Stop sign ticket

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 1:38 pm

Well, I was cruisin and I ran into Freestyle and wickidWeasel so we cruised with our Vibes as a group. I was going around a turn around and tehre was a stop sign. There wasa car coming down the street so I tried to pull out of the turn around before the car came so our group would get split up...well as soon as I hit the gas I noticed the car coming was a cop (removed)! So I just thought to myself "IM AN IDIOT" The cop shot up on my rear end and pulled me over. I did all the driver courtessies (sp?) like turn on dome lights, keep your hands on teh steering wheel and tell the cop what your actions wil be if you need to get your liscnse from poclket. Anyways he was being really nice about it and asked how I was doing and my story to why I blew the stop sign. I didn't think he was gonna give me the ticket at first but he came back to me and gave it to me (removed). I understand it was my fault so I said "thank you" to him and that was the end of it.ANYWAYS the reason I post is because I was wondering how much and how many points "disregaurding a stop sign" will be worth in Michigan. I can deal with the money no problem but if I get points my insurance will spike and my mom will kill me and maybe we will have to get rid of the VIbe. I can hide this from my mother but if I get points she will find out and then I'll be screwed.

tecton · Post by **tecton** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:24 pm

i got one, not for a stop sign, but a red light...3 points

Ponyota · Post by **Ponyota** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 8:22 pm

I'd just be honest with your mom and tell her that you got it... That way you won't have to hide it and if your insurance does go up then it won't be a big surprise. BTW.. That was cool what you did with your dome light, hands and telling him your actions, but why would you thank him for taking points and money from you.....(removed)!

Baltovibe · Post by **Baltovibe** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:09 pm

I have received a few tickets in Maryland ... mostly for traffic control devices (stop signs, red lights).Each time, I contest the charges, and take it to traffic court. Always has ended up that I get PBJ (Probation Before Judgement), and as long as I keep clean for a couple of months, it never shows on my record. I have never gotten a point! I only ever had to pay court costs ... around $30.

Flip-Side · Post by **Flip-Side** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 11:28 pm

Quote, originally posted by Baltovibe Â»Each time, I contest the charges, and take it to traffic court. Always has ended up that I get PBJ (Probation Before Judgement)Try doing that in Grand Blanc, or Flint Michigan and you will have a rude awakening. The county prosecutor has the option to press charges even if the cop doesn't show. On one occurence, I got a ticket for 10 over, of which I was seriously innocent (the moron tagged a car passing me on the highway). I showed 3 times and the cop no showed, and on the 3rd time the prosecutor decided to stop waiting and push through anyways. Points plus fine. Depends on your cop and your judge. Both were total jerks.

redlava · Post by **redlava** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 11:42 pm

Sorry to hear about your ticket man.Rule #1 on driving, that one car at night is ALWAYS a cop. It never fails, I had a similar incident several years ago that involved a stop light on a deserted street full of flashing yellow lights at 3 in the morning.Quote, originally posted by Flip-Side Â»Try doing that in Grand Blanc, or Flint Michigan and you will have a rude awakening. The county prosecutor has the option to press charges even if the cop doesn't show. On one occurence, I got a ticket for 10 over, of which I was seriously innocent (the moron tagged a car passing me on the highway). I showed 3 times and the cop no showed, and on the 3rd time the prosecutor decided to stop waiting and push through anyways. Points plus fine. Depends on your cop and your judge. Both were total jerks.You had to go to court for the same incident three different times?!?!?!Something is rotten in Denmark there. That should never happen, if that cop doesn't show, too bad, you pay court costs and then you are on your way

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 4:40 am

My wife just beat a stop sign ticket in court last Thursday. If she had lost it would have cost her the ticket plus court costs for a total of $277.00 plus 3 points. Here the cop does not need to show up, the proc. attorney has a written statement to go on, that's it.

dsegundo · Post by **dsegundo** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:24 am

You could have asked the cop. I ask all the time

bckersey · Post by **bckersey** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:09 am

I've heard rumors that this might work:Write the check to the township or county for $1 more than the actual fine. Mail the check in. They will eventually send you a check for $1. Do not cash this check and your insurance will never find out.I'm not sure how or even if this works, but i have heard people say it does. Does anyone else know about this? I figure for $1, it's worth a shot.

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:50 am

Quote, originally posted by bckersey Â»I've heard rumors that this might work:Write the check to the township or county for $1 more than the actual fine. Mail the check in. They will eventually send you a check for $1. Do not cash this check and your insurance will never find out.I'm not sure how or even if this works, but i have heard people say it does. Does anyone else know about this? I figure for $1, it's worth a shot.Nope, sorry.http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/ticket.asp

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:24 am

Well, everytime I got a ticket I asked the officer how many points or what the cost of the tickets were and each of the three times they didn't know. The one I just got, I did ask the cop as he walked away and he replied "I'm not sure. You can call the court and find out." You'd think that a law enforcement officer would actually know the penalties of the laws he is enforcing?!?!? I'm kind of disappointed in this because now I have to eitehr drive all the way to teh court house or figure out how to call. How much would insurance go up if I did get the points?If I tell my mom now, she probably wont let me get any more parts and stuff for the car and she would forbid me from all my current plans for the next couple months, so it will be a surprise to her no mater when I tell her. I have enough money in my bank to pay for an insurance increase we would have for this year until I can pay for it from my pocket.

micheles_bad_vibe · Post by **micheles_bad_vibe** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:30 am

jwalcik · Post by **jwalcik** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:00 pm

i'm not sure how old you are, but in texas, if you're under 18, you can't take care of a ticket without your parents. *any* ticket, no matter what, and you have to go to juvenille traffic court here. i remember when i was 17, and in an accident that i wasn't at fault for (i was rear ended on the freeway). my proof of insurance was a week expired, and like an idiot i'd left the new one sitting on my desk at home. the very next day i went to the courthouse and they voided the ticket when i showed them the new proof of insurance, however three weeks later i got a letter in the mail inviting my mother and i to the courthouse on a friday night. 6pm - 10pm, and they called cases in alphabetical order. my last name starts with "W".

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 12:28 am

Well mine starts with W tooo lol. Doesn't it suck being last all the time?Thanks for the info. Michele! Eve if it is bad news lol. Since you are in insurance, if I don't get points but still pay the fine, teh insurance company wont raise the rates correct?

shagginwagin · Post by **shagginwagin** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 12:47 am

Paul this is what I did when I got a ticket for speeding. Just write a letter to the court and realize that is was wrong and take responsibility. Then say that you'll pay the fine but to please not put any points on your record because your mom pays the insurance. They'll probably let you do that.

bckersey · Post by **bckersey** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:05 am

Quote, originally posted by pmh013 Â»Nope, sorry.http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/ticket.aspThanks for shooting this down, I'd been wondering if this was true or not.

micheles_bad_vibe · Post by **micheles_bad_vibe** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:22 am

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:43 am

Well i can't accept my punishment because my car will be gone! Let's not say "well than you shouldn't have done it" because that's the oldest and most anoying line in the book. I figure I could get away with it JUST ONCE like everyone I see doing it and ontop of drinking and driving I see around me and I get caught the only time lol. I have horrible luck.I have friends with Mustangs and brand new camaros that pay less insurance than I do...What justifys them to charge me $2600 a year for a base 4 cylinder wagon?!!??!?!?!?!?!?! I'm in a good area,my mom's listed as a primary driver and the car is actually listed as a secondary car, neither my mom or myself have ever gotten tickets before...I don't get it.

Charlievibe · Post by **Charlievibe** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:51 am

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow Â»I have friends with Mustangs and brand new camaros that pay less insurance than I do...What justifys them to charge me $2600 a year for a base 4 cylinder wagon?!!??!?!?!?!?!?! I'm in a good area,my mom's listed as a primary driver and the car is actually listed as a secondary car, neither my mom or myself have ever gotten tickets before...I don't get it.I think you would have to directly compare policy to policy to find out why they are paying less. For instance, I pay more than some of the people I work with because I carry higher liability. Maybe you carry collission and they don't?!?! There are a number of things that would cause the difference. Even something as different as different insurance companies.

shagginwagin · Post by **shagginwagin** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 5:37 am

Paul. I'm telling you. do what I said. Then you're insurance wont go up. All you'll do is pay the fine. It worked twice while I was in high school. Just make sure you say that your mom pays your insurance and she shouldn't be punished for your mistake.

micheles_bad_vibe · Post by **micheles_bad_vibe** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:29 am

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:21 pm

I do get the d*mn "good student" discount I have around 3.7gpa and we are STILL paying $2600 about. Actually now that I think about it, if I give my mom $30-$40 a week instead of the $20 I will be able to cover the increase no problem but will have less money for myself which is fine with me since I was the dumb@$$!Taking the car away wouldn't work. For one thing, this was an accident and I would never do something like this again since I never have in the past so it would basically be punishing me for something I already know is wrong and that I wont do again. Secondly, I have to go to school and work. I could take the bus to school I gues if I found out which one but work is another story. "You should be grateful, back in my day, I didn't have a car, I had to walk up hill both ways in 14 feet of snow in 105 degree temperatures for 5 billion miles." (removed).Ok, well THANKS a ton for all the info. I gues I'll just save the cash and go to court on June 02 and hope the Majistrate is feeling nice. I'll think about using your plea Shaggin. "My mom shouldn't be punished for my mistake." Although I'd rather not let her find out about it if possible.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:46 pm

Quote, originally posted by micheles_bad_vibe Â»michigan sucks a$$ as far as rates are concernedtry living in jersey.highest rates in the country.

kostby · Post by **kostby** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:57 pm

Quote, originally posted by micheles_bad_vibe Â»listing your mom as a primary driver may not be any better because the older you are, the more expensive insurance tends to be as well... if you're over 50Not ALWAYS the case... My (Indiana) insurance company has a 'mature driver discount' which begins at age 45! Go figure! I won't tell you what I'm paying. It would just make you cry. IMHO it might be time to shop your insurance around (online is pretty easy), BEFORE you plead the traffic ticket!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 3:07 pm

Quote, originally posted by kostby Â»IMHO it might be time to shop your insurance around (online is pretty easy), BEFORE you plead the traffic ticket!He's under 18, can he even get an independent policy?

kostby · Post by **kostby** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:54 pm

Good point! I was actually thinking of his MOM shopping her insurance around, with him on the policy...

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:45 am

I got pulled for running a stop sign once. It was a great place to do it, as you came up on the stop sign there was plenty of visibility to see if cars were coming, and I just rolled through it, and out of nowhere a cop was right on my tail. Sucker materialized from a parallel dimension or something. He asked me if I realized that I didn't come to a full stop, and I told him that I knew I didn't but that the corner provided excellent visibility and I was certain that there was no traffic coming. He wrote me up for some equipment issues I was having with the junker car I had at the time (in Maryland they can write you an inspection ticket, and you have to get the items repaired within a certain amount of time or they fine you) and then gave me a warning for running the stop sign because he still couldn't believe I would run a stop sign with him parked right at the corner. I felt both stupid and relieved.Anwyay merz, sucks to get another ticket, hope you can either beat it or negotiate a lesser impact, and that you can avoid them in the future.

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:38 am

Thanks If I could pay TWO TIMES the ticket fine inplace of the points I would gladly do that but I don't think the case is up for negotiation.

Flip-Side · Post by **Flip-Side** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:35 am

Hate to say it, but with a new car what would you expect? If you are under 21, paying insurance on a new car is a disaster. Thats why I drove used up pieces of crap. It's the price you pay for reliability and responsibility I'm afraid. I got 2 tickets my first year of driving, but since I kept the same insurance they never picked up on them. Once I switched to a new insurer, they picked up on the tickets and I got the screws put to me.I think what you did was not that big of a deal (should have been a warning) but I've been there and if no points means I have to be Grandpa Flip-Side behind the wheel, so be it. My Saturn cost me 1700 every 6 months in South Carolina. Rediculous.

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 3:26 pm

That's nuts...and you better believe I come to a complete stop every flashing red, yellow light, and stop sign now (removed). I've even reduced my speed so I've learned my lesson. I wish I could tell the judge that I can't beleive it $1700 for 6 months for a saturn!?!?!?! wow! Progressive wanted $7600 a year for me!!!!!!! I was about to buy an '88 Monta Carlo SS with my own cash but my mom wouldn't let me buy a used car. So I gues I had no say in any of this but hey, a brand new car for free? I'll take it. Especially the Vibe. Hated it at first but as soon as I saw it in person I fell in love

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 12:13 am

The high cost of insurance is probably explained by the fact that you're a 17-year-old male, and insurance companies believe all single males under 25 are dangerous, basically. The younger you are, the worse it gets, thus, the more expensive it gets. When you turn 21 it goes down some, but the big reduction doesn't come until you turn 25, and even then I'd imagine it depends on how many tickets/accidents you've accrued in that time.

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:20 am

Hmm, well thanks for the info Kari. When we quoted the Vibe, I was listed as a secondary driver and the Vibe was under a secondary car! I also believe I was still on my permit so I didn't even have my liscense yet!

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 12:46 pm

What do you mean? The court date isn't until June 2nd?!?

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 12:59 pm

The cops write the court date on the ticket already. You don't get to pick it! They pick one for you. Of course the cop didnt know how much hte fine was OR how many points so I have to call.

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:06 pm

lol.....I thought I was going to get killed by the FBi or something lol. Yeah they asign you a court date now....it's normally on the ticket. One of my neon tickets the officer didn't write the date on there so I had to call and retrieve it. I didn't get to pick it myself they already asigned it I gues the officer was too lazy to write it for me.

Flip-Side · Post by **Flip-Side** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:11 pm

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow Â»Progressive wanted $7600 a year for me!!!!!!! I was about to buy an '88 Monta Carlo SS with my own cash but my mom wouldn't let me buy a used car. Eek!

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:32 pm

Well, I called and it's $110 fine and 3 points?!?!?!? How can a stop sign be three points...speeding isn't even that many!!!! I didn't even BLOW through it, I rolled throuhg it!

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 6:54 am

Not nessicarily. At hte stop sign I rolled through, it was in a Michigan turn around and all cars were cisible from all sides. It was at around 11pm and I could see perfectly. I think they should give you points according to the situation. I think speeding about 10mph is more dangerous than rolling through a visible stop sign at about 5mph. You could hit a kid or animal when speeding.ANYWAYS I'm not saying it is alright to run stop signs, I admit I was a complete moron for doing so but as I said earlier this is the first time I've ever done it so I figured with all the **** my friends and family get away with that I would be able to get away with it just once.Yes I am hoping I get hte points dismissed. I will tell the trueth and since none of my other tickets (neons, and curfew) had anything to do with dangerous driving I hope I can just take a class as Silver said.

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 3:50 pm

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow Â»Well, I called and it's $110 fine and 3 points?!?!?!? Here in PA it is also 3 points and the fine is just about the same. I got stopped for not completely stopping at a stop sign once and my God, you'd think I'd just robbed a bank or something. The cop stopped me after following me for about 1/2 mile and never got out of the car. Next thing I know, 3 more cop cars come flying around the corner, lights and sirens blaring, tires squealing, the whole deal. No, I don't have a gun registered to my name and no I don't have a concealed carry weapons permit (yet). The police sargeant got out of his car and approached me to talk to me. That guy could have easily been nominated for "hardass of the year". What a total jerk. He talked to me like I was some kind of idiot and was blatantly insulting to me and I just had to sit there and take it and reply "yes sir" and things like that even though I wanted to rip his empty head off. The cop who originally pulled me over wrote up the ticket and came back to my car to give it to me and he was actually very nice. I got fined and assessed 3 points for running a stop sign I never actually ran. I stopped completely at the stop sign, where I was completely obscured from view by an observer on the perpendicular street that the cop was approaching on. After I stopped, I pulled up about 10-15 feet to see if any traffic was coming because those bushes were about 8 feet high. When I saw no traffic in either direction, I proceeded to turn and just as I entered the intersection, I noticed a pair of headlights coming up over the hill about 1/2 mile down the road. The cop wasn't in a position to see me stop at the stop sign and only saw my car as I was entering the intersection when he finally came up over the small hill in the distance. Man, was I pi$$ed! I actually stopped, he never saw it and wasn't in a position to see it, and he assumed that I ran the stop sign! Totally bogus! But I was younger and dumber then and didn't know that I could fight it so I just paid it and let the system screw me over.As for overpaying the ticket a few bucks to avoid points being bogus, I have to partially disagree. I got a speeding ticket about 4 years ago and intentionally overpaid the fine by $6 because I heard of this tactic. I waited until the last day possible to pay the fine, and overpaying it dragged out the process a few months. It took them about 2 months to issue me the check for overpayment and I never cashed the check. They gave me 3 months I think to cash the check before it automatically became void, and the points were never put on my license until after the check voided. I had 8 pts on my license at the time and if you reach 11 in PA, your license is automatically suspended for 6 months and you have to go to a DOT meeting to beg for your license back. When you have 6 pts, they make you come in to the DOT and take a special point reduction exam. If you pass a 20 question multiple choice test, they take 2 pts off. My pt reduction exam was scheduled for the mean time between when I got that ticket and when the pts were actually added on to my license. If I would have had any pts added on during that period, my license would have been automatically suspended. So by delaying the addition of the points long enough, I was able to pass that special test, have 2 points taken off, then 4 were added back on, bringing me to a total of 10---one pt shy of automatic suspension. So in a sort of ingenious way, I paid an extra $6 to keep my license. Well worth it I think.I should tell you that my record is now technically cleared of all points. After 3 consecutive years of not getting any moving violations, PA will drop all points off your record. So I'm back down to 0.

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:43 am

Well that's an interesting story, though it seems to be very risky Lets say I get the points but magically loose them within a couple of weeks. Will my insurance go up even if the points are taken off emediately?

Mr. Poopypants · Post by **Mr. Poopypants** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:49 am

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow Â» You could hit a kid or animal when speeding.But you couldn't hit a kid or animal when running a stop sign????

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 3:04 am

As I said, they should give points according to the situation, and I think it would be REALLY hard to hit a kid or animal at about 5mph when doing a rolling stop in an island turn around of an 8 lane highway with 100% visibilty on all sides during the late night hours with minimal traffic and ZERO pedistrians.I know stop signs are there for a very legitimate reason, but I'm saying it's rediculous that I get caught for it once and get a $5 million insurance increase for a first time offense...that's all I'm arguing here.

Mr. Poopypants · Post by **Mr. Poopypants** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 3:08 am

If you coast through a stop sign at 5 MPH, are you looking straight ahead of you to ensure you are not running anything over or do you look left and right to make sure no cars are coming? If you are looking for cars, you cannot be sure that you are not running over the neighbor's kid. I know I'm preaching here, but you are complaining about a ticket that you deserved for not following traffic laws.

Mase · Post by **Mase** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 6:01 am

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow Â»...I'm saying it's rediculous that I get caught for it once and get a $5 million insurance increase for a first time offense...that's all I'm arguing here.The threat of an increase is what's supposed to help detour drivers from commiting moving violations. If everyone knew that all they would get was a slap on the wrist for their first time offense, then people would think it's ok to break some traffic laws because they know there wont be any consequences. All it takes it one mistake and a driver can cause some serious financial or physical damage to someone.Oh, and I feel your pain. I got my first ticket for a moving violation a few years ago and I'm still paying for it in insurance...

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 7:54 am

You don't have to look in one direction when moving, I'm not a horse with blinders lol! I looked forward, backward, side to side...when the island turn around is a good 600feet long and you are going around a corner at 5mph you've got plenty of time to look. These streets are well lit as well.I know I deserved it. I'm just irritated that my friends get away with drinking and driving, going 30mph over the limit during rush hour in and out of cars, doing burnouts, and I get screwed from a d*mn stop sign. It almost makes me want to slap the cops in the face and say "where the f*** were you when my friend almost rear ended a van at 70mph?!?!?!??!Sorry to sound stubborn here but I aparently inheritated my mom's "I'm never wrong" gene...