Speeding Ticket

[slidin_miata]

Hey everyone, as some of you know i got a speeding ticket a few weeks ago. my court date is June 9th 2010, so i know i have time to prepare.
Here are the details:
Speeding ticket for 57 in a 40 zone, its my 1st offense so i have 0 points on my license so far. i am 17 years old and drive a 97 miata. I am considering getting a lawyer, he says he can get the 17 over down to 14 over, that would eliminate any points that would go on my license so my insurance wouldn't go up.
but i was wondering if i really need him, or if i can just try this on my own, his fee is $750, and i have no idea what my ticket cost might be...
PLEASE HELP ME, ANY and ALL advice is appreciated, thanks guys,
best way to contact me is by txt at : 770-722-0179
thanks,
PAT

[Dr.Drew]

Plead nolo, pay your fine (which will surely be less than 750) and let it ride.

[slidin_miata]

Plead nolo, pay your fine (which will surely be less than 750) and let it ride.


cant im 17, you gotta be 18.

[slidin_miata]

is there anyway to postpone the case till next january or something like that? then i could definatly plead nolo

[Dr.Drew]

Nah, not that long, but that's strange because I pleaded nolo at 17. Oh well, I guess laws change.

[slidin_miata]

ill call them and see if i can, if i do my insurance wont go up will it? just pay the fine?

[slidin_miata]

i just emailed my lawyer (he gives free advice) and i asked him.

[amaff]

Get an appointment to talk to the Solicitor. If you've got a clean record usually they'll be able to work a deal with you so you don't get anything on your record and *usually* get the fine reduced. You'll probably want to go ahead and take a defensive driving course tho.

[Dr.Drew]

Not sure with nolo. My first real ticket only raised mine by about $20 a month though. Call your insurance company and see. If it raises your insurance by 20 then consider how long it would take to balance out the lawyer's fees. Even if they drop it to 14 over there will still be a fine on top of the fees.

[slidin_miata]

Get an appointment to talk to the Solicitor. If you've got a clean record usually they'll be able to work a deal with you so you don't get anything on your record and *usually* get the fine reduced. You'll probably want to go ahead and take a defensive driving course tho.

yea, well im going to talk to him/her and yea i hope i can, i took drivers ed last year tho. so idk about that last thing. ill look into it tho.
thanks,
pat

Not sure with nolo. My first real ticket only raised mine by about $20 a month though. Call your insurance company and see. If it raises your insurance by 20 then consider how long it would take to balance out the lawyer's fees. Even if they drop it to 14 over there will still be a fine on top of the fees.

yea..honestly i think im going to just see how the nolo thing works out, and then, and if i cant do that then im going to pay for the lawyer...in a week or so , i will have enough money to pay for him, idk, ive got a while to figure this out..

OH and BTW my rents have NO idea i got a ticket, i plan on keeping it that way for as long as possible.

[slidin_miata]

so just called my lawyer, NOLO is useless, in alpharetta you cant use it under 21, and it doesnt work the way i hoped it does..so i guess im back to rasing money...ohwell

[Bernie]

I honestly think it depends on where you got the ticket. But if it was me, I'd call the Solicitor, DA, whatever they call themselves these days, see if he'll cut you some slack for pleading guilty... maybe reduce to 8-9 over and pay the fine on 17 over. You might have to go in front of the judge to do it, but I've found that judges are pretty cool folks if you speak intelligently and respectfully to them, so there isn't really anything to be scared of... after all, it is just a ticket.

[amaff]

i took drivers ed last year tho. so idk about that last thing.

Defensive driving course != driver's ed :lol:

[mustangtomiata]

I wouldn't use a nolo on this small of a ticket anyway. They come in handy some day. Call a few more lawyers, they can be haggled with on price. I had a lawyer for $500 get me out of losing my license and lowering my ticket to 14 over with no community service. But just try talking to the solicitor by yourself first. What county were you in?

[slidin_miata]

^ okay, and im in fulton county, alpharetta ga.

[slidin_miata]

okay...to respond to EVERYONE above me because my multi quote thing only works for so much stuff, i AM going to call the Soliciter or what ever he is, and ima talk to him about it, see if i can get it reducted, a MINOR can get up to 4 POINTS before a suspention, this ticket is ONLY 2 POINTS idk what the fine will be, that is why i am going to call, i AM NOT going to hire a lawyer, i am also going to call my insurance lady to see how much my insurance is going to go up, i might just pay the ticket and if there is NO WAY to get it reduced im just going to let the insurance go up, but im going to be selling alot of stuff. I AM SELLING MY STANCE GR + COILOVERS ($700) for a 97 miata, but they will fit ALL model miatas except the new one. i am also trying to sell a 10 INCH KICKER SUB, IN AN S10 BOX ($200)

[amaff]

i am also going to call my insurance lady to see how much my insurance is going to go up

Do yourself a favor and skip that step until the fine is paid and the final verdict on what the actual 'offense' you're charged with will be. If you call them and tell them you got a ticket for say 20 over, and you end up getting it reduced to 7 over, it'll probably make a difference to them.

[Beastinthebushes]

Be sure to show up to court instead of just pay the fine. By showing up, sometimes the judge will drop your fine down, as well as keep points off your license. I understand this is all a shot in the dark and all dependent on the judge, but it wouldn't hurt.

[Otto]

Do yourself a favor and skip that step until the fine is paid and the final verdict on what the actual 'offense' you're charged with will be. If you call them and tell them you got a ticket for say 20 over, and you end up getting it reduced to 7 over, it'll probably make a difference to them.
i wouldnt call them, the police have no incentive to notify your insurance company that you have a ticket, i dont think you have one either. So if you say nothing and dont make any changes and pay on time to your policy it could be months or years before they ever realize youve gotten a ticket. my one and only speeding ticket never raised my rates and im well beyond 10 yrs of a perfect record now:lol:

[Georgia Cracker]

You have gotten some good advice above. I'm going to give you one more piece of advice. If you don't want your parents to find out something, don't post it on a messageboard.

[miatasaint]

go to the court date, wear a suit, ask the guy if its possible to have a 'plea bargain', be VERY RESPECTFUL.

i did this when i got my ticket for doing thirty over(cop dropped it down to thirteen over, i was a salesman at nissan test driving the new maxima) at court he dropped the fee from 175 to 75. thank god too...

[Dr.Drew]

Remember that many of these guys are older and may have that "get off my lawn" mentality.

If you want to win them over you'll have to stay far away from being an inconsiderate little bastard like they assume most kids these days are. Use lots of "Yessirs" and "Nossirs." Think about 1950's sitcoms and how they were nice little obedient younguns and you'll be fine.

[Beastinthebushes]

Whatever you do, do not insult The Andy Griffith show, Matlock, or Murder She Wrote.

[Dr.Drew]

Whatever you do, do not insult The Andy Griffith show, Matlock, or Murder She Wrote.

Exactly, in fact work on your Andy Griffith accent and you'll be golden. Tell em that you didn't mean to speed but maw and paw wanted you home for supper and you didn't want to disappoint them. Or that you promised paw you'd join in on their gospel bluegrass pickin and you were so excited to spread the word through the banjo and jug you werent paying attention to your speed.

I've gotten out of more **** just by using some fake "down home, awe shucks, twernt nothin'" attitude than any amount of intelligent argument ever has.

[Beastinthebushes]

it would probably help to quietly whistle the andy griffith theme when called in front of the judge

[miatasaint]

god you guys are awesome:lol:

i cant stress it enough bro, you have got to be respectful!

[slidin_miata]

You have gotten some good advice above. I'm going to give you one more piece of advice. If you don't want your parents to find out something, don't post it on a messageboard.

ha ha yea...i was thinking about that but they can barely use their phones i doubt they could search my history, and learn who i was on these forums...haha

[Beastinthebushes]

Bring the Judge a bottle of coke, not plastic, but glass. It will remind him of times past where he used to sit on the front porch shootin marbles with Cletus from down the street. Go ahead and bring in a banjo and learn some songs, just in case he doesn't think you can play banjo. here, I will help you get started, learn this song, learn the lyrics, they have a great message...
anpX29aJnho&feature=related

[lance]

ha ha yea...i was thinking about that but they can barely use their phones i doubt they could search my history, and learn who i was on these forums...haha

How old are they, 100?:eek:

[Razz]

Plead nolo, since its your first offense they will most likely lower the fine, add no points to your license and will ask you to take a defensive driving course. Over all just try to be as respectful as possible when you are there it will go a long way.

[jester911]

He already said he can't do that because of his age.

[metalman]

ha ha yea...i was thinking about that but they can barely use their phones i doubt they could search my history, and learn who i was on these forums...haha

My kids presume to think they fool me at times too. :lol:
They forget that I invented half the tricks. ;)

[slidin_miata]

^well no they are over 50, but they just got new phones from verizon, nothing special just a basic flip phone...they keep trying to talk into it when its closed, and upside down, they are clue less in ALL forms of Technology. its funny as hell

[05mazdaspeed]

I have not gotten a speeding ticket in over five years , but every ticket I have gotten I have had reduced by showing up in court. when you tell the solicitor that you are pleading not guilty they will will usualy offer to drop the speed a bit in return for a guilty plea.
you shouldn't have any trouble getting it reduced 3mph yourself. for $750 I would expect alot more.

[GraffitiPanda]

dude 17 over (slap on the wrist pay your fine... dont sweat this. i got 36 over in the mountains about 2-3ish years ago and that was hell tied between 2 states and fines and oops computer problems and pay oh wait nvm pay more.... DUDE dont get a lawyer dress nice like a good boy not like an emo kid (as many mistake) speak like an adult and the judge will probably make you pay $150ish at most just to make an example of you and no points will hit you... i do 15over ALL THE TIME (its technically legal from what Ive heard from cops)

so think of it this way your only guilty hard core of 2 over...

oh BTW did the cop say the classic "y'aint from around here are ya boy?" because i win if he didnt say that... my cop totally said that and i asked him if i could borrow his gun to blow my head off lol! (this is because i didn't lean my lesson in SC nor NC) 2 tickes in 1 HR in 2 states :) (a year with no license wasn't worth it... but now i have a funny story)

[Dr.Drew]

Well... 15 over isn't "technically legal," one over isn't even technically legal. In this state there is no fine or points for less than 10 over. So while going 60 in a 55 is still illegal you won't get pulled over as there's no money in it for the 5-0.

[jzilla]

stick with the lawyer.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Well... 15 over isn't "technically legal," one over isn't even technically legal. In this state there is no fine or points for less than 10 over. So while going 60 in a 55 is still illegal you won't get pulled over as there's no money in it for the 5-0.

Unless it's in a school, construction, or some other special zone, don't forget those conditions because they will pop you there. State Patrol can however stop you for 1 over (and I've seen them do it), and while there are no points, there are fines assessed.

[amaff]

Unless it's in a school, construction, or some other special zone, don't forget those conditions because they will pop you there. State Patrol can however stop you for 1 over (and I've seen them do it), and while there are no points, there are fines assessed.

This bares repeating. Local Yokels really don't have much pull unless you're doing more than 10 over (unless you're in Gwinnett County...:rolleyes:), but State Patrol can. Also, with the new super speeder laws, if I read the fine print correctly, 15 over the limit ANYWHERE in GA = super-speeder, so just because you're not doing the 75 or 85 mph "hard" limits, you can still qualify.

[RotorNutFD3S]

I still haven't had a chance to read that law through (something I oddly enjoy doing from time to time, got into the habit while working on my Crim. degree at West GA), I need to, definitely want to know the ins and outs of that one. Scary money making law.

[jzilla]

I still haven't had a chance to read that law through (something I oddly enjoy doing from time to time, got into the habit while working on my Crim. degree at West GA), I need to, definitely want to know the ins and outs of that one. Scary money making law.

like I said... see Lawyer.

Rotor can probably go and wear a suit cuz he reads on it. The rest of us... consult someone that knows.

[bovaco]

Instead of spending so much time, effort, and possibly a great deal of money on trying to figure out how to beat the system and keep this from your parrents, use this issue to grow. Dude your 17 and on the threshold of becoming a man so grow a pair already and do the right thing. You got the ticket all by your self, no one made you speed and no one should help you get out of the responsibilites you need to face for your failure to abide by the speed limit. Look we all drive what we do because we have a love for our cars and the thrill of driving such an amazing little machine, but the place for pushing the envelope is on the track for your safety and the safety of others. Another plus to not speeding is that your pocket stays full of cash to spend on your car. Last but not least keeping this from your folks is not the brightest thing to do either. When they find out, ( when, not if ) its going to be much worse for not being adult and telling them now. IF you wan't them to treat you like an adult you have to give them a reason to do so. Sorry if I came off as an old pain in the *** but thats my 2 cents and sometimes you can learn alot by the mistakes us old farts have made before you.

[GraffitiPanda]

Instead of spending so much time, effort, and possibly a great deal of money on trying to figure out how to beat the system and keep this from your parrents, use this issue to grow. Dude your 17 and on the threshold of becoming a man so grow a pair already and do the right thing. You got the ticket all by your self, no one made you speed and no one should help you get out of the responsibilites you need to face for your failure to abide by the speed limit. Look we all drive what we do because we have a love for our cars and the thrill of driving such an amazing little machine, but the place for pushing the envelope is on the track for your safety and the safety of others. Another plus to not speeding is that your pocket stays full of cash to spend on your car. Last but not least keeping this from your folks is not the brightest thing to do either. When they find out, ( when, not if ) its going to be much worse for not being adult and telling them now. IF you wan't them to treat you like an adult you have to give them a reason to do so. Sorry if I came off as an old pain in the *** but thats my 2 cents and sometimes you can learn alot by the mistakes us old farts have made before you.

agreed! Sounds rite out of my dads book! But he's a pretty wise man!

[jcmkam1990]

Ditto. I have not had a ticket since 1987. Had some big ones when I was 18 to 21. The worst was 168 in a 55. I finally grew up.

[mustangtomiata]

Instead of spending so much time, effort, and possibly a great deal of money on trying to figure out how to beat the system and keep this from your parrents, use this issue to grow. Dude your 17 and on the threshold of becoming a man so grow a pair already and do the right thing. You got the ticket all by your self, no one made you speed and no one should help you get out of the responsibilites you need to face for your failure to abide by the speed limit. Look we all drive what we do because we have a love for our cars and the thrill of driving such an amazing little machine, but the place for pushing the envelope is on the track for your safety and the safety of others. Another plus to not speeding is that your pocket stays full of cash to spend on your car. Last but not least keeping this from your folks is not the brightest thing to do either. When they find out, ( when, not if ) its going to be much worse for not being adult and telling them now. IF you wan't them to treat you like an adult you have to give them a reason to do so. Sorry if I came off as an old pain in the *** but thats my 2 cents and sometimes you can learn alot by the mistakes us old farts have made before you.

I'm 19 and COMPLETELY agree with this. Especially if you want them to treat you like and adult you have to give them a reason too. Hiding it from them is very childish and people get pissed when they find out something bad through the grape vine instead of you just telling them from the get go. truth=short term trouble. lies=short term peace, big price to pay when the truth comes out, tell the truth. You'll also feel better about yourself in general if you just dont lie.

[mx5ways]

with a ticket wont youre insurance go up anyways? i think the lawyer just wants some money.. itd be cheaper to pay the ticket for 17 over.. then to pay for a 14 over and a lawyer who gets it dropped 3mph

you can also try to get another day maybe the cop wont show bc its his day off or he's out and doing "Police" work