Yet another speeding ticket thread..

SePh1r0tH

Hey guys, I know theres been a dozen of these topics but I read through them and I still have a few questions.

So I got my first ticket about a week ago. It was midnight and a state officer followed me going 90 on the NJ turnpike (speed limit 65). He was nice enough and gave me careless driving saying it is less points on your license and a cheaper fine. I'm just wondering if I should admit to going 90 in court if asked? The cop told me I was going 90 and he didn't use his gun, he was trailing me.

Any advice for court would be great, I really don't know what to expect.

Oh yea, also the ticket does have the 65 MPH zone checked off in the "IN EXCESS SPEED LIMIT BY" section. So I guess it is a speeding ticket, I don't know how this works lol..

Kyzen

Does the ticket say you were going 90, or just say careless driving? Do you plan to pay it, or fight it?

PirateJon

What to expect:

Go to court on that date. Find the right courtroom. Wait until you're called up. Ask the judge to reduce the fine. Get told "no, the cop already lowered it". Pay the fine. Go home.

Thanatos

SePh1r0tH wrote: »

Hey guys, I know theres been a dozen of these topics but I read through them and I still have a few questions.

So I got my first ticket about a week ago. It was midnight and a state officer followed me going 90 on the NJ turnpike (speed limit 65). He was nice enough and gave me careless driving saying it is less points on your license and a cheaper fine. I'm just wondering if I should admit to going 90 in court if asked? The cop told me I was going 90 and he didn't use his gun, he was trailing me.

Any advice for court would be great, I really don't know what to expect.

Oh yea, also the ticket does have the 65 MPH zone checked off in the "IN EXCESS SPEED LIMIT BY" section. So I guess it is a speeding ticket, I don't know how this works lol..

I would be surprised if there wasn't some sort of traffic school thing you could do in New Jersey on your first ticket. My roommate gets back tomorrow, I'll ask him then (he's from Jersey, and has gotten many traffic tickets).

Preacher

Seems like the officer already cut you a break, might just want to thank your stars and pay the fine.

SePh1r0tH

Yea I was planning on paying the fine anyway, just wanted to know if the fine might be increased if I was asked the actually speed I was going. Its not specified on the ticket.

Preacher

If you pay the fine you dont have to go the courthouse you can just send a check.

Shmoepong

Wow. You're lucky. In Virginia anything 30 miles over the speed limit or over 80 mph is reckless driving. I had a friend who tried to fly as he was cresting over a hill. He saw the cop at the base of the hill and put on his brakes. He was caught going 96 in a 65 zone. He had to go 3 hours out of his way to show up at the local court, pay about $180 fine and had his license revoked for 3 months.

If you show up in court and the judge asks you a question, answer it honestly. They sniff out bs answers in a heartbeat. And it's the judges court, he'll do whatever he wants if he catches you lying.

Grimm

Why are you even going to court? Are you trying to get sent to traffic school or something to take care of some of those points?

SePh1r0tH

Yea I'm trying to pay extra whatever it is to get rid of the points.

thundercake

Yeah in VA you'd be screwed...especially these days since they increased the penalty on reckless driving, up to like $3000 or something ridiculous...

I don't think they'll up the charge if you tell the truth...but it really depends on the judge.

Fristle

Shmoepong wrote: »

Wow. You're lucky. In Virginia anything 30 miles over the speed limit or over 80 mph is reckless driving. I had a friend who tried to fly as he was cresting over a hill. He saw the cop at the base of the hill and put on his brakes. He was caught going 96 in a 65 zone. He had to go 3 hours out of his way to show up at the local court, pay about $180 fine and had his license revoked for 3 months.

If you show up in court and the judge asks you a question, answer it honestly. They sniff out bs answers in a heartbeat. And it's the judges court, he'll do whatever he wants if he catches you lying.

Actually it's anything 20+, not 30. So even if you're going 86 in a 65mph they can hit you with reckless driving. And it's a $1200 fine now too, like someone else said.

I've gone to defend myself twice for tickets when I was innocent and I have a 50% success rate. If I was guilty, I wouldn't even bother. Unless your Dad's a cop on the local force or some shit, then the judge will just let you off. But most of us can't play that card.

Fristle

PirateJon wrote: »

What to expect:

Go to court on that date. Find the right courtroom. Wait until you're called up. Ask the judge to reduce the fine. Get told "no, the cop already lowered it". Pay the fine. Go home.

Also don't forget the $60 or $80 they'll add for "court costs" for your 90 second trial. That's the best part.

I've never seen a judge raise a ticket, though. You'd probably have to be very unlucky, or say something to piss him/her off.