I have a question about speeding tickets

it wasn't unusual to see a dozen cops a day in howard county. i see about a dozen a month out here. i don't drive like an animal anymore anyway, i have 1 speeding ticket in the last 4 years

i have never got out of a ticket in court, i've always had the fine cut in half. i did get out of a ticket once on the way back from funtime. i think i was 17 or 18. my eyes were so red he had to have known i had sinned, it was almost 2am i told him my mom didn't know i took the car out, had to have it back before 2am. he checked my record, which was clean a whistle, and let me go

okay, here's the deal with tickets - this is mainly experience with fairfax co, but i imagine its about the same most places.

the officer's word is fact in the eyes of the judge. you can't talk to the officer, but if you have a lawyer, he can talk to the officer on your behalf (and normally they're pretty decent people).

show up (WITH a lawyer if at all possible) - best case, the cop doesn't show (it happens, but it's one day a month for all their tickets, so it's really bad on them if they miss court). your lawyer can probably talk to the cop and getting it down to if he's reasonably well liked... i've seen 15mph over go down to failure to obey a sign. judges also tend to get the lawyered defendants in and out of the courthouse a lot quicker.

second best case (and likely without a lawyer) - if you've got a clean record, you'll likely be told you have the option to take an online class ($60 and 4 hours or so) and the charge will disappear. even though this takes the time for court and the class, it's just as good as getting it dismissed basically.

worst case you get stuck with it. arguing wagainst the cops word won't work, appealing won't get you anywhere, so it's not worth bothering with that. you can ask if the radar was calibrated (that CAN get the ticket kicked) but in fairfax co, they keep their stuff updated and on hand from everything i've seen.

have certified driving records btw... the dmv can print them out, ask for the one used for court (there are 3 different versions, personal being 10 years, then like a 2 and 5 year one or something for court or employment or whatever). It cost almost nothing.

you can also have an auto shop check your speedometer, that's usually good for knocking 2-3mph off.

I've gotten out of 2 tickets so far.

One, being on my cell phone in DC and 2, going 85+ in a 65 (I-270)

My family is notorious for getting speeding tickets in Dinwiddie county VA (I-85, Virginia heading into NC) and I'm heading down to NC this weekend.

*knocks on wood*

it wasn't unusual to see a dozen cops a day in howard county. i see about a dozen a month out here. i don't drive like an animal anymore anyway, i have 1 speeding ticket in the last 4 years

i have never got out of a ticket in court, i've always had the fine cut in half. i did get out of a ticket once on the way back from funtime. i think i was 17 or 18. my eyes were so red he had to have known i had sinned, it was almost 2am i told him my mom didn't know i took the car out, had to have it back before 2am. he checked my record, which was clean a whistle, and let me go

I moved from Fairfax to Columbia; it was a dream in comparison.

I've gotten out of 2 tickets so far.

One, being on my cell phone in DC and 2, going 85+ in a 65 (I-270)

My family is notorious for getting speeding tickets in Dinwiddie county VA (I-85, Virginia heading into NC) and I'm heading down to NC this weekend.

*knocks on wood*

25YO female on a phone behind the wheel of a car?
http://redriverpak.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/183_fry-run-for-your-life.gif



I get scared every time I see it.

Last time I went to court for my last speeding ticket, about a year and a half ago, one of the cops (not mine) didn't show up to court and the judge simply postponed all his cases to the cop's next available date. There was a lot of angry people leaving the courtroom lol. Naturally it was Fairfax County too.

What do you mean is it legal? You were going over the speed limit... how is it not legal to ticket you?

What do you mean is it legal? You were going over the speed limit... how is it not legal to ticket you?

BWHAHA...what a question. I also just realized he said the limit was 60 and he was going 11 over, not a 65 zone...so yeah, the ticket was well-earned.

Reminds me of the kids who steal a candy bar from the store and claim it's OK because it only cost a dollar.

I've gotten out of 2 tickets so far.

One, being on my cell phone in DC and 2, going 85+ in a 65 (I-270)

My family is notorious for getting speeding tickets in Dinwiddie county VA (I-85, Virginia heading into NC) and I'm heading down to NC this weekend.

*knocks on wood*

*Note to self, avoid being on the road at the same time as DynamiteRave*

Rave is the reason I always park outside of DC and take the metro in...so I'm not on the road with her!