Speeding Tickets

[Disney's Divinity]

I hate to make a thread all about me--especially with the recent earthquake and tsunami--but does anyone have any advice about what to do when you get a speeding ticket? I know there's a court date, but I honestly don't know anything about this.

The officer said I can probably get the speed reduced or I could take a driving class. I've never received a ticket before, so I'm really confused. Is there anyway to get a ticket dismissed and do you get points on your license for a ticket? And how does all this affect insurance? I'm just really worried mostly because I don't have a job and I know how my parents are going to react when I get home, so it would be nice to have something to say.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[AliceinWonderland]

I know when I got my speeding ticket I went to driving school. It was a day class about 5 hours in the county that you got your ticket in. Taking the class made it so i would not get a point on my driver's licence, which would increase my insurance.

You can take the driving class every 18-24 months to get a point taken off.

The class will cost around the same for the ticket, but you will get the piece of mind that your insurance will not be increased. If you decided to pay the ticket the point will be on your licence for 3 years.

(My ticket was in California in 2002)

[dvdjunkie]

A great big Mega-Ditto on what was just said. Take the choice of going to driving school, even if it is inconvenient. The money you save will be well worth the time.

[Disney's Divinity]

Yeah, I'll most likely end up going to driving school with this. I was kind of hoping that, where I've had a spotless record for 7 years, I could just get this taken care of. But if the school is the only way to keep the insurance from going up...that's what I'm doing. *sigh*

Thanks for the advice, guys.

[dvdjunkie]

Better yet, drive according to all the laws in your state and don't think anybody isn't watching.

I am 70 years old, and been driving since I was 16. NO tickets, and NO accidents in all these years. See if there is anyone who can match that. My insurance company loves me, and I probably have the lowest rates in the world because of my record.

[pinkrenata]

Sorry to hear about the ticket. I just got my own first speeding ticket as well, interestingly enough. Luckily, my insurance isn't going to go up, so I'm planning on just paying the ticket (perhaps negotiating it down a bit if possible) and moving on. I've made it this long without getting a ticket -- I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can make it the needed three years without getting another. Good luck to you and your situation!

[4th Life of Thomasina]

I got a ticket for running a red light last year in PA. Ended up with three points on my license and a $110.00 ticket. Thankfully, my insurance didn't go up. Hopefully, your parents were cool about it. This kinda thing just happens sometimes.

[Mayhem]

How far over the limit were you DD? That might dictate a few variables. Either way, taking the driver's ed class if they propose one is one way to reduce the penalty.

[Disney's Divinity]

Went to driving school this past morning (4 hour class). Total filler, but I expected that.

@Mayhem: Um…high? I’m most likely going to end up with a point or two on my license even with the reduction, but my lawyer says it all depends on the DA. Where I haven’t had a ticket since I started driving (7 years) + the driving school, they might be more lenient and let the whole thing go. It sucks that the law in this country comes down to “depends on the person-in-charge’s mood.” Eh.

The only bad thing is that when you’re young, it’s as if they assume you’re some drugged-up, drag racing, DUI teen who doesn’t care about the law--so they want to make an example out of you (to who, exactly?). Which is a shame, because there are many 40+-year olds who are just as bad, or worse.

(Explanation (not excuse): I woke up late, and one of the classes I have to have to be to teacher (and if I fail, it sets me a whole year behind and then I fall under new requirements, so I would have to take 5+ new classes they‘ve added for newer people in the program) is the first in the day. The teacher, who is mostly nice, says we could have 2 absences, but they still directly affect our grade. Seeing as this is an important class that I don’t want to in any way fail (not that I have before, but I get anxious), I sped where I normally wouldn’t have if it had been a filler class like Anthropology or Biology.)