HELP - Court date Friday to fight my speeding ticket. Need Advice.

[TuffGuy]

I got a speeding ticket way back in October for doing 80mph on a 55mph freeway. I thought that the limit was 65mph, but 80mph is still speeding. He followed me with his lights off for a few miles and only wrote me up for 75mph since I was signalling and didn't cut anybody off.

Anyway, I got my ticket WAAAY back in October, late at night. My court date is set for Friday morning at 8:30. I'm *hoping* that the cop officer doesn't show up since it's been so long, I think he works the night shift, and it's the morning after the 4th of July.

What do I do/say if he does show up? Do I get a chance to change my plea, or what happens?

 

[Dually]

Usually the cops are required to show up by the Department, at least that is the way it is around here. I would suggest talking to the cop before the trial to work out a deal such as:

You pay the fine but don't get the points.

Otherwise it doesn't look good unless your lucky in this case.

I hate it when they have a freeway and then lower the speed limit.

 

[Brutuskend]

Is this your first court date?

If so, I think they'll ask you if your plead guilty or not guilty.

If you plead not guilty they will set another date, THAT time the officer will have to be there. On the first date I don't think he will have to be there however.
I could be wrong. But I think thats how it works most places.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Reguardless of whether this is your first or not, you'll show up and you'll be given choices.

If you want to plead Guilty, you'll pay your fine which will probably be reduced because you're saving the court costs and time, etc (or have 30 days to pay it), the ticket goes on your record, and you leave.
If you want to plead No Contest, you'll go into court and explain to the judge and the judge only what the circumstances were reguarding your speeding, hoping that he'll reduce it before it goes on your record.
If you want to plead Not Guilty, they'll take down your contact information and dismiss you. You'll get something in the mail with the soonest court date available for the officer to show up in court with you. You'll show up and present your case against the officer who will be presenting his case against you. This is your only chance to get out of the ticket completely. If you are found guilty, the judge makes the decision what to fine you from the full price that the law allows (reguardless of what's on the ticket) to as cheap as he wants to fine you. If you're found innocent or there's not enough proof to show that you were speeding (hardy har har), you get released and the ticket dismissed with no blemishes on your record.

Pleading No Contest will put the ticket on your record - but it gives you a chance to explain yourself and get the ticket possibly lowered.

Good luck

nik

 

[TuffGuy]

This is the second court date. The first time I went I entered the not guilty plea. I'm in LA btw, and from what I've heard, even though the cop has to show up, a lot of times they don't bother to. When they don't show up, the case is dismissed. Most people just pay the fine.

In my case, the fine was only $90 and my insurance didn't go up. But if I can get it taken off my record, that would be great.

 

[Rallispec]

if you show up, they'll almost always give you the option to take a drivers safety course or something along those lines, and then they'll drop the ticket. esp. if its your first offense.

 

[TuffGuy]

Btw, I already paid the ticket when I went in the first time. I don't think that they'll raise the citation cost if I'm found guilty, but I will get a full refund if I'm not.

 

[walrus]

Too late now but next time try This Or This

 

[Brutuskend]

IMO the chances of beating it are slim (unless the officer is a no show).

What you will probably accomplish is, next time he pulls some one over for doing 80 plus, he will write them for 80+.........

It's your first ticket and your rates didn't go up? I would have counted myself LUCKY to have been written for less than I was going (and the insurance thing), paid the ticket, and let it go. But that's just me...

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
IMO the chances of beating it are slim (unless the officer is a no show).

What you will probably accomplish is, next time he pulls some one over for doing 80 plus, he will write them for 80+.........

It's your first ticket and your rates didn't go up? I would have counted myself LUCKY to have been written for less than I was going (and the insurance thing), paid the ticket, and let it go. But that's just me...

You're right, I just figured that I didn't really have much to lose. If the violation stands, I've already paid my ticket, and the insurance didn't go up. But if it's dismissed, I get a refund, it's taken off my record, and even though my insurance didn't go up, it would've dropped $200 a year if it hadn't been for the ticket.

 

[yodayoda]

hey, i'm supposed to be in traffic court friday morning too, in van nuys. the guy got me going 80 in a 65 as well. i'm requesting traffic school--i had a ticket 14 months ago so technically i am not elligible, but i have heard it is the judge's discretion to allow it.

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: yodayoda
hey, i'm supposed to be in traffic court friday morning too, in van nuys. the guy got me going 80 in a 65 as well. i'm requesting traffic school--i had a ticket 14 months ago so technically i am not elligible, but i have heard it is the judge's discretion to allow it.

Traffic school is another reason why I wanna get this dismissed. Granted, this was my first ticket ever, but you never know what's gonna happen. Plus, I don't really have time for traffic school right now anyway.

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

You can do Traffic School online. Costs $25 and about 30 minutes. I would to that over everything else.

 

[OS]

If you got the ticket in october, I'd bet money the officer won't show.

If he remembers your ticket, you're f*cked. If he doesn't, he'll probably say 'no recall' and you'll get off.

Some places allow you to reverse your plea right before the trial. It depends on the courthouse.

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: OuterSquare
If you got the ticket in october, I'd bet money the officer won't show.

If he remembers your ticket, you're f*cked. If he doesn't, he'll probably say 'no recall' and you'll get off.

Some places allow you to reverse your plea right before the trial. It depends on the courthouse.

That's what I'm hoping, which is why I delayed it for so long. He gave me the ticket in Pasadena, and the courthouse is in downtown LA. And it's the day after the 4th, so I'm hoping that he doesn't have to work.

 

[TuffGuy]

UPDATE: The officer did show up, but he was late, so I changed my plea and got traffic school. No other fees involved.

The hardest part was telling this cute girl that the zipper on her tight leather skirt had popped open and her panties were showing. :Q

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: TuffGuy
UPDATE: The officer did show up, but he was late, so I changed my plea and got traffic school. No other fees involved.

The hardest part was telling this cute girl that the zipper on her tight leather skirt had popped open and her panties were showing. :Q

Sounds like a rough day in court!

Glad you got off so easy.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: TuffGuy
UPDATE: The officer did show up, but he was late, so I changed my plea and got traffic school. No other fees involved.

The hardest part was telling this cute girl that the zipper on her tight leather skirt had popped open and her panties were showing. :Q

dude, suck. Makes me rethink fighting the one I'm dealing with right now.