Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

[One-Way]

Re: Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

On another thing, my cousin said you can only extend the court date once. Is that true? Or can I keep calling and keep pushing it back, until like a year?

[Siggie]

Re: Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

I know, but his "chase down" thing is not true, plus he told me "don't go to court, just pay the ticket and go to traffic school". Kinda shows that he doesn't wanna show up to court himself.

I've also done traffic school for 20+ people, and I can do them in 15 minutes or less, lol. That parts not a problem, but the $500 ticket is.

I'm probably gonna pay anyway.

Well you don't really know what "chase down" means and one mistake like that doesn't mean you didn't speed, so it's unlikely that it'll be dismissed for that.
My uncle got a speeding ticket and the color of his car was wrong and that didn't get it dismissed and he was going 10 over, not 45.
I think if he shows up, you're not going to win. He may not have told you not to fight it because he doesn't want to go, but because you won't win. Don't try to guess.
If the location wasn't near you, you can have it moved to a different court which would have increased the chances he wouldn't come though.

[One-Way]

Re: Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

Hmm. The court is in Chatsworth, down in the valley.

Won't it be smart to move it to somewhere in Glendale, or somewhere else, and keep extending the date? There's a very big chance he won't come. I just don't wanna pay the bail, lol. That's a lot of money being thrown to a ticket.

[Siggie]

Re: Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

That book I mentioned addresses this stuff... See if any bookstores carry it. Don't even buy it. No need. Just look through it there.

[Sip]

Re: Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

Whether you contest the ticket or not, you still have to pay it for now I think.

[karoaper]

Re: Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

If you speed often, I'd say pay it and use it as a learning oportunity. But if you really don't usually speed, as you say, then, I don't see anything wrong with pleading no contest, which is like saying you're not sure if you're guilty or not, going to court and being frank and appologetic with the judge. Tell her/him, the street is wide was very empty at the moment and for a second you lost control of speed and usually it doesn't happen. Obviously, tell her you don't have the money to pay. Don't be argumentative and basically put yourself on the judge's mercy. This way, if you loose, it won't be worse than paying it right now and a school. You could candidly ask the judge about the "chase" thing. If the judge feels for you, you could get away without paying and a 6 month grace period (meaning if you get caught speeding during those 6 months you'll pay this ticket in addition to the new one).

Either way, don't speed, especially while you're still young. Develop those important motor skills first and get a better insurance.

[Thai-Samurai]

Re: Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

whenever I contest speeding tickets I like to tell the judge how I feel.
Like this. "Woot Woot! That's the sound of da police. Woot Woot! That's da sound of da beast." Then I cross my arms in front of me and make a pouty face.

Honestly IMHO fight the man to the bitter end. One time my friends and I went to go swimming in my community pool at 1 a.m. And I parked in the handicap spot. This was MY neighborhood pool, at 1.a.m. (honestly what handicap fool is gonna drive to his own neighborhood pool, park in the handicap spot and go swimming?) Anyway some concerned neighbor called the cops on us and they wrote me a $360 ticket. I contested in a letter, which they sent back and so not dismissed, then it said I could contest one more time but it would have to be a personnel appearence at court. So I checked that box and sent it back again. I got it back and it said dismissed.

[One-Way]

Re: Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

Nice going.

The thing is, last night, I came home from school and my family was sitting around discussing my ticket. My parents told me to pay the ticket and do my traffic school - then go down to court and try to have it reversed. They said you can do that, because they've done it before. Apparently, I tell them I did my duty by paying and going to traffic school, but I think I'm not guilty. If the cop isn't there, I win. If he is, I just have to speak what I think is right. My dad said if I win, they'll send me my money back. And if I lose, I won't really "lose" anything. I will have already paid, and I will have already done my traffic school, so I'll walk out with my money gone. That's okay, I guess.

But I really wanna know if I can request a court near my house. That way, I can switch the cities and extend the court date. That way, the cop is bound to not show up.

[ddd]

Re: Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

But if he has you on radar, you have to the following courses of action:


3. You can make a reasonable case that you were speeding safely.. I doubt any judge is going to go for 79 in a 35 being safe but there are times when you can make a valid case for it.

Since he was going over 65, that won't work. I don't know how ghetto of a place Chatsworth is, but the outdated radar calibration argument seems like a good one.

[ddd]

Re: Just Got My First Speeding Ticket.. Got a Couple Questions

In other news, I got a parking ticket today.