First Speeding Ticket - Please Advise

Zee · 02-21-2005

I just got my first speeding ticket a few nights ago...

So my cousin and I were driving back to his house at 3 a.m. in the morning and I'm just cruisin' along, there aren't any other cars in sight so I'm going a little faster than usual and then all of a sudden a police car pulls up behind me and flashes his lights.

So I pull over and my cousin's sorta freakin' out and I'm very calm. He comes over and gives me the rundown of questions. Do you know the speed limit around here? How fast were you going? Who owns this car? Where are ya headed? Etc. So I, being nervous and kinda freaked out at my first run-in with a cop, answer all the questions honestly. I said I thought I was doing 45-ish in a 30 mph zone and he says, "Try 52 in a 25 mph zone." So I'm like, #$%!. He takes my license and takes it back to his cruiser.

My cousin and I are just talking about what just happened and he takes forever, like 25-30 minutes. We're waiting and then he comes back and he's all like...

"First off, it's past your curfew (In Virginia minors can't drive between 12 am - 4 am) and you shouldn't even be driving in the first place. You were going double the speed limit and that's reckless driving. That could get you about 6 points on your license. (Ouch.) Luckily I'm feeling nice tonight and I'm just gonna give you this speeding citation."

He makes me sign it, I take it, and leave. Shit. The ticket's gonna come out to be like $150 probably...

So, after that whole ordeal... what I wanna know is...

What should I do about it? There's a court date for it in about a month. I've read in many places on the internet that I should definitely fight the ticket. I'm seriously considering this because I don't have any money.

What I was thinking of doing was trying to postpone the court date on the off-chance that the cop might not show up and I could get the trial dismissed. Then, even if he did come, I would fight it... I don't know how. I heard I could subpeona for a disclosure of the evidence the prosecution has against me. If he was using radar maybe I could contest that it wasn't working properly or something... I dunno I honestly don't think I deserve a very harsh punishment. I don't think I was doing 50. Yeah I know I was still speeding but I really don't want to suffer any serious penalties...

OR

I would plead guilty and accept a plea bargain. But I wanna know what this would do to my license and my insurance if I pleaded guilty and was convicted. I really don't want insurance to shoot up and I don't want any points on my license.

What should I do? Please give any advice you can. Thanks.

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cambo · 02-21-2005

I was in the same boat as you except i was doing 37 in a 25mph school zone. The thing was, school wasn't in session as it was the summer, summer school wasnt going to start for another week, it was the weekend, and it was after school hours anyways.

Anywho, I just went to court with my dad. We were both dressed in suits and ties, just generally looking very clean cut. The judge asked if i wanted to plead guilty and not guilty. I told him i was guilty of the speeding and was VERY sorry that it happened. The judge then looked at my record and of course, it was spotless. His exact words were "Well son, your record is spotless and this is your first offense. I don't think it was very fair for you to get the ticket considering the circumstances." He gave me a defferred probation thing. As long as i didn't get any tickets for the next 6 months, the ticket would be:
1. wiped off my record
2. Never sent to Richmond
3. Never sent to my insurance company

All i had to pay was the court fees, which came to be like $35 or something like that.

Well, thats my experience for my first ticket. Maybe you'll get something from it. BTW, this was in fairfax county.

cambo · 02-21-2005

Oh yea,

The cop already gave you a break and from past experiences, you won't get any more breaks on this ticket. You can try though.

hotrodcivic2004 · 02-21-2005

just go to court see hwat happens..but theres nothing u can 'fight' since u were going 52 in a 25....

Zee · 02-21-2005

Thanks for your input. I think I'll do what cambo did and just 'fess up. I hope they cut me the same break.

i8dabomb · 02-21-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zee

Thanks for your input. I think I'll do what cambo did and just 'fess up. I hope they cut me the same break.

noo! dont fess up! never fess up! just say his radar missed you and keep on appealing it