So I got my first speeding ticket...

E53fan16 · #1 07-03-2017, 09:47 AM

As the title states, I got my first speeding ticket. I have had clean driving record for many years. I'm basically seeking your insight on the best way to proceed with this.

Sidenote: I was not in my x5, I was driving my e90 M3.

I was on my way to cars and coffee in the am, and yeah I was driving a little spirited here and there, but nothing over the top. I do not have a radar detector and I normally use the Waze app. However, my Waze app stopped working a few months ago, so I been driving around without any detection.

I was in the middle lane doing about 65 mph, but this annoying dude in a Mini Cooper that was following my every move started playing me too close, so I sped up and moved to the right maybe around 75 mph at that point, and then I noticed the state trooper from a distance off to the right shoulder facing forward. I dropped a gear opposed to hitting the brakes. As soon as I passed the trooper the lights lit up and the squad car proceeds to pull out. My gut feeling told me it was me, and my gut was correct. The trooper slowly maneuvers up behind me and tells me to pull to the right. She comes up to my passenger side window and asks, "do you know why I stopped you?" I replied I'm not sure. She replied "you were doing 80mph" "Do you know what the speed limit is"? I told her I was unaware that I was going that rate of speed. She asked for my license and registration. I hand her everything, including my PBA card( long shot)After 15 minutes, she comes back and hands me the ticket. She proceeds to tell me that she reduced the speed to 70 mph, and something about if I pay it early the fine maybe less. I was annoyed at this point so I did not even pay attention to what to she said about the fine. I politely mentioned out of curiosity, how come no warning? She replies how about being honest about what you were doing.

My concerns are the four points that will be on my license if I plead guilty and pay the fine. How will the points affect my insurance? What's the best way to proceed? Traffic lawyer?

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itscoo2pyopants · #2 07-03-2017, 10:11 AM

Lawyer up!! Pay a little more upfront, but it doesn't go on your record and insurance won't be effected. Used them many times, always been dismissed.

E53fan16 · #3 07-03-2017, 10:53 AM

Yeah, I will end up going that route. I will have to research a traffic lawyer.

If possible, can you NYC guys chime in if you can recommend one?

Thanks.

edogg · #4 07-03-2017, 11:36 AM

In WA, you can defer one ticket every 5ish years. It sits there in limbo and if you get another ticket, it comes back into play. Maybe NY has a similar law?

FWIW, I always try to be non-committal when pulled over. Last time, the interaction went something like this and I got a warning.

Do you know why I pulled you over?
No

You were going xx MPH in a yy zone.
Ok

License, registration, proof of insurance please.
Ok

Any reason you were going that fast?
Not particularly

I see you don't have a front plate.
Ok

I was actually after that guy in the white car but you got between us and also was speeding.
Ok

Etc...

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Anhelenuk · #5 07-03-2017, 12:31 PM

Traffic lawyers will do nothing but take money from you. Your only hope is going to traffic court and state trooper messing up testimony which is highly unlikely. Just pay the ticket and move on. Traffic courts are kangaroo courts where only way you win if you have solid video/factual proof of no offense being committed which you don't. I write these for a living and haven't lost one yet.

E53fan16 · #6 07-03-2017, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anhelenuk

Traffic lawyers will do nothing but take money from you. Your only hope is going to traffic court and state trooper messing up testimony which is highly unlikely. Just pay the ticket and move on. Traffic courts are kangaroo courts where only way you win if you have solid video/factual proof of no offense being committed which you don't. I write these for a living and haven't lost one yet.

I assume you are in law enforcement. thanks for being honest.

itscoo2pyopants · #7 07-03-2017, 04:01 PM

A few years ago I was "paced" going "95" in a 60. received a $422 ticket. Called a lawyer that i found on a car forum website; he said "no problem send me the ticket". he charged $350 (2 violation ticket). I got a call back from him after court and he said it was "DISMISSED". not sure how he did it, or what he did. I didn't have the pay the ticket, only the $350 lawyer fee. Ended up being cheaper to hire a lawyer than it was to pay the ticket.

I have used this lawyer on many occasions (10+) throughout the years for my family and I. they have always been dismissed.

FYI: lawyer has a 1000hp porsche and a lambo. i'm sure he does more than traffic tickets, but using him has worked out for me.

the last 3 times i've been pulled over i have been given a warning. my opinion is that it is due to having a spotless driving record.

old picture but check this out; his license plate says dismissed.. haha

crystalworks · #8 07-03-2017, 08:27 PM

If you have the money, just like any other instance in life, you will be fine going with a lawyer I'm sure.

Cops are just doing their jobs so I try to be as polite as possible. I try to never look irritated and always keep hands on the wheel to put them at ease until they ask for something. Don't get pulled over often, but been warnings only since I was in my early-mid 20's.

^That said, I did use the "deferred adjudication" option a few times when I was younger. You pay the court fee, take defensive driving (and get insurance discount), and then are on probation and they dismiss the ticket.

Anhelenuk · #9 07-03-2017, 08:48 PM

These options are not available in NYC. State Troopers almost never give out warnings especially when they are on overtime (which they are when on patrol in five boroughs) and there's a tug of war between our mayor and governor. What op wants to achieve is not get any points on his license and for that he can go to court himself if he has time.

Fifty150hs · #10 07-03-2017, 08:55 PM

In CA we have "Traffic School" as an option. Used to be you had to go waste a day in "traffic school" but now with the internet you can do it on line. If you haven't had a ticket in the last year and a half you can do traffic school. You have to pay the fine and for traffic school of course, but it keeps it off your record. Which means your insurance doesn't get jacked up. Also means if you don't get a ticket for the next year and a half you get to do it over again after that. Clean record here thanks to traffic school.

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