minutes to make their plea.