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On April 07 2010 10:57 Conquest101 wrote:Show nested quote +On April 07 2010 10:45 QuickStriker wrote:
Now as I can see and understand, my best option is to take it to the court by pleading not guilty and explain their situation in a semi-honest situation where I had a long day from school and wanted to get home as soon as possible + I'm a poor college student not making any income b/c I have no job but am trying to study hard and well to get a degree as soon as possible.
That seems all fine and whatnot, but what if the cop shows up in court? In fact, I never been in court in regards to issues like this so I don't even know what happens then. As for my parents, they pay for my insurance since it's technically their car so.... when should I break this news to them?
And yes, if everyone jumps off the bridge, I would too for I must maintain my good image as my field of study will be possibly being a public image in the field of media. And ya, I don't have that much cash atm so.... I can't pay them straight up unless telling my parents... crap. Tell your parents immediately. Hiding it from them is stupid, since they'll find out anyway. Tell them that you were dumb, and it was an honest mistake because your were tired/stressed. Go to the court date set on the ticket. Take your parents assuming they will help defend you (if possible). Explain your situation. Be polite. Dress nicely. Don't be stupid and complain about the cops attitude/actions etc Edit: Ok so apparently in some states, case thrown out entirely if cop doesn't show up apparently? Not true everywhere so far as I know (not in my state). Might want to check into that as well. At worst, you'll get some money knocked off. At best, if your record was clean prior to this, you may be able to get it wiped or get the option of taking a class to get it wiped. +22 in a 50mph zone is pretty hardcore though. Right at the border of "reckless driving" depending on state I think. I got one speeding ticket awhile back. 61 in a 50 zone on a downhill slope. I went to court and explained how I was tired and it was a moment of inattention. Judge said be more careful in the future and threw it out. Yay. I had a perfect record prior to this.
Well, I believe I have a perfect record prior to this.. it is my first speeding ticket ever out of my 3.5 years of driving. But the possibility of my car taken away for several weeks is highly likely from my parents so I need to think about this first.
As for going to court and dressing nicely, how nicely are you talking? Like a full suit? Though I kind of think that's overdoing it. I might check but I think NYC tend to be hardcore with that where you still will be charged even if cop isn't there..
I'm not worried about what I am going to say or how I am going to state some stuff, I will admit my faults and all and all in honestly, I was stressed and tired that time as I started driving after a nap at school... so ya.. thanks.
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
Last thing you want to do is try and talk yourself out of it right off the bat. You instantly fall into the same category as everyone else who thinks they do not deserve a ticket in his eyes.
When I was caught going 68 in a 40 I cooperated completely. When he asked for my insurance/registration I got out the folder I have in my car that holds all that information, and put in a little subtle "Sir, I'm not sure what I'm looking for in here, I've never gotten a ticket before."
He pointed to the insurance/registration and I handed it to him. He came back from his cruiser a little while later and said, "So you say you've never gotten a ticket before?" "Yes sir", "Well, you've still never gotten a ticket before, watch your speed from now on; I'm just going to give you a written warning."
Raised my respect for the cops in my area up by alot.
Like everyone else said, just go to court with it. I'm not sure how tickets work to be honest, but my brother has always done community service for his and not gotten any points. Maybe you can do the same?
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United States24496 Posts
On April 07 2010 11:08 Snet wrote:
Last thing you want to do is try and talk yourself out of it right off the bat. You instantly fall into the same category as everyone else who thinks they do not deserve a ticket in his eyes.
When I was caught going 68 in a 40 I cooperated completely. When he asked for my insurance/registration I got out the folder I have in my car that holds all that information, and put in a little subtle "Sir, I'm not sure what I'm looking for in here, I've never gotten a ticket before."
He pointed to the insurance/registration and I handed it to him. He came back from his cruiser a little while later and said, "So you say you've never gotten a ticket before?" "Yes sir", "Well, you've still never gotten a ticket before, watch your speed from now on; I'm just going to give you a written warning."
Raised my respect for the cops in my area up by alot.
Sounds cool but I've heard that warnings stay on your record whereas tickets eventually get fully removed so it may not be as much of a dodged bullet as you thought? Not sure.
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Well, other factors come in to play other than whether or not you've gotten other speeding tickets. Like if you've been in an accident or not, or if you've gotten your car impounded for some reason or other. But assuming you're clean, it does help supposedly.
Dressing nicely is just common sense advice. You don't need a suit, but don't go like you just rolled out of bed. If it looks like you are taking the issue seriously, the judge is more likely to take your appeal seriously.
Honestly, I always thought that the whole "cop doesn't show up, you're off the hook" thing was bullcrap, so don't count on that anyway.
Your major concern is HOW FAST you were going over the speed limit. Anything 20+ is usually pretty serious.
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
On April 07 2010 11:09 micronesia wrote:Show nested quote +On April 07 2010 11:08 Snet wrote:
Last thing you want to do is try and talk yourself out of it right off the bat. You instantly fall into the same category as everyone else who thinks they do not deserve a ticket in his eyes.
When I was caught going 68 in a 40 I cooperated completely. When he asked for my insurance/registration I got out the folder I have in my car that holds all that information, and put in a little subtle "Sir, I'm not sure what I'm looking for in here, I've never gotten a ticket before."
He pointed to the insurance/registration and I handed it to him. He came back from his cruiser a little while later and said, "So you say you've never gotten a ticket before?" "Yes sir", "Well, you've still never gotten a ticket before, watch your speed from now on; I'm just going to give you a written warning."
Raised my respect for the cops in my area up by alot. Sounds cool but I've heard that warnings stay on your record whereas tickets eventually get fully removed so it may not be as much of a dodged bullet as you thought? Not sure.
Warnings only stay on record with the Sheriff's Office within their system. The DMV or MVA can't see them. Atleast that's how it is in Maryland.
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On April 07 2010 10:40 ella_guru wrote:Show nested quote +On April 07 2010 10:33 kOre wrote:
6 demerit points is huge, but here's what you should do.
1. Take the ticket to court and explain your situation to them.
As long as you are respectful to them and they are dicks they'll reduce both the amount you have to pay as well are the number of points you get.
2. Tell your parents.
They WILL find out about it especially if they pay your insurance or if you have connected insurance.
3. Take a safe driving course.
Not sure if this applies in the States, but in Canada you can take this course which costs $100 or so and reduces your points by 2.
Hope for the best, I know what getting a ticket feels like ... I have like 10 lol This is great advice. I went 120 KM in a 60 KM zone once. it was 1000 dollar fine and license suspension. I contacted the prosecuting lawyer ahead of time and went in with my parents (after explaining it to them) and just laid it out that I was a good kid and stuff, that it was a genuinely stupid mistake, how I'd never do it again etc and how anything they could do would be greatly appreciated because I was saving for university . Basically, if you dont ask, you will never know.
why did you go twice the speed limit? lol
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Well... what's done is done. I went over 20 the limit and I know I did. I suppose it is a retribution of all the negative and bad things I've neglected and done. There's really nothing much I can really do except accept my loss and break it to my parents. It's just so funny since I've been telling my parents and friends how I would never get a speeding ticket and I probably won't for a long time b/c I would mingle with other cars in terms of speed. But it was just one of those days where nothing seem to come right and I provoked it.
I think what I need is some sleep and then think exactly how I can resolve this issue as less painful as possible. Community services are something I've done little recently and that sort of money is going to cost a lot out of me in terms of few things. Should this be a reason to never ever speed again though? My driving instructor always told me that it was ok to speed up to 10 over speed limit when I started learning how to drive but...
*edit* Also, is this possible to resolve this issue not in terms of money but community service of my choice? Or is that just plain impossible? Since I really need to save money to go on a trip to Italy for 500 dollars...
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
On April 07 2010 11:17 QuickStriker wrote:+ Show Spoiler +Well... what's done is done. I went over 20 the limit and I know I did. I suppose it is a retribution of all the negative and bad things I've neglected and done. There's really nothing much I can really do except accept my loss and break it to my parents. It's just so funny since I've been telling my parents and friends how I would never get a speeding ticket and I probably won't for a long time b/c I would mingle with other cars in terms of speed. But it was just one of those days where nothing seem to come right and I provoked it.
I think what I need is some sleep and then think exactly how I can resolve this issue as less painful as possible. Community services are something I've done little recently and that sort of money is going to cost a lot out of me in terms of few things. Should this be a reason to never ever speed again though? My driving instructor always told me that it was ok to speed up to 10 over speed limit when I started learning how to drive but...
*edit* Also, is this possible to resolve this issue not in terms of money but community service of my choice? Or is that just plain impossible? Since I really need to save money to go on a trip to Italy for 500 dollars...
I really don't know what level of tickets you can take away with community service. You'll probably have to just go to the courthouse and go to the community service office and ask.
Don't overstress on this. Although it sucks and 6 points is kind of high for a speeding ticket, it's still small stuff that will go away eventually and is only a temporary problem. Don't let it get to you more than it should.
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Simple solution don't speed.
Want some motivation, look up the annual fatality rates it's about 42,000 every year and some where on the avg of 7 million accidents every year in the US alone.
Just realize that more people die from car accidents every year then something like murders, natural disasters, terrorism combined and every random bit minus disease and natural causes.
Also your ticket isn't that large for doing +20, doing +10 and below (over the posted speed limit not the max) wont get your pulled over becuase police officers can't get a judge to hear a case that isn't at least +11 over. Still you shouldn't speed. Everyone else is doing it is always a stupid response, i'm not breaking the law by looting everyone else is doing it shouldn't rationalize when you break laws just gets you pissed off when you get caught doing it.
Although i would worry about the -6 to your record that's a lot of points take classes or w.e to get that down it will kill your insurance.
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It would also only help your case if you were to offer to do community service in lieu of paying money. Better than "please throw it out because I'm a nice person".
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Everyone goes 70 on the Staten Island Expressway when it's not too full. I never go above 60 though because my dad gets anxious, even though he knows all the spots where cops hide out. Sometimes, you can see everyone else visibly speeding down, like before a bridge or something, where cops tend to hide and all you have to do is slow down too.
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On April 07 2010 11:25 lowbright wrote:
Everyone goes 70 on the Staten Island Expressway when it's not too full. I never go above 60 though because my dad gets anxious, even though he knows all the spots where cops hide out. Sometimes, you can see everyone else visibly speeding down, like before a bridge or something, where cops tend to hide and all you have to do is slow down too.
Exactly. I know this b/c I had to drive thru the Staten Island Expressway every single day Monday to Friday due to my school at Brooklyn. I usually spot the cops or know where to watch out but because I wasn't my usual self of thought, I made a big mistake that cost me many things now... Darn, I guess I'll have to fix my problems and temptations to speed for now on... That means...
a. Don't speed over 65 whatsoever in SI Expressway
b. Don't speed over 65 in Belt Parkway (it's 50 speed limit there as well)
c. Don't speed 40-50 on any local road like I always do which speed limit is usually 30
d. Don't speed 60-65 on the bridge when it's 45
e. Don't speed at all...... which will make notice of my usual timing of driving from 30-45 minutes to destination to an hour - 1.5 hours.
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72 in a 50??? Was there a pregnant woman in the backseat??? No other excuse for that. Slow down, please.
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I got my first speeding ticket the other day, as well. It was actually a speed camera, and I got a $500 fine for driving 54 km/h where the speed limit was 40 km/h. It was so stupid, because I knew perfectly well it was there, as I've driven past it more times than I can remember. I was distracted while talking to a friend, and noticed the red flash.
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On April 07 2010 11:35 MountainDewJunkie wrote:
72 in a 50? You deserved that ticket, bro; you're lucky you went so long without one, too.
I know I do, but the problem is how to resolve my issue here since this is my very first one I got caught at. I mean I've done 75 and 80 on the same road before but I knew how to watch myself then. I just wasn't myself when I was driving today and I got what I came for. So please don't say any obvious stuff b/c I KNOW I DESERVE THAT TICKET.
On April 07 2010 11:36 iMarshall wrote:
I got my first speeding ticket the other day, as well. It was actually a speed camera, and I got a $500 fine for driving 54 km/h where the speed limit was 40 km/h. It was so stupid, because I knew perfectly well it was there, as I've driven past it more times than I can remember. I was distracted while talking to a friend, and noticed the red flash.
Yea, that's not good either. I know we all make mistakes, everyone does, first time or whatnot. That speed cameras can be very scary as well... I make sure I don't get in caught of it but my parents have done so in the past and it cost like 200 dollars... blah
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NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
Wow, I didn't expect this kind of blog from someone like you. You were speeding and it's your responsibility to make sure you remain within the limit. Just because other drivers choose to go over the speed limit doesn't mean it's a free pass for you to imitate their inconsiderate behaviour. The rules are put in place to save lives so I have absolutely no sympathy for you at all. Plus being tired after a long day is a lame and childish excuse. Suck it up and pay the fine - maybe this will teach you to drive more responsibily in the future.
The police man sounds like a bit of a twunt, but if you hadn't been breaking the law in the first place you wouldn't have had to have dealt with him anyway. This is no one's fault except your own and trying to weasel out of it really gives me a bad impression of you that I didn't have before.
P.S. If you know you deserved the ticket then why did you drive like that in the first place? There was always a risk you'd be singled out.
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Sorry, wasn't an attempted ninja edit, I've rewritten that post 3 or 4 times because I didn't want to sound too much like a jackass, but still wanted to get my point across... Couldn't really find the equilibrium. But seriously. Too fast. As long as your parents don't have to know the extent of your speeding, you can just lie to them (say you went 8 over), and offer to pay the difference in insurance, assuming you don't full already.
In WA there's a thing-thang where you show up to traffic court and they offer "first time" speeding offenders a deal where they remove the ticket from your record and you either pay some smaller fine or just do some community service in return. Of course, I know nothing about NY policies. But yeah, wow, still.
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The reason I was driving like that, especially for a while ever since somewhere in 2009, was that I kept telling myself I am confident I would never get a speeding ticket ever since I always either drive a little slower than others who speed, always driving carefully, etc. I had this strange mentality that kept on going, being blind and unable to realize myself for a long time until now of just how dangerous and horrible I've been driving. I understand my unfortunate incident and how this occurred due to that same stupid ego + mentality I've kept for some time now. I was literally asking for it anytime soon until this happens, ensuring it probably won't happen.
I suppose I'll fully understand the trouble I get into when I go to court as well, but now the problem is what the hell I should do to resolve this issue without as much pain as possible. Or is the pain the only solution?
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On April 07 2010 10:17 QuickStriker wrote:
Now, I don't know how many of you have cars and ever drove and got a speeding ticket, but after all these years of driving, I finally got my first speeding ticket on the highway. I just came back home and after claming myself down, I realize this is the most retarded thing I ever seen. Now, I don't want this to be a rant blog so I'll have a separate section just for that.
/rant
So apparently I was going home from a long day of school which is considered my last day of spring break, having to do some unfinished project. After chilling at the clubhouse I'm at usually, I decided to go home at my usual driving which is always speeding 10+ on both locals and highway but make it hard to pick me out b/c I would mostly speed along with others. And with my usual route and driving, I almost approach at my exit of where my house is and I realized I was going 70ish on a 50 mph but so was others ahead of me. But then this cop come out of nowhere forcing me to pull over where I was so close to exit yet so far.
The cop comes out and tells me I went 72 on a 50 mph. I told him I was on my way home from a long day of school and kind of signify that I'm just a poor college student who happen to drive a 2008 nissan altima coupe. He was so BM to me demanding my ID, insurance, and car info as he looked at me in a glared eyes as I take out those stuff. He didn't want to engage a conversation with him, whatever questions I threw at him, he refused to answer and talk to me. At the end, he gave me my very first speeding ticket which I never seen one my entire life of 3.5 years of driving. I asked him how much this is and if this gets points on my license and he just walks away to the car unwilling and refusing to talk to me. I was so angry as he RUSHES AND DRIVES OFF SPEEDING out of the highway.
I took my exit that was like 20 seconds away from me and pulled over nearby right before my house. I checked out the ticket, didn't really know how much it cost nor how many points it's worth until I read through everything. Apparently, speeding is 185 dollars plus a 80 dollars fee for other things AND 6 POINTS ON MY LICENSE. FML.
/endrant
So now I am raging over still right now, unsure what the hell I should do, how to break this up to my parents when they arrive home, and literally tearing up myself within myself thinking of dedicating my life to take revenge on this cop if I ever see him again.
I want to know if anyone else had other similar experience or what their first speeding ticket experience was like. Thanks!
P.S. Oh, if anyone has any real official advice to help me out somehow in this situation, I would honor any and all of you. And, I live in NYC so this was in Staten Island expressway.
This is ridiculous. Stop acting like a child and grow up. I agree with Micronesia, as I read this I couldnt believe you were serious.
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On April 07 2010 11:08 Snet wrote:
Last thing you want to do is try and talk yourself out of it right off the bat. You instantly fall into the same category as everyone else who thinks they do not deserve a ticket in his eyes.
When I was caught going 68 in a 40 I cooperated completely. When he asked for my insurance/registration I got out the folder I have in my car that holds all that information, and put in a little subtle "Sir, I'm not sure what I'm looking for in here, I've never gotten a ticket before."
He pointed to the insurance/registration and I handed it to him. He came back from his cruiser a little while later and said, "So you say you've never gotten a ticket before?" "Yes sir", "Well, you've still never gotten a ticket before, watch your speed from now on; I'm just going to give you a written warning."
Raised my respect for the cops in my area up by alot.
Like everyone else said, just go to court with it. I'm not sure how tickets work to be honest, but my brother has always done community service for his and not gotten any points. Maybe you can do the same?
Sounds like a very cool cop.
I've had similar experiences. Me and my Jamale and Chris were past curfew when we were like 12 years old and we were j-walking and a state trooper rolled down the window passing by us and Jamale called him a dickhead not knowing it was a state trooper. We started running straight to a 7-11 and Jamale went into the bathroom, and me and Chris were getting slurpees trying to seem normal. The cop came rushing in the 7-11 and said were is he. We pointed at the restroom, so we could think of a plan. We were thinking of running again because he was in the restroom yelling at Jamale but we thought we would get in more trouble if we did that. All the cop did was barge into the bathroom and call Jamale a punk, he didn't say anything to Chris and me, but as he was getting out of the 7-11 I was thanking him and he was like " what ever kid"
Shit was awesome and I basically learned not all cops are assholes and a lot of them are REALLY cool.
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