First Ticket Ever

[GonzagaVIBE_03]

Well, about a week ago I posted on someone here on genvibe getting a ticket and I was kinda sarcastic about it. Well, God must have been watching me because on my way back to college (Gonzaga) from Seattle I got a speediing ticket. I was only going about 76 - 77 and the speed limit was 70. I thought that the officer would let me off with a warning since is my first offense and I was only 10 % over. Anyway, since this is my first ticket, I am not sure what I should do. I called the courthouse and they said that they did not offer a class that I could take to get this ticket off my record. I got the ticket in a small town (Ritzville, WA), but can I take a class in another city to get the violation taken off my record? I am not sure what I should do exactly.Any Advice would be great. Thanks

[AKLGT]

oh that really sucks! ritzville, eh??? ya, i went to college w/ 2 girls from there, lol. they said it only had 2 stop signs and one stop light. in fact, until they met me, they'd never met an asian person or seen a black person except on TV! now that's a small town! ha ha ha...as for advice, i would just pay it. you were speeding so you can't do much about it in court other than ask to have it reduced. if they don't have a driver's class offered then not much you can do. just learn that you want to slow way down for the small little towns... that's their main source of income!

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by goodvibe » Hey TRDVIBE, I just got my unichip on my stock motor GT. I amazed at how much stronger the lower cam is. I'm shifting less around town and when passing on the highway. i know! ain't it cool? no cai? i thot you had one... it does get rid of the CEL

[philndz]

Quote, originally posted by GonzagaVIBE_03 » I was only going about 76 - 77 and the speed limit was 70. Arrghh...pathetic tickets like that make me sick! 7mph over...come on, thats ridiculous. I know for a fact that the cops in my town have an unwritten agreement that they wont give a ticket until u pop 5 over on streets or 10 over on the highways.....but obviously not every town is so laid back....sorry about that man. Do keep it off ur insurance though!-Phil

[Fformula88]

I'd go to court and contest it. I dunno how the laws work out there, but around here they (the town) will usually plead it down to a parking ticket. That way they get the fine. If you pay it as a speeding ticket, most of the money goes to the state. Plus, if the cop doesn't show, it will get thrown out. When you get to court, just ask to speak with the DA and ask to plead it down. Especially on a first offense, and a cheasy ticket like 76 in a 70, I bet they will do it! Best of luck!

[redlava]

If you can afford to take the time off of work or school I would go and contest it. You will probably have to pay the ticket anyway, but there is a decent chance that the cop won't even show up. Or if you are really lucky the judge might reduce it or void it because it was your first offense and you weren't going that fast.I got pulled over when I was in college for doing 67 in a 65 one time. I ended up with a written warning, 2:00 in the afternoon on a Sunday. What was the point. He even asked to see my friends ID too, it was the wierdest thing. But don't get me started on those type of stories cause I could go on for hours. lol

[GonzagaVIBE_03]

So far, it seems like I should fight the ticket. BUT, does it matter that I admitted to the officer that I was speeding????????

[Pablo1669]

Quote, originally posted by GonzagaVIBE_03 »So far, it seems like I should fight the ticket. BUT, does it matter that I admitted to the officer that I was speeding????????I might suggest trying to talk to the officer before you go into the courtroom if you see him. I did that when I was fighting a ticket one time, and gave him a sob story, he told the judge that he would allow the ticket to be dismissed. I wanted to give that cop a, well, lets not go into that here.Or, worst case scenario, you walk into the courtroom, see a spikey haired woman judge, the kind you know that hates anything with a (removed), and just turn around and RUN! I had a judge like that once, and she/he totally screwed me. she/he/it told me that I was lucky I didn't get written up for more (the cop wrote me up for 10 over, when my actual speed was 11 over).

[Fformula88]

Don't worry what you told the cop. They are not really deciding whether your guilty or not even though you will want to enter a plea of not quilty. You just want to plea it down. Set the date for court, go in, enter your plea of not guilty. Speak to the DA and ask to plea it down. They should be cool with it. Whatever you do, just don't pay it! Why take the points when you can almost always get it cut down to a non-moving voilation.