Kenc1103

Just got a speeding ticket today going 40 in a 30 miles zone in San Ramon Ca. Wonder how much would that cost me and should I go to court or just pay the fine?

ColoradoDriver

In California you can usually work it off with community service to avoid fine and points.

mac911

I've never heard of doing community service instead of fine, but I'm no expert.

Was your court date listed for like 2 months ahead? If so in the next 4 weeks you'll get a notice telling you the amount and if you can go to traffic school. If you don't get a notice, obviously you should contact the court yourself, but it can take a while to get it, again like 1 month if the court date is 2 months away on ticket.

Ok, that ticket probably won't be too crazy. I'd guess under $300, but again I'm no expert.

Here is the deal...have you went to driving school in the past 18 months?

If not, you can pay the higher price of ticket (they will give the traffic school amount too). Then before you pay, go to an easy online traffic school on the approved list like the Improv Comedy Traffic school. You can finish quick. Then wait on your certificate, mail that in and the fees, and then it disappears. It doesn't make your insurance go up then. Traffic school doesn't save you money, indeed it costs more, more to the court and the small fee to the school, but it keeps it off your record.

If you already had traffic school in past 18 months, you might want to do trial by declaration (written) since you have not much to lose.

by the way, only 10 MPH over. That sucks a bit too. They must really be wanting to make income. Do you think it was legitimate reading?

aowhaus

Isn't the amount of the fine printed on the ticket?
I thought you could simply send in a check or pay by credit card by phone/website within 14 days, if you accept the violation.
A court date should be written on the ticket if you decide to fight it.

I got caught in Iowa by aircraft doing 80mph in a 70mph zone, and my ticket was $115 if I paid on time. I guess fines vary from state to state, CA must be stricter.

Kenc1103

The amount of fine was not printed on the ticket, it only has a court date which is two weeks from now. Wonder if I could just pay the fine and go to traffic school without going to court.

IGB

40 in 30 (10mph over the limit) will run you approximately $211... You will be getting a courtesy notice from the court giving you all you options with the amounts you'd have to pay with/without traffic school.

How did the officer measure your speed? Did he/she use Radar/Lidar/ or did he/she pace?

BerBer63

Ask for an extension on the court date...hope the PO doesn't show up and case dismissed otherwise pay fine ask for traffic school

Niti24

If u are going to fight the ticket, remember that all you need to do is prove that you were doing it safely. For example, I was caught doing 74 in a 50 which is 21 over. I got the ticket and went to court. I explained to the judge that it was 6 in the morning, no traffic whatsoever, it was a clear day and a four lane highway. The judge rules in my favor and now everytime I go to court, I focus on proving that I was driving safely rather than prove that I wasn't speeding

saint619

If you don't have any tickets in the last few years you should be able to go do a traffic school online and bring in the certificate and avoid paying a fine.

IGB

All an extension will do is delay the inevitable... The officer will receive the same notice from the court to appear on the scheduled trial date. It is still the same citation, he has the same notes and his testimony will not change... Extension or not, the chances of the officer appearing or not remain the same.

You would be better off doing a Trial By Declaration, if you lose, you can request a copy of the officer's declaration, review it for possible defenses and go for a new trial (Trial De Novo).
Before arguing a "safe and prudent" speed, one should request a copy of the engineering and traffic survey (you can contact CalTrans or city planning/engineering for the most recent copy) for the road where the alleged offense occurred to establish whether the posted limit is justified by the E&T survey... BUT, that only applies if and only if the speed estimate was obtained by way of an electronic device (Radar/Laser/Lidar). A "Speed trap" defenses (VC sections 40800 thru 40808) do not apply when the speed estimate was obtained by pacing.

It all depends on how much work you're willing to do to attempt to get a dismissal.

IGB

Actually, you'll still have to pay the fine even if you opt to go to traffic school.

So if you choose the traffic school option, you'll have to pay the $211 (approx.) PLUS the court administrative fee for traffic school ($49 - $69 depending on which county this is in) PLUS the enrollment fee to the traffic school.

saint619

But it keeps the ticket off your record. Thus keeping insurance low and saving you money in the long run.

Kenc1103

Will I be getting the actual citation from mail that shows the fine and do I have the choice of just paying the fine and not showing up in court?

IGB

You've already received the "actual citation" but you should be receiving a "letter" from the court detailing the fine amount, the due date and payment options.

Yes, you should be able to just pay the fine... No need to go to court. You may even be able to pay the fine over the phone (phone number should be on your citation) or online on the court's website. If you do send it by mail, make sure you send it certified mail/return receipt requested so you'll have some sort of proof that it was received by the court.

Kenc1103

Thanks for all the info IGB. I think I will just pay the fine and go to traffic school.

IGB

You're welcome

E92-Lighting

only 10mph over, it must have been bad timing

Kenc1103

It got caught right after I came out of the plaza. The distance between the plaza and the cop stood is like 20 feet away, by the time I stepped on the pedal, it already hit 40mph. It was really just a bad timing.

IGB

In the words of a CHP officer buddy of mine, "nine you're fine, ten you're mine".

killacam7479

Similar question, relating to insurance. I got a pretty bad ticket last year, going 100 in a 55. Got a lawyer, went to court, got supervision and paid a hefty fine. Insurance is in my dad's name, so he hasn't said anything to me about the rates going up. Past weekend, I got a ticket in Wisconsin driving back to Chicago. 83 in a 65. No option to get drivers school or anything since I'm out of state, I can either pay or not pay. Once I pay, I think it will come back to IL. If that's the case, I'm assuming my insurance finds out about it. If they run a report on me, can they find that 100 mph ticket too?

JimPap

I hope you like walking because when your dad finds out, you'll be doing a lot of it.