What to do about a speeding ticket?

[sentra_dude]

Ok...so I am pretty bummed right now. I got my first speeding ticket yesterday after 5 years of driving, and it is really bad. 94mph in a 65mph zone on a highway in Mississippi.

I have been doing research of the internet trying to figure out a course of action, but there is so much stuff to wade through. I haven't been able to get in contact with the Court in Mississippi, so I still don't know how much the ticket is for. I'm guessing $500-600, but I really have no idea, I've never gotten a ticket before. (I will update when I find out exactly how much the ticket is.)

I had just passed someone...and popped over a hill to see a state trooper going the other direction, I slowed down, but I knew it was too late, he pulled a U and came and got me. I wasn't paying close attention to my speed, but I was trying to pass the guy so I was going fast...

Is it worth fighting this ticket? I don't want to mess with a lawyer, so if I did decide to fight it, I would go there myself.

Any other suggestions?

Arrgghhh...:x

Thanks.

[No.1]

I'm with Dani on this one.

Although i wasn't there to judge the conditons etc... They guy you overtook must have been doing at least 55mph... pretty close to the speed limit.

When you overtake, there is no licence to speed involved. If you overtook the guy when overtaking would cause you to spees, then it is your fault.

I am in no way anti-speeding, but it seems you were unlucky and i sympathise.
I doubt any defence for this ticket would be easy though, and so i best advise you to pay it :)

What are the reprecussions of being convicted of speeding, apart from the obvious financial ones??? Is there a points system, will insurance be notified etc..?

[sentra_dude]

I'm with Dani on this one.

Although i wasn't there to judge the conditons etc... They guy you overtook must have been doing at least 55mph... pretty close to the speed limit.

When you overtake, there is no licence to speed involved. If you overtook the guy when overtaking would cause you to spees, then it is your fault.

I am in no way anti-speeding, but it seems you were unlucky and i sympathise.
I doubt any defence for this ticket would be easy though, and so i best advise you to pay it :)

What are the reprecussions of being convicted of speeding, apart from the obvious financial ones??? Is there a points system, will insurance be notified etc..?

Well yea, you are right, I know I shouldn't have been speeding to pass, and I was going way too fast...and the guy I overtook was doing about 65-70, but driving like an idiot so I passed him. I'm not sure about the points system, and my insurance will probably go up...I won't be speeding for along time.

[gottacatchup]

take a defensive driving course and get the ticket dismissed. For most tickets that are you're first if you just take a government approved course the ticket is erased from you're record and you're insurance doesnt go up. Although considering you were going 30 over that might not be a possibility but give it a shot before going to court.

If you do go to court, which most smart people do the cop probably wont show up and if he does you have a pretty good defense with the passing story. Just say you wanted to get past him as soon as possible and be in the opposite lane the least amount of time, should work fine.

[nthfinity]

^^^^^
dont forget to mention your perfect record for the last 5 years too... and written statements of friends/family saying you are a good driver... definately recomend 'fighting' the full fine.

[TransAm]

Ok...so I am pretty bummed right now. I got my first speeding ticket yesterday after 5 years of driving, and it is really bad. 94mph in a 65mph zone...I'm guessing $500-600

Sorry to hear that you got caught :cry:

88 in a 65 cost me $200. The actual cost was around $220 but as I paid it the same day of my court appearance and was extra polite to them, they rounded it down. That was July 2003, in TX

I hope that allays your concerns as to the cost, a little.

You might be able to do defensive driving and get the ticket waived, as it is your first ticket, but 1. the law might be different in your state and 2. you were 29 over the limit, and anything over 90 is considered HUGE speed in this country, AFAIK :lol:

Good luck!

[gottacatchup]

take a defensive driving course and get the ticket dismissed. For most tickets that are you're first if you just take a government approved course the ticket is erased from you're record and you're insurance doesnt go up. Although considering you were going 30 over that might not be a possibility but give it a shot before going to court.

^^^ I was pulled over in August for 63 in a 30. pretty severe ticket. $275 and 5 points. when i was pulled over the cop told me that if i went to court and requested a "driving school" that the judge would erase the fine and points. My court date in in 2 weeks so i cant tell you if this actaully works but im going with it. good luck man.

My brother got a ticket for about 45 in a 35 and he got it dismissed by taking a defensive driving course. I know it works for minor violations but again both these two tickets are pretty severe so i cant garantee anything.

[sentra_dude]

Ok...so I am pretty bummed right now. I got my first speeding ticket yesterday after 5 years of driving, and it is really bad. 94mph in a 65mph zone...I'm guessing $500-600

Sorry to hear that you got caught :cry:

88 in a 65 cost me $200. The actual cost was around $220 but as I paid it the same day of my court appearance and was extra polite to them, they rounded it down. That was July 2003, in TX

I hope that allays your concerns as to the cost, a little.

You might be able to do defensive driving and get the ticket waived, as it is your first ticket, but 1. the law might be different in your state and 2. you were 29 over the limit, and anything over 90 is considered HUGE speed in this country, AFAIK :lol:

Good luck!

Yea, I was talking to a friend from Texas, and he got busted for doing around 25mph over and his ticket was around $200, but that is Texas, who knows about Mississippi.

I want to try and do the defensive driving course (if they offer one) and hopefully get the ticket reduced or if I'm lucky get it dismissed. I will keep you guys updated.

Still haven't been able to get in touch with the damn Court to find out how much the ticket is for, hopefully I will find out tomorrow.

Thanks for the replies everyone. :)

[racer_f50]

here's my advice.

say a big FUCK YOU to Mississippi and don't pay the ticket. you'll be a wanted man in that state, but if you don't have any need to go there, who gives a damn :P
my grandpa got a ticket in Texas for not wearing his seat-belt, never paid it, and doesn't go back to Texas. i bet that was 10 years ago he got the ticket.

if you have some odd need to go to Mississippi, then i wish you luck on the ticket. no use fighting it much, just tell them the dude you passed was being a jackass (and mention that he was probly on drugs, maybe they'll side with you more) and you had to get by him or your life was in danger.

and bring lots of donuts to your trial, since cops and such love them :wink:

[mv]

Over here in Czech rep. you would get a fine of roughly $50-60 :)

We have once been caught in Austria on a B-road doing roughly 90mph where the limits are set to 62mph = 40 euros

Gotta love Europe :)

[TT]

I am trying to figure out why ppl always want to fight and find a way out.. you know the laws of your country or that state right? You know the max allowed speed right? You were speeding and you were aware right? So why should you try to avoid the fine? This is utter crap! As everybody knows already, I was caught doign 157 kmh in a 120 zone... it sucks major hairy balls, but well I accept the consequences.. the fine will be probably in the 600-800 USD :( and since Jan the 10th untill Feb the 9th I will be without my fucking license, but well, I knew it could happen and as you, I someway accepted the possible problems related to that.

Just for the records, last month a guy fined 300 USD for speeding in Switzerland, tried to fight.. he ended up paying 2000 USD for procedure costs, 1000 USD to his lawyer for a tax he needs to pay to the tribunal + the 300 of the fine.. smart isn't it? :) I bet next time he will just drive slowly :P

Seriously, you should have double thought about what you were doing BEFORE beeing caught IMO...

[No.1]

Nice rant TT.... but so true :!:

Is it in Switzerland where the fine is proportional to your income :?: because i remember reading about some guy who got fines like £70k :?

[sentra_dude]

Ok! Finally got in touch with the Court in Mississippi...$164, much less than I was expecting. :) Still going to burn through all my Christmas money and then some, but much better than $500. I'm sure there will be some other costs tacked on, but unless it adds a huge amount of points I will just pay it.

Not going through Mississippi is definitely not an option, lol...I go through there every time I go to/from school.

I guess I was expecting the worst, because tickets in New Orleans can be expensive.

Now I just want to get this behind me, and move on. Hopefully my insurance won't be affected too much.

[No.1]

A very reasonable fine, but i doubt it serves any real purpose. I doubt if you will be discouraged from speeding, and so speeding fines are useless.... i think speed limits are pretty useless actually :roll: we should be allowed to go as quickly, or slowly as we want

[TransAm]

Nice rant TT.... but so true :!:

Is it in Switzerland where the fine is proportional to your income :?: because i remember reading about some guy who got fines like £70k :?

I think it's Finland...

[dingo]

.....and since Jan the 10th untill Feb the 9th I will be without my fucking license, but well, I knew it could happen and as you, I someway accepted the possible problems related to that.


what are you going to do? I hope we will still get plenty of car sighting pictures......it will just have to be done on foot. :P

.... i think speed limits are pretty useless actually :roll: we should be allowed to go as quickly, or slowly as we want

well that would lead to chaos on the roads, since we have too many idiots who don't what speeds are appropriate for the given conditions....and THAT leads to deaths. :wink:

[dingo]

....that would mean that i wouldnt be able to drive for many manty months and possibly years. I simply cannot accept that. :cry:

then why did you drive at 33mph over the limit? :roll:

[jakaracman]

I am trying to figure out why ppl always want to fight and find a way out.. you know the laws of your country or that state right? You know the max allowed speed right? You were speeding and you were aware right? So why should you try to avoid the fine? This is utter crap! As everybody knows already, I was caught doign 157 kmh in a 120 zone... it sucks major hairy balls, but well I accept the consequences.. the fine will be probably in the 600-800 USD :( and since Jan the 10th untill Feb the 9th I will be without my fucking license, but well, I knew it could happen and as you, I someway accepted the possible problems related to that.

Just for the records, last month a guy fined 300 USD for speeding in Switzerland, tried to fight.. he ended up paying 2000 USD for procedure costs, 1000 USD to his lawyer for a tax he needs to pay to the tribunal + the 300 of the fine.. smart isn't it? :) I bet next time he will just drive slowly :P

Seriously, you should have double thought about what you were doing BEFORE beeing caught IMO...
Why wouldn't you try? You just have to judge if it's financially worth to tahe a risk. You can avoid most fines, because the cops rarely do everything by the book.
I would like to know how setra was measured? Radar? Or just a guess from the cop?