Speeding Tickets

[Stryker44]

Got one today going 47 in a 30 mph. Darn it.

In Maryland, where I live, they give the option of either

1. Pay ticket
2. Go to a hearing waiver where you basically plea guilty with explanation to a judge but without officer
3. Trial with officer present

Pretty hard to debate radar...so number 3 sounds like a stretch. I'm mostly concerned with insurance rates going up.

Anybody else ever in this situation, and which did you choose and why? I have 30 days to decide.

 

[Tabascocat]

Defensive driving class?

 

[Bigdog]

I have and paid the ticket plus i took an online driving course so my insurance would not go up that much. You could contest the ticket in which the officer has to be present to argue against you. If he doesn't show, it gets thrown out of court at least that what a police friend of mine has told me. Sometimes cops do not want to come on their off days.

 

[CF74]

Got one today going 47 in a 30 mph. Darn it.

In Maryland, where I live, they give the option of either

1. Pay ticket
2. Go to a hearing waiver where you basically plea guilty with explanation to a judge but without officer
3. Trial with officer present

Pretty hard to debate radar...so number 3 sounds like a stretch. I'm mostly concerned with insurance rates going up.

Anybody else ever in this situation, and which did you choose and why? I have 30 days to decide.

In TX we ask for deferred adjudication and pay a fine or ask for a trial and pray the cop doesn't show up.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Anybody else ever in this situation, and which did you choose and why?

Go for #2 and ask for any kind of diversion.

The long term easy answer: don't speed.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Go for #2 and ask for any kind of diversion.

The long term easy answer: don't speed.

Yep.

Simple answer is don't speed.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Your insurance will go up unless the ticket gets thrown out.

Nearly 20 MPH over the limit...residential or business or school area...

Slow down.
They could charge you with reckless I believe.

 

[bigdnlaca]

I am in charge of traffic court for a county. My advice is to NEVER pay the ticket without going to court unless there aren't any points involved because insurance will go up. Even if you go do defensive driving class, all it does is reduce the points, not your insurance.

Go to court because most courts allow you to plead no contest. This is a way where you can pay the ticket, but it won't be reported to the DMV and your insurance stays the same. In my county, you are allowed to do this once every 5 years. They also have diversion programs where you might have to do some "service" and maybe attend their driving safety class.

 

[CF74]

I am in charge of traffic court for a county. My advice is to NEVER pay the ticket without going to court unless there aren't any points involved because insurance will go up. Even if you go do defensive driving class, all it does is reduce the points, not your insurance.

Go to court because most courts allow you to plead no contest. This is a way where you can pay the ticket, but it won't be reported to the DMV and your insurance stays the same. In my county, you are allowed to do this once every 5 years. They also have diversion programs where you might have to do some "service" and maybe attend their driving safety class.

Are you speaking of Deferred Adjudication?

 

[bigdnlaca]

Are you speaking of Deferred Adjudication?

Diversion program and Deferred Adjudication are the same because they require the defendant to do something outside of court and the case could be dismissed. The difference here from what I've seen is that Deferred Adjudication only applies to criminal charges and not Traffic unless the traffic charges are serious offenses (DUI, eluding police, hit and run etc.) We don't treat traffic as criminal cases.

Pleading no contest isn't deferred adjudication in our traffic court because the individual isn't doing anything other than just paying a fine. The no contest plea remains on the court record but the DMV won't know anything about their offense.

 

[trickblue]

In TX we ask for deferred adjudication and pay a fine or ask for a trial and pray the cop doesn't show up.

That's the way the lawyers get you off in Texas. They show up at court. If the officer shows up they ask for a continuance. They keep doing that until the officer doesn't show. It was pretty effective in Texas in the 80's and 90's...

 

[CF74]

That's the way the lawyers get you off in Texas. They show up at court. If the officer shows up they ask for a continuance. They keep doing that until the officer doesn't show. It was pretty effective in Texas in the 80's and 90's...

It still works. I give my lawyer $200 and we just keep stalling, eventually the cop has real police work to do and it gets dismissed. I have a CDL so the law doesn't allow me to take defensive driving. I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in over two years but I used to get about 1 or 2 a year.

 

[DFWJC]

Defensive driving class?

this

no insurance increase

 

[CyberB0b]

I have and paid the ticket plus i took an online driving course so my insurance would not go up that much. You could contest the ticket in which the officer has to be present to argue against you. If he doesn't show, it gets thrown out of court at least that what a police friend of mine has told me. Sometimes cops do not want to come on their off days.

They get paid OT.

 

[Bigdog]

They get paid OT.

Some places they do. I know that my friend does not if he goes to court to contest a speeding ticket but you could have court when he is on duty.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Ive spent much time in MD traffic court. But not in the last 20 yrs. It used to be if the officer does not show up the ticket is just thrown out. You dont pay and you dont get points. Thats the best case scenario, but it doesnt happen that way very often.

I would pay a traffic ticket attorney if I were you. I do it here in Florida whenever I get a ticket. They go to court on your behalf and you dont have to go. Usually they work it out so you get no points or record even if you pay the fine. They have quite a racket going but its the best way to IMO. Call some traffic attorneys and find out the deal. Its the best thing you can do. They know all the ins and outs. For example, they routinely find mistakes that officers make on tickets and get it thrown out. Spend the money, its well worth it and much cheaper in the long run.

Here's a link:

http://www.ccc-law.com/criminal-defense-blog/maryland-attorney-for-traffic-tickets.shtml

 

[TheDude]

true the ticket is thrown out if officer doesn't show. Most courts give you one continuance. Take it. The officer writes the all tickets to appear on the day he is scheduled to be in court. If you continue the date, its likely the court puts you on the next available docket. Most cops will not be able to come off the beat for 1-2 hours waiting for a speeding ticket .

Its been 5 years since I had to do this, there is a chance some courts have automated this - but unlikely. If the cop is there, ask the DA for diversion, driving school, etc. as stated previously

 

[WV Cowboy]

I will tell everyone else what I told myself after my last speeding ticket, ... Don't speed!

It is working for me.

 

[CyberB0b]

Ive spent much time in MD traffic court. But not in the last 20 yrs. It used to be if the officer does not show up the ticket is just thrown out. You dont pay and you dont get points. Thats the best case scenario, but it doesnt happen that way very often.

I would pay a traffic ticket attorney if I were you. I do it here in Florida whenever I get a ticket. They go to court on your behalf and you dont have to go. Usually they work it out so you get no points or record even if you pay the fine. They have quite a racket going but its the best way to IMO. Call some traffic attorneys and find out the deal. Its the best thing you can do. They know all the ins and outs. For example, they routinely find mistakes that officers make on tickets and get it thrown out. Spend the money, its well worth it and much cheaper in the long run.

Here's a link:

http://www.ccc-law.com/criminal-defense-blog/maryland-attorney-for-traffic-tickets.shtml

Often times, they can negotiate a lower fine, so it isn't that pricey either.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Often times, they can negotiate a lower fine, so it isn't that pricey either.

Overall its cheaper, less hassle, and you dont miss any work or play time.