So, I recently recieved a ticket for going approx. 15mph over the speedlimit. Now there is no doubt I was speeding, but I was not going that much faster than the speedlimit. I was also traveling with at least 3 other cars at the same speed. I feel like I was singled out because of the huge Evo wing. There were 2 cops at the speed trap and the one I spoke to said his radar was capable of tracking 2 vehicles.

Two questions:
1) What actions should I take in court?
2) What do you do to get out of tickets? (Not speed it the obvious answer of course)

 

1. just pay the ticket
2. Hire an attorney

 

I have some observations on this since I went through the trouble of going to court on my own to avoid points on my license.

First, check with your insurance company to see if a ticket will actually impact your rate. Say something like, "If I were to receive a ticket, would my rate increase?" If it won't increase the rate, then you might as well pay the ticket because chances are you will waste a lot of time in court otherwise. Also, if you were caught with a laser you are toast. Just pay the fine and don't speed again.

If you are in trouble with insurance rates and it was from a radar gun, then it might be worth it for a lawyer. However, I just represented myself in court. I filed a "Demand for Discovery" (a.k.a subpoena) for everything: the cop's log book for tickets, the FCC license for the radar gun, the calibration log, the officer's training certificate, etc. Pretty much the point was to make it so they couldn't produce all the things I subpoenaed, so you could get a dismissal. Things might be different in your state, but it worked in my case. I never saw the judge and got a reduced fine. With court fees it ended up being the same as just paying the ticket, but I got no points which was important for me.

Lawyers might save you some effort, but you'll pay for them. Bottom line: don't speed and you can't get caught.

 

just go to these roadside ticket places like ticket 1, pay them there fee, pay the fine, and no points to yoru record, no insurance hike.

 

Hah got the same ticket yesterday, except there was about 15 cars around me, and I was sighted for 10 over.... Gotta love a stereotyped car.

 

the myth of overpayin $5 to beat the points

 

[QUOTE=WagsEvo]I have some observations on this since I went through the trouble of going to court on my own to avoid points on my license.

First, check with your insurance company to see if a ticket will actually impact your rate. Say something like, "If I were to receive a ticket, would my rate increase?" If it won't increase the rate, then you might as well pay the ticket because chances are you will waste a lot of time in court otherwise. QUOTE]

I personally wouldn't do this because you are red flagging yourself to have your record checked and then a rate increase- unless you call anonymously. I have never heard of having a ticket not raising your rates, but I guess it is possible. When I've shopped for rates, even a "minor" speeding ticket would add hundreds of dollars to my yearly rate- an increase of 30+% was not uncommon with just a single ticket. Saying that, in the past I have gotten tickets and have not had my rates increase. I think the issue here is keeping your current policy with the same company and them not checking your record at random. If you change insurance co's then most will check your record immediately upon taking out the policy- this is why they ask "any tickets or accidents" as soon as you ask for a quote.
The only thing I have experience with is going in front of the judge, pleading guilty, and asking to go to traffic school in order to keep the ticket off your record. It's well worth the half of a saturday if you can do this.

 

there are apparently a lot of misconceptions out there.... it will go on your insurance one way or another, unless you beat it in court. your insurance wont be affected until it renews... but it will be affected. pay the 200, go get a lawyer, they will get the ticket dropped to improper equipment or something and call it a day. you dont go to court, you dont waste anytime, and you only lose 200 as opposed to much more in the long run via insurance premium increase and still paying the fine. i am quite experienced when it comes to tickets and the judicial court system, both paying the fines outright, going to court on your own and doing the lawyer option. now maybe some states are different but i have been nailed in FL enough to have my license suspended 2 times and at least 5 to 6 times in NC for willful speed competition "street racing" which for once was actually bs, recless driving, and multiple speeding fines. lawyer saved my rump in NC, FL, was to young to know better.

 

whatever you do do NOT play the "i was singled out card" because they'll just laugh at you. I know a kid who had an orange lexus and he tried that. They'll just say, were you not speeding? And you have to say yes so you look like a dick when they ask you, so why shouldn't you have been pulled over again? Unfortunately cops can pull over whoever they feel like in situations like that. If you were being passed by a mustang doin 150 itd be another case.

 

this is BS, because we do get singled out... i got nailed for speeding in a school zone... i was in 2 lanes of traffic, 3d car in the left far left lane... we approached the end of the school zone, i accelerated with every car in the pool of traffic, as quickly as they did, as soon as they did about 20 meters before the sign saying end of school zone.... cop pulled me over for speeding, came flying up through the middle turning lane around the 8 or 9 cars that were behind me in the school zone, pulled me over and i was still behind the 2 cars that were in front of me in the zone. says i was speeding and that his extensive experience in radar allowed him to be able to tell it was me who was speeding and not them. we get singled out all the time.... usually because of the group of 18 yr olds with "aggressive looking" cars who do stupid things. i get followed all the time and when they see that i notice them they pass me or turn around. i got pulled over the other night by a cop and he asked if i was in a car club because of my car. my appearance is stock aside from it being lowered. i explained to him what the car was, i was 28 yrs old, that i have my car because i like to race it at the track and i love the handling... he let me go after a nice 5 minute conversation even though my plates apparently were expired. had i been some young kid or whatever, i'd a been hammered.

 

and another case... i got a ticket for my window tint being too dark, the cop pulled me over, i at the time was doing 50 in a 45, big deal.... he didnt pull me for speeding, my radar detector was screaming like hell, so i know he was clocking me... about maybe 70 yards out, a car comes flying by me must be doing at least 60 or better... the cop i see spins around and i laugh because the guy flew by me and the cop had his radar on.... he pulls me over for tint

 

dont get me wrong i completely agree with you that "we" get singled out. Its practically a scientific fact. All i'm sayin is that the excuse "i was being singled out" never gets you anywhere in court. Its BS I agree 100%, but unfortunately it doesn't help our case at all.

 

you are right in both accounts... it never gets you anywhere ... that a$$ who said the truth will set you free was clearly not an EVO owner .... we do get singled out and then fined a months car payment at the same time

 

ha, it was probably a guy who drives a tahoe and wears a lot of sweaters.

 

i know one of those guys too... although not so plato or socrates like to come up with such a popular quote... im betting he was definitely a 3 card monty allstar selling a ketchup popsicle to a woman with white gloves