Got caught..Pay the ticket or fight it??
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: seattle/shanghai
08 C300
Got caught..Pay the ticket or fight it??
got caught yesterday on I5 (WA) because of speeding ( 95 on 70)..
i was averaging 80 mph, so unlucky that i got caught with 25 miles over the speed limit..
straight road with very few cars; however, i did not notice the police until i saw the top-light flashed
enjoyed the driving too much..
the fine for the ticket is $206, and i am not sure about how many pts will be taken off. Since this is my first violation, and i do not want my insurance price goes up.
Should i pay the ticket or ask a lawyer to fight it?? Any advices??
Thanks in advance..
i was averaging 80 mph, so unlucky that i got caught with 25 miles over the speed limit..
straight road with very few cars; however, i did not notice the police until i saw the top-light flashed
enjoyed the driving too much..the fine for the ticket is $206, and i am not sure about how many pts will be taken off. Since this is my first violation, and i do not want my insurance price goes up.
Should i pay the ticket or ask a lawyer to fight it?? Any advices??
Thanks in advance..
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 291
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From: SoCal
C350
got caught yesterday on I5 (WA) because of speeding ( 95 on 70)..
i was averaging 80 mph, so unlucky that i got caught with 25 miles over the speed limit..
straight road with very few cars; however, i did not notice the police until i saw the top-light flashed enjoyed the driving too much..
the fine for the ticket is $206, and i am not sure about how many pts will be taken off. Since this is my first violation, and i do not want my insurance price goes up.
Should i pay the ticket or ask a lawyer to fight it?? Any advices??
Thanks in advance..
i was averaging 80 mph, so unlucky that i got caught with 25 miles over the speed limit..
straight road with very few cars; however, i did not notice the police until i saw the top-light flashed
enjoyed the driving too much..the fine for the ticket is $206, and i am not sure about how many pts will be taken off. Since this is my first violation, and i do not want my insurance price goes up.
Should i pay the ticket or ask a lawyer to fight it?? Any advices??
Thanks in advance..
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 393
Likes: 29
From: Boston, Massachusetts
2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Sport
Well let me give you my own (first violation, and long-winded) experience to hopefully help you with your decision.
Down in West Palm Beach about a year and a bit ago, I was on the I-95. Generally it is 65mph but I did not see it go down to 55mph. In any case I was in the middle lane being sandwiched on either side by both trucks going down a gradual curve. Another car was behind me beginning to tailgate. Everybody was doing 70mph by the way.
As we were rounding this curve one of the trucks was getting uncomfortably close to my car and the car behind was annoying me too. With my exit coming up very soon and this uncomfortable position, I gunned it in my dad's ML SUV and moved to the right lane and slowed down again.
Surely enough I had a state trooper on my *** who said I was doing 85mph in 55mph zone which is known as criminal speeding. Cops generally hate me so the guy just wrote the ticket and wouldn't even let me explain or bring it down by a mph or two to avoid me going to court.
After talking with my dad we got a lawyer and I explained it all to him. He said he gets so many of these and explained the possibilities. The court date was delayed twice.
Anyway I found out he pleaded no contest but I ended up with no points. In the end I had to pay the $361 fine and the $200 fee but being so unsure and this being my first violation, I think it was still worth it just to be safe.
Personally i'd play it safe, even if it does cost more because the short term cost will hopefully help against long term insurance costs.
Hope this helps!
Down in West Palm Beach about a year and a bit ago, I was on the I-95. Generally it is 65mph but I did not see it go down to 55mph. In any case I was in the middle lane being sandwiched on either side by both trucks going down a gradual curve. Another car was behind me beginning to tailgate. Everybody was doing 70mph by the way.
As we were rounding this curve one of the trucks was getting uncomfortably close to my car and the car behind was annoying me too. With my exit coming up very soon and this uncomfortable position, I gunned it in my dad's ML SUV and moved to the right lane and slowed down again.
Surely enough I had a state trooper on my *** who said I was doing 85mph in 55mph zone which is known as criminal speeding. Cops generally hate me so the guy just wrote the ticket and wouldn't even let me explain or bring it down by a mph or two to avoid me going to court.
After talking with my dad we got a lawyer and I explained it all to him. He said he gets so many of these and explained the possibilities. The court date was delayed twice.
Anyway I found out he pleaded no contest but I ended up with no points. In the end I had to pay the $361 fine and the $200 fee but being so unsure and this being my first violation, I think it was still worth it just to be safe.
Personally i'd play it safe, even if it does cost more because the short term cost will hopefully help against long term insurance costs.
Hope this helps!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: seattle/shanghai
08 C300
This is how young Chinese get treated by the police.. haha
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1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
There is a difference between going to court and "fighting" it....
...the term "fighting it" indicates that you were wrongly accused - by your own admission that was not the case as you freely admitted to speeding.
That said, you have a right to go to court and, if your record really is clean, there is a good chance that you will get out of court without points.
Your goal is to keep from getting points - you will end up paying the full fine and court costs but you should probably go to court and plead "guilty with an explanation" (or whatever the equivalent is in your state.)
You should then inform the judge that you have a clean record and that you just weren't watching your speed at that moment and (assuming that this is a correct statement) that there either was very light traffic or that you were going with the flow of traffic (or whatever circumstances may be correct)
Always be honest, factual and stress your good driving record and the fact that you were polite with the officer.
Good luck...
That said, you have a right to go to court and, if your record really is clean, there is a good chance that you will get out of court without points.
Your goal is to keep from getting points - you will end up paying the full fine and court costs but you should probably go to court and plead "guilty with an explanation" (or whatever the equivalent is in your state.)
You should then inform the judge that you have a clean record and that you just weren't watching your speed at that moment and (assuming that this is a correct statement) that there either was very light traffic or that you were going with the flow of traffic (or whatever circumstances may be correct)
Always be honest, factual and stress your good driving record and the fact that you were polite with the officer.
Good luck...
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 341
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From: MD
2006 E55 AMG
...the term "fighting it" indicates that you were wrongly accused - by your own admission that was not the case as you freely admitted to speeding.
That said, you have a right to go to court and, if your record really is clean, there is a good chance that you will get out of court without points.
Your goal is to keep from getting points - you will end up paying the full fine and court costs but you should probably go to court and plead "guilty with an explanation" (or whatever the equivalent is in your state.)
You should then inform the judge that you have a clean record and that you just weren't watching your speed at that moment and (assuming that this is a correct statement) that there either was very light traffic or that you were going with the flow of traffic (or whatever circumstances may be correct)
Always be honest, factual and stress your good driving record and the fact that you were polite with the officer.
Good luck...
That said, you have a right to go to court and, if your record really is clean, there is a good chance that you will get out of court without points.
Your goal is to keep from getting points - you will end up paying the full fine and court costs but you should probably go to court and plead "guilty with an explanation" (or whatever the equivalent is in your state.)
You should then inform the judge that you have a clean record and that you just weren't watching your speed at that moment and (assuming that this is a correct statement) that there either was very light traffic or that you were going with the flow of traffic (or whatever circumstances may be correct)
Always be honest, factual and stress your good driving record and the fact that you were polite with the officer.
Good luck...
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From: Boston, Massachusetts
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From: Las Vegas, NV
C300 4MATIC (w204)
Too bad your not in Vegas. Speeding tickets are a joke here. Whether its your 1st or 10th ticket, you just give it to your lawyer and it gets knocked down to a $190 parking violation.
Member
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From: San Francisco
2008 C300
Fight the ticket by either hiring a lawyer or take it to the court and hope he doesn't show up. Extend the ticket for 6 months or so and hope that they never show up. Make sure you make the appt as early as possible (morning) because they hate showing up right after their shift. I'm not sure if it will work but for me I'm 2/2 in the Bay Area.
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2010 C63
You're always innocent until proven guilty. also, look to see what they actually cited you on. A lot of times you get sited for "unsafe speed" rather than "driving over posted speed limit". unsafe speed tickets cost more but are easier to fight because the court has to justify it.
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From: SoCal
C350
what most people here aren't getting is that he may have a strong chance of not being allowed to go to traffic school because he went 20+ miles over speed limit. You have nothing to lose if you want to fight it, except maybe court costs. other than that, the point WILL be added on your record and you will NOT be able to take it off.
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
what most people here aren't getting is that he may have a strong chance of not being allowed to go to traffic school because he went 20+ miles over speed limit. You have nothing to lose if you want to fight it, except maybe court costs. other than that, the point WILL be added on your record and you will NOT be able to take it off.
Anyway..."fight" is still the wrong word. Exercise your rights as a citizen in court to explain the facts and accept the final penalty determination without whining, complaining, or blaming the officer who was obliged to stop you based on your admitted driving.
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From: Vegas and Vancouver, BC
.
True to a point. In Vegas, if you go 25+, it is a different story. Add in school zones and you are in a world of hurt.
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
"You" is only a three letter word, and "your" is only four letters. I've read several of your posts and I know you can use bigger words than that. Any chance you might please write in English instead of teen-text and help some of us read your posts more easily? Not trying to be sarcastic...just hoping to more comfortably read what you write. Thanks.
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From: Inland Empire, CA
C300, 330i, MDX
...the term "fighting it" indicates that you were wrongly accused - by your own admission that was not the case as you freely admitted to speeding.
That said, you have a right to go to court and, if your record really is clean, there is a good chance that you will get out of court without points.
Your goal is to keep from getting points - you will end up paying the full fine and court costs but you should probably go to court and plead "guilty with an explanation" (or whatever the equivalent is in your state.)
You should then inform the judge that you have a clean record and that you just weren't watching your speed at that moment and (assuming that this is a correct statement) that there either was very light traffic or that you were going with the flow of traffic (or whatever circumstances may be correct)
Always be honest, factual and stress your good driving record and the fact that you were polite with the officer.
Good luck...
That said, you have a right to go to court and, if your record really is clean, there is a good chance that you will get out of court without points.
Your goal is to keep from getting points - you will end up paying the full fine and court costs but you should probably go to court and plead "guilty with an explanation" (or whatever the equivalent is in your state.)
You should then inform the judge that you have a clean record and that you just weren't watching your speed at that moment and (assuming that this is a correct statement) that there either was very light traffic or that you were going with the flow of traffic (or whatever circumstances may be correct)
Always be honest, factual and stress your good driving record and the fact that you were polite with the officer.
Good luck...
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Guilty, your honor
got caught yesterday on I5 (WA) because of speeding ( 95 on 70)..
i was averaging 80 mph, so unlucky that i got caught with 25 miles over the speed limit..
straight road with very few cars; however, i did not notice the police until i saw the top-light flashed enjoyed the driving too much..
the fine for the ticket is $206, and i am not sure about how many pts will be taken off. Since this is my first violation, and i do not want my insurance price goes up.
Should i pay the ticket or ask a lawyer to fight it?? Any advices??
Thanks in advance..
i was averaging 80 mph, so unlucky that i got caught with 25 miles over the speed limit..
straight road with very few cars; however, i did not notice the police until i saw the top-light flashed
enjoyed the driving too much..the fine for the ticket is $206, and i am not sure about how many pts will be taken off. Since this is my first violation, and i do not want my insurance price goes up.
Should i pay the ticket or ask a lawyer to fight it?? Any advices??
Thanks in advance..
Further, anyone such as yourself with limited driving experience should not be driving that fast.
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.
[quote=Aachen1989;3640872]
Should i pay the ticket or ask a lawyer to fight it?? Any advices??
quote]
According to unofficial and official WA DOL websites, WA is not so clear about tickets except to say that you lose your license or pay more for insurance if you have too many. It was recommended that you contact the court listed on your ticket to inquire if that district in particular offers traffic school.
Should i pay the ticket or ask a lawyer to fight it?? Any advices??
quote]
According to unofficial and official WA DOL websites, WA is not so clear about tickets except to say that you lose your license or pay more for insurance if you have too many. It was recommended that you contact the court listed on your ticket to inquire if that district in particular offers traffic school.
Last edited by iblaho; Jul 27, 2009 at 08:31 PM. Reason: spelling
