Speeding Ticket
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Senior User
Joined: May 2003
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Speeding Ticket
Yesterday, I was pulled over by a Dallas County Sherriff's Deputy. 75 in a 60...He got me. My question is, if I plead guily or no contest, and pay the fine, will my insurance rates automatically go up? How does that work? Is my insurance company automatically notified?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 987
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From: East Bend, Carolina, U.S
If you aren't able to get a lawyer, then it's a crap shoot as to whether you can get a judge to reduce the ticket and fine. Good luck with that. Having a lawyer is the key and is a better gamble. No matter what you do the outcome can vary by the day of the week and the judge. Any lawyers want to disagree with that?
Quite a lot of states have a fifteen mph over the speed limit rule and they can and will suspend your drivers license for going 75 mph in a 60 mph zone.
Here in North Carolina the driving class will only remove points and will not reduce any tickets. Maybe this is a bit different in other states.
The points sytem must work very fast here because by the time an insurance payment is due, any new points have affected my rates without fail.
Quite a lot of states have a fifteen mph over the speed limit rule and they can and will suspend your drivers license for going 75 mph in a 60 mph zone.
Here in North Carolina the driving class will only remove points and will not reduce any tickets. Maybe this is a bit different in other states.
The points sytem must work very fast here because by the time an insurance payment is due, any new points have affected my rates without fail.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 471
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From: eastern nc
I don't know about driving classes but, insurance co.'s love to raise rates for any reason. A one time lawyer fee is cheaper than 3-5 years of higher insurance rates. Most areas have this one lawyer who for $XXX.XX can make a speeding ticket go away. Ask around. Good luck.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 540
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From: Northern MD
Plead guilty with an explanation. The explanation is up to you, just make it sensible and the judge may just dismiss the points and leave you with a fine. If you're really lucky, the cop won't show up and the ticket will be dismissed! I never had that kind of luck, but I did get the points dismissed. As long as you were respectful to the cop when he pulled you over, and are respectful in court, you should be OK. Of course all of this is moot if you've got more points than Kobe Bryant.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Alvin, Texas.
Don't bet on a cop not showing up. It's OT and what cop doesn't like that?
Look really presentable in front of the judge and that in itself doesn't hurt. A judge looking at a bunch of junkies in wifebeaters and kids coming in wearing shorts (against the rules as it is) likes the change up...I know.
I have had the DD once and one other time came in and paid $80 top be a good boy for three months and have the ticket off my record. In that case, I had reason to go to trial and contest, but running a biz with long hours...I'll take the easy way out. You have to plead guilty for the favors, though. No biggie.
You would be surprised how easy a judge can be for traffic court. It's boring to them. When I went to take care of an ex-employee in court in 2004, the judge basically asked everyone who has a minor moving violation to get in line, pay the fees, and get lost and do DD. Same thing with the expired tags....pay $10 if they got the tags renewed since the ticket...and get outta' there.
Just don't mail the ticket in! Show up some day before you need to be there and get a feel for the judge. Then you'll know if you need to butter up a PITA prosecutor or it's a really swell easygoing type who just wants to get to lunch early.
Court can be hilarious if you go in and watch sometimes. Professional....yet real world all in one.
Look really presentable in front of the judge and that in itself doesn't hurt. A judge looking at a bunch of junkies in wifebeaters and kids coming in wearing shorts (against the rules as it is) likes the change up...I know.
I have had the DD once and one other time came in and paid $80 top be a good boy for three months and have the ticket off my record. In that case, I had reason to go to trial and contest, but running a biz with long hours...I'll take the easy way out. You have to plead guilty for the favors, though. No biggie.
You would be surprised how easy a judge can be for traffic court. It's boring to them. When I went to take care of an ex-employee in court in 2004, the judge basically asked everyone who has a minor moving violation to get in line, pay the fees, and get lost and do DD. Same thing with the expired tags....pay $10 if they got the tags renewed since the ticket...and get outta' there.
Just don't mail the ticket in! Show up some day before you need to be there and get a feel for the judge. Then you'll know if you need to butter up a PITA prosecutor or it's a really swell easygoing type who just wants to get to lunch early.
Court can be hilarious if you go in and watch sometimes. Professional....yet real world all in one.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,646
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From: Milky Way Galaxy
I third the defensive driver course. I believe you have to contact the court on the ticket and request the course option. Then just take the course on-line, pay the court fees, get the ticket dismissed and your insurance company will never know. The answer to your question about the insurance company being automatically notified is no. They're not notified even if your convicted. The insurance company periodically gets your driving record, usually when it's time to renew your policy and that's when they find out about tickets.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 886
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From: Houston/Hope BC
A further option available to you here in TX is to request a deferred adjudication.
This happens in a pre-trial conferece with the prosecutor. Some prosecutors set up a chat with all the defendants before trial and some don't, you may have to request it.
At this conference you get to negotiate your deal, the deffered is like probation, pay a negotiated fine, don't get another ticket for some time period (6 mo typical), and
the case is dismissed at the end of the time period.
This happens in a pre-trial conferece with the prosecutor. Some prosecutors set up a chat with all the defendants before trial and some don't, you may have to request it.
At this conference you get to negotiate your deal, the deffered is like probation, pay a negotiated fine, don't get another ticket for some time period (6 mo typical), and
the case is dismissed at the end of the time period.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,643
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From: Orange County, CA
No matter what, your insurance will find out if you plead guilty and pay the fine, it may not be right away, but they will find out. And if you change insurance, then they will find out, it will follow you for a few years.
Here in California they are notified after everything is processed. I had a spoeeding ticket, went to traffic school, and it's wiped from my record, no insurance agency will ever find it, and my driving record has no points on it.
Here in California they are notified after everything is processed. I had a spoeeding ticket, went to traffic school, and it's wiped from my record, no insurance agency will ever find it, and my driving record has no points on it.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2003
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I have recently completed a defensive driving course, but I dont think the local police (VERY small TX town) reported the course on my driving record, since they didnt ask for me to send one in with the certificate. I got another ticket yesterday, and I am trying to find out if they reported the DD course to my driving record. If they have, I'll just do defered, if not, I'll take another DD course.
Thanks for all the replies.
Thanks for all the replies.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,147
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From: Joppa, Maryland
Originally Posted by wiseguy
Plead guilty with an explanation. The explanation is up to you, just make it sensible and the judge may just dismiss the points and leave you with a fine. If you're really lucky, the cop won't show up and the ticket will be dismissed! I never had that kind of luck, but I did get the points dismissed. As long as you were respectful to the cop when he pulled you over, and are respectful in court, you should be OK. Of course all of this is moot if you've got more points than Kobe Bryant.
This happened to my buddy and the idiot still pled guilty! I couldn't believe he did this.