Speeding Ticket Help

[tjwoodson1]

I received my first speeding ticket today for 86 in a 70. I have to go to court--I can't pay it off. Has anyone had this experience? Any advice is good...

[wildcrazy442000]

Get an attorney, might be able to get prayer for judgement.

[tjwoodson1]

What is a prayer for judgement?

[minimark]

Your not convicted or let off, it just sorta sits in never, never land until and if a judge or DA wants to bring it back up if you get into more trouble. At the least a good attorney should be able to get it reduced to a lessor speed or even possibly an equipment voilation if you have a good record, might even be able to get it thrown out all together if it's your first offense.

The rub is all the mods you could have had for what the good attorney is going to cost ya.....:(

Bottom line: Get an Attorney.

[X5JR]

I wholeheartedly agree with Mark. Get an attorney, usually cost about $150-200. You will save 2-3 times that in insurance cost savings over the next 3 years. My wife and I have had to resort to this too many times, but I believe it is worth it.

[blitzcat]

Where did you get the ticket (looking for a county)? In guilford and orange I've just had to go to driving school (4hr and 8 hr). I've also done the PJC (Prayer for Judgment Continued) but recommend driving school because its double jeopardy if you get another ticket within 3 years. You will be driving in fear and unable to enjoy your MINI for a long time.

For school, they will give you a certificate, and mail it to the court for you. It will get the court to turn your ticket into a equipment violation ticket, as if you had a broken speedometer, so your insurance will not go up. The only time I used the attorney was when I couldn't get back for the first court date because it wasn't worth my time to drive back.
I've had 5-6 tickets so I've been to traffic school a few times, but you can go once or twice every 12 months. Never had a speeding ticket stick.

One time the topic of the school was 'how to get out of the ticket without using an attorney.' The instructor was fed up with people paying lawyers, because in his opinion it was unnecessary. We all talked about what we got hit for and the deal we were getting, so in the future we can just negotiate with the DA and ask for the deal we want.


Also, don't put too much work in 'finding an attorney' if you go that route. About a month after you get the ticket, the officers paperwork will get processed and released publicly on a list. All the attorneys that serve that court will send you a postcard or letter 2-3 days after the list comes out. Expect a dozen of these offers to hit your mailbox.

[N2MINI]

Get a ticket and the letters will come.. Talk to a couple of them and let them handle it as they see fit.. Worked for me last year and about 8 years ago..
The prayer for judgement is one route just got to make sure you don't get another ticket for about 3 years or this one will also come into play then as well..

[tjwoodson1]

Yeah, I don't think the state trooper liked me too much. I had cleaned the car up nicely for prom and had the harness in. With my luck he'd pull me over when I was wearing it.

It was in Farmville. I don't believe that is Pitt county... I'm not sure which county it is.

I had a friend that talked to the DA and was able to go to DIP class and pay money.

The part I'm worried about is that apparently you can lose you license if you are going over 80...

[tjwoodson1]

Also, he put the time as 12:40 am. It was at 11:10. Will that hurt me?

[BlimeyCabrio]

Also, he put the time as 12:40 am. It was at 11:10. Will that hurt me?

Get an attorney. As has been said, you'll get letters soliciting your business. Talk with each of them and see who has the best combination of (a) cost and (b) what they say they can get the charge reduced to. What you want is either (a) a dismissal or (b) reduced to 10 over or less (which will not impact your insurance unless you get another ticket in the next few years).

The time of day could help you IF you can prove it's wrong - if you have witnesses who say you weren't anywhere near there at that time, or weren't driving at that time. A cop sloppy enough to get the time THAT wrong is also sloppy enough to get the speed wrong. But again, ask the attorney about this one. Use whatever strategy the attorney suggests for your county and DA and judge combo. Different things apply different places.

I would recommend against the PJC unless that's your ONLY option. Why? Because each household can only use one PJC every three years. And there are much worse things that could happen than a speeding ticket where you might want to use it... I save that mulligan for things like fistfights... ;-)

[tjwoodson1]

Lucky for me, all my friends and parents passed me on the way home from prom!

[BThayer23]

Ouch, that hurts. A few thoughts:

I agree with what's been said above. Definitely hire a lawyer, it's expensive but it works out better for you in the end. The fee will probably be in the range of $120-250, plus court costs ($11-150). You won't have to go to court if you hire a lawyer, and you usually get better results. Check who pulled you over - city, county, or state highway patrol. PJC (prayer for judgment continued) is definitely a last resort. Some counties are stricter than others (Wake is bad), but most places in NC will negotiate. If you can at least get the charge reduced to 9 over the limit, you'll be good as long as you don't get another one. 9 over counts as 1 point on your license and none on your insurance - you need two points before your insurance kicks up to the next expensive bracket, and you lose 1 point every three years with no moving violations. The better option is to get it reduced to improper equipment, which is a non-moving violation, and take some sort of driving school. The online ones can be expensive ($50-100) but they're much better than classroom sessions, which are like driver's ed for big kids. You won't lose your license unless you're convicted for driving over 80 - a lawyer will prevent that from happening. And yeah, if the cop got the time that wrong (check the date, too), your lawyer might be able to get you off (best case).

[N2MINI]

Food for thought.
Be careful if posting in some other sites ( NAM ) about speeding on a public road. I mentioned in a Speeding Ticket Thread about MSSD last year and 4 of us in a group of 20 or so getting a ticket for "pushing the speeding limit alittle too much" Never mentioned a speed. That post got me 25 "points" Get too many points and you could be BANNED from the site..

[Vango]

No question get a lawyer

[GokartPilot]

The part I'm worried about is that apparently you can lose you license if you are going over 80...

Taylor, I would go with the lawyer. It might cost a few bucks up front but it will save you in the long run. Actually 15mph over the posted speed limit can cost you your license.

http://http://www.speedingticketcentral.com/North-Carolina-speeding-ticket.html

[JumpingJackFlash]

On top of the other recommendations, provided this goes the distance, and you have to ante up, inquire about a payment plan. They allow for that with unpaid fines in may districts here in VA.

[Vango]

Just got a letter from my lawyer my ticket was reduced to improper equipment.

[Thom]

Just got a letter from my lawyer my ticket was reduced to improper equipment.

You'll have to let the other half know that now you need a GP since the S is "improper equipment"

[minimark]

Sweet!!!

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[Vango]

Would love to have the gp but I don't see. That happening

[onefastmini]

I went without a lawyer one time. I pushed my luck, I know, but I won. I had all day sitting there to listen to the lawyers speak, and how they spoke to the judge. The idiots there without an attorney (I include myself) got the book thrown at them with zero leniency and thought I was screwed. When it was my turn, I pleaded "responsible" and the judge dropped the case, no fine, no points, no court costs.
I am not recommending this course of action, I must have been wearing my lucky underwear that day. The above advise to lawyer up is good. I would only talk to the ones that send you a letter, they know the magistrates or the judge that will hear your case.
Good Luck