Wasn't sure where to post this at so mods feel free to move it.

About 30 minutes ago On my way home I was on a backroad testing my 1-2 shift, when out of nowhere local PD pops out of my muffler and signals me to pull over. Turns out I was doing 41 in a 25, OK I asked for that one.

But I'm looking for advice of others who have been down this road before as of what to do.

Right now I'm inclined to just prepay the ticket and avoid the hassle of having to appear in our joke of a court (Not my first appearance). The total cost is going to come out to $142. Personally I've always thought as forking over free money as a way to make up for a mistake is legalized extorsion but nothing to get my panties in a bunch over.

I was curious though as to the opinions of others. Should I go ahead and just prepay the fine and be done with it, or is it worthwhile to appear in court and ask to take driving courses in leu of the ticket?

 

1) I ALWAYS go to court - never know - they can't make it worse, but they can make it better.

2) Better check state law - here in NC 15 miles over the limit is instant license revocation - so simply paying it could lose your license.

3) Most places (here in NC anyways) have so many people in traffic cour tthese days that they don't have a judge in court - they have a DA that bargains with every defendant that walks in the door - usually cutting tickets down so that there's no major insurance increase, but keeping the original fines (like you said, it's a tax)

I would never simply pay a fine! There's always a way to make it better.

 

I suppose your right. I have to pay court costs whether or not I appear (Stupid).

 

By the way if It's worth mentioning this was my first offense. I had a scott free record prior.

It kinda pisses me off though the game the cop was playing. I got caught fair and square, but she said to me, "The speed limit in this area is 25 with reduced speed ahead signs posted", which means she was waiting patiently for someone to come passing through the 35mph zone not noticing that it slows down to 25mph.

 

do not just prepay the ticket. Go to court maybe the cop wont show up and you can get out of the ticket here in pa if they dont show up you walk. If the cop does show up (i am assuming she nailed you with radar gun) Ask to see proof when the radar gun was last calibrated and how often they are to be calibrated if its even a day out of calibration you win and cop looks stupid. now if th cop nailed you with Vascar same thing goes when was that calibrated. You could no a search the net for ways to get out of a speeding ticket. And if anything your waste the cops time by making her show up lol. By the way was she a good looking cop maybe you can score a date and have her cuff ya LOL

 

She nailed me with Lidar. And I am not debating that I was HAULING *** down that road. I was actually doing in excess of 50MPH with my foot to the floor and when I approached the trailer park and saw all the 5 year old kids playing at the side of the street I shut it down, unfortunately not having enough time to slow to the speed limit before I got to officer TJ hooker.

And hell no she was not attractive. Rather short and old. I wouldn't do her with yours...

As for the cop not showing, I thought of that one too. The last time I had to appear in court for an attempted reckless charge (which I did get dropped). The first time the cop showed and I plead not guilty and they immediately rescheduled the trial. The second time the cop did not show but the dumbass DA pushed for ANOTHER continuance. What's a way to combat this?

 

As long as you don't lose your license by "pleading guilty", just pay it. You were caught doing exactly what she said.
What's YOUR time worth?

 

If you can take a safety course and get the ticket dimissed, there's no reason not to do that. PLUS, many places will offer you a discount on your insurance if you turn in the complete certificate, no matter why you took it.

Here in texas we can take the course online... it's GREAT

 

 

I've heard of people sending the payment in and paying even a penny more than what the ticket was so they have to send you a check for the over payment and if you don't cash the check the offence never goes on your record because they can't put it in the system until the check clears as being cashed .

 

That's what I thought at first. Here is the part that really pisses me off and makes me want to go to court and fight, EVEN though I WAS in the wrong. It's all a big organized game.

The insurance companies shell out millions to police departments for new radar guns, so is it just a coincidence that they hike up your rates when your convicted of a speeding ticket? Not to mention any idiotic loopholes like camaronewbie mentioned. Also, the whole philosophy of, "You did wrong but just pay me some money and it will be ok", doesn't fly by me, but I think $142 for not having to waste more time in their traffic court is kinda worth it, IF it was not for all the previously mentioned consequences.

Excessive if you ask me. If I ONLY had to pay the $142. that would be a fair trade since I was speeding by a residence coulda killed a child blah blah blah. BUT, having to suffer for the next 3 years due to this ONE simple mistake is kind of excessive. Reminds me of some other countries where they chop your hands off if you are caught stealing.
As far as I'm concerned, I'm all against the "system".