Help with speeding ticket in a small town

[SpaceGal]

Man this sucks...so here's my sad little story. I just moved to this small town (it's actually a village with 2500 residents) in Central New York and I got pulled over for doing 42 in a 30 zone in this stupid village I lived in. Now I have a summons to go to court. I've only been here a week and man this happens. I'm not a wreckless driver, in fact I haven't driven in 3 years because I used to live in NYC so I took public transportation. This is my first offense ever and I really didn't think I was going that fast. If it makes a difference, I've only driven my Vibe less than ten times so far and it only to run errands like buy groceries and stuff like that. Ugh what should I do...do I postpone...do I get a lawyer...I get 4 points on my license if I just pay and I really don't want that to happen. I'm so bummed out...and now my Vibe's been tainted by this stupid ticket. Any advice for a total newbie??

[cibomatto]

hey SG,first of all if this is your first ticket I wouldn't worry too much about it although I am puzzled why your were summoned to go to court. I guess NY state laws are different from VA laws. Well if anything you SHOULD go to court for the possibilty of getting the charges reduced. Bring a copy of your driving record and state that you are new to the town, you are dring a new car and that your drving record is GREAT. That should help... If anything see if you can take a driving improvement course to have the charges dropped/suspended.

[cibomatto]

oh and what "villiage" in NY are you in now?I use to live in NYS

[Reynoma]

Sorry, I cannot give you any direct advice. I've only ever gotten one speeding ticket, and I simply paid it.I've heard many people say to at least show up at court and you may get lucky and get the $/points reduced. I've also heard storys of the police officer not showing up. But, I've also heard horror stories about additional costs because you fight the ticket.My advice: pay the ticket and chalk it up as a lesson learned.

[SpaceGal]

Liverpool...near Syracuse...up until the whole incident I was really loving this place. I thought wow it nice to live where people are not rude and everything's relaxed. Then this happened and I feel slighted. I know everyone says it's not a big deal...but I feel like it is. I guess that's because it's my first time.*sigh* what's ironic is my hubby always says that I'm too cautious and too slow a driver...he calls me grandma...and now I'm the "speed demon".

[drunkenmaxx]

around here, you just ask if you can get court supervision. w/this, you pay a little extra for your fine, go on probation for a yr or so, then, you have a clean record and the ticket never happened!

[cibomatto]

SG, The first ticket is the hardest one to get. Beleiev me I remember getting my first ticket and BOY it sucked... I got use to it after like my 5th one..LOL.. Piece of cake.. IN my experiance if you show up to court they almost always reduce it or throw it out especially if you demonstrate that you otherwise have a clean record. however... Its just ONE ticket... just stay away from getting anymore..

[SpaceGal]

cibomatto,Yeah I am terribly bummed...I feel like I ruined my insurance rates and have brought upon bad karma on my Vibe...hence it's bad vibe for now. *sigh* not to be so dramatic tho...just I hate having this feeling...I guess it didn't help that the officer made me feel like I murdered someone. Now when I'm driving I'm staying at the speed limit...granted people tailgate me now but I don't want another one. Being new to this town I don't want to be the "wreckless driver" that all the cops look out for. I just hate that he tailed me and ticketed me a 100 ft from my apartment and now he knows where I live and I stick out like a sore thumb cuz of my car and my race. I'm not saying it's a race thing but there aren't many people of color in this place.

[cibomatto]

check this link out.. http://www.google.com/search?h...ointsLooks like you can elect to take a drivers improvement course.. It will reduce your driving "points" also it might help keep the insurance premiums down... although I can't stress enough to you that one ticket isn't the end of the world..

[SpaceGal]

Thank you cibomatto...I didn't even think about taking the class yet...I'm definitely going to now.

[spideymike1]

Agreed with cibomatto - go to court and show your driving record, etc. Maybe they will reduce or waive the charge. The worst case scenerio is that you still have to pay the ticket -but you won't know it ya don't try...good luck!

[Raven]

What kind of wacked-out place gives out 4 points and increases insurance rates for doing 42 in a 30 zone, first offence? What do they give for DUI, the DEATH SENTENCE!!!

[drunkenmaxx]

insurance goes up no matter where you are if you get a ticket.here in the MO-IL area, there are traffic law offices that specialize in getting you off the hook. i paid one around here and they got my 84 in a 55 dropped and my 54 in a 35 put on supervision for a yr, then dropped. my insurance company never even found out.

[msmyer]

Quote, originally posted by Vib'in Girl »Basically you were doing 42 in a 30 zone.... you got caught... you have to pay the ticket...The authorities have decided that in that zone the speed limit should be 30.When I get a ticket for speeding, I pay it and move on!Couldn't agree more. I have a few friends that are cops in smaller towns and that's about all they do is write tickets. For kicks and giggles check out this website.... http://www.speedtrap.org/ It talks about "fighting" a ticket but I agree with Cibomatto too, take your driving record with you. It may work! If you want to prevent a ticket, get a radar detector. I have this one and I've never gotten a ticket! Knock on wood You might want to look into that too....It's help me a lot and it's paid for itself by not getting a ticket!

[Raven]

Quote, originally posted by drunkenvibe »insurance goes up no matter where you are if you get a ticket. Where I live, your insurance does not go up unless you get multiple speeding tickets in a relatively short period of time. Also, I don't think you get any demerit points for being only 12 mph over the limit. Everyone here routinely drives at least 10-15 kph over the speed limit because the police only stop those who are really flying.

[SCTM]

Watch out on small towns... I remember when I got my first ticket with my first car (buick regal '74) long time ago, while crossing small town... never passed there again after.But wait... running 42 in 30MPH zone is nearly 50% over speed limit !Convertion Mph to Kph tells me that you were at 68Kph in 48Kph zone (let say then 70 into 50k zone...) 20Kph over, even here it's too much for our cops!

[Jethro]

Quote, originally posted by SCTM »But wait... running 42 in 30MPH zone is nearly 50% over speed limit !Finally, somebody points out what should have been the obvious. 42 in a 30 is 40% over the limit and just plain too fast - the ticket is warranted.How fast do you drive on the highway? 72 in a 65 is 10% over and is usually overlooked, 75 in a 65 is 15% over and seems to be pushing the limit many places. 15% over 30 is only 34.5!30 MPH zones are usually at least somewhat residential - you may be an excellent driver but you can not control the others around you. These areas typically have more roadway entrances (driveways, alleys, side streets) and it's also possible to have pedestrians (including small children) that could step out in front of you.I didn't see any suggestion that the clocked speed of 42 was in error so quit moaning, suck it up, and go pay your fine. Learn the lesson and watch your speed closer when in town.

[Stang2Vibe]

Quote, originally posted by Sunny »What kind of wacked-out place gives out 4 points and increases insurance rates for doing 42 in a 30 zone, first offence? What do they give for DUI, the DEATH SENTENCE!!!We pretty much get that treatment here as well. BELIEVE me, I know all too well. But as you also mentioned later, insurance usually doesn't go up unless you have multiple violations in a relatively short period of time.Here in PA, that is a 4 point violation as well. 3 more MPH and it would have been 5 points. When you get to 6 points, you automatically have to go to the DMV and take a special "point reduction test". It was a 20 question multiple choice test that you had to get at least 16 right, if I remember. I got a 20 out of 20 and sped back to school. LOL. When you pass the test, you get 2 points taken off your lisence. If you manage to rack up 11 or more points, they suspend your lisence until you have a departmental hearing. I never got that far and don't care to, but I've been up to 10. The combination of a Mustang and my right foot got me into a LOT of trouble. Now with the Vibe, cops don't even notice that I'm going faster on the highway than I used to in the Mustang.SG---It has been my experience that if you just show up for the first hearing and state your case, they are willing to listen. For you, it would be much easier since you have a clean record. I found that, even with multiple violations, they were willing to bargain down to a lesser charge which would reduce the fine and points. Most of the time, a good traffic lawyer could get you off completely. I feel that it is always worth contesting a traffic ticket, if for no other reason, than to make it easier on yourself in the future should you have another similar misfortune. Also, based on the info you've given, I'd be more than willing to bet that your race probably had something to do with it, as unfortunate as that is. I've been clocked going MUCH faster than that and gotten off with just a verbal warning. More than once. But on the other hand, if this did have racial motivations behind it, it may make you a marked person if you fight it and the local cops will be just waiting to pull you over for the stupidest things just to annoy and harass you.

[macrosonic]

Don't listen to anyone that says you should just plead guilty and pay the fine. Fight the ticket. Even if you plead "guilty with an explanation" you can at least avoid the points.Your insurance CAN go up even after 1 isolated ticket. I got a ticket over a year ago (with a clean record) and my insurance immediately shot up over $300 a year, on top of the $100 fine for the ticket.I'm not saying it's ok to speed, but let's face it, sometimes they setup speed traps in places where it's very easy to speed without realizing it. Not all roads with a 30mph limit really need a limit that low.Fight the ticket.

[macrosonic]

the percentage is irrelevant. If we're going to look at percentages then it would be much much worse to drive 40 in a 30 zone (25%), than it would be to drive 80 in a 70 zone (12.5%). They're both 10 over. The percentage does not matter.I'm not saying she's innocent. She was speeding. But I don't see how her "taking responsibility" will do anybody any good (except the police department treasury!)

[GoodVibErations2004]

my first ticket was for 77 in a 35. i was one of those reckless douchebags we all hate. now i never go more than 10 over the limit.

[Sublimewind]

And you bumped a 4yr old thread for that... lol..

[Mavrik]

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »And you bumped a 4yr old thread for that... lol.. talk about a blast from the past.on topic my first ticket was for 52 in a 40.seems to be a trend to go 12 over.I also paid my ticket.

[GoodVibErations2004]

lol wow didnt even realize how old it was. i tend to have like 40 threads up at a time jus lookin around. my bad. lol

[dianebrat]

In general design engineers build for the road to be safe at about 10-15 MPH over, then set the limit appropriate in the area. As long as you're not in a speed trap, and you don't mouth off to the officer, you can usually get a warning for about 10 over in a residential area in my experience. If the officer is in a neighborhood speed trap and there have been complaints, yeah, you're also going to get a ticket at 10 over.In MA, that first ticket, or your first or after 5 years, instantly wipes out about 5 points of "good driver credits" and that's an average of about $400 per year.Diane

[808 Vibes]

Quote, originally posted by GoodVibErations2004 »lol wow didnt even realize how old it was. i tend to have like 40 threads up at a time jus lookin around. my bad. lolGravedigger!! LOL