Speeding Ticket---Need Help
I recently got a speeding ticket in West Virginia while driving from Kentucky to Virginia. I was caught at 81m/h and the speed limit
was 70m/h. I have a clean driving record and I don't want to mesh up my record. Can you all please let me know what is the best way to deal my situation.
1) Shall I go to court and plead not guilty.
2) Shall I pay the ticket amount without going to court.
I want to try option 1) but not sure whether I need to vist West virginia court or I can do it from Kentucky. Its around 250 miles from my place to reach West Virginia. Also please let me know what could be the points that I can say in my favbour to Judge for not being guilty.
If you wish to have a clean record, then try to sign up for a defensive driving course and pay the fine. It will prevent points being deducted in your record. Pleading not guilty would be a bad move.
I had 5 speeding tickets in three years after I got a US license. I've grown wiser now and have had no ticket in over 2 years (touchwood).
If you prefer a court date for pleading not guilty then you will be assigned to a court of the city you get caught so u gotta travel 250 miles.
Check in ur ticket what the cop used to determine ur speed like radar or followed you. If the cop used radar then it's hard to convince the judge for not guilty but still the judge may reduce or waive the charge (since it's ur first violation though unlikely) based on how u tell the story. Other guys may have idea what to tell...
Last edited: 27-Sep-11 01:05 PM
Usually cops will offere you to go to a defensive driving course in lieu of going to court. Since you weren't, just pay the fine and the take the hit. But I am not familiar with WV traffic laws so take my advice for what it is.
The cops really do target out-of-state license plates because they know the likelihood of you going to court is smaller. But yea, it does depend on the area; in certain areas the chance of you overturning a ticket is slim (that's what the lawyer told me when I got ticketed around middletown, ct) and going to court only increases the fine if you lose (i think). Just take the hit and move on, especially if you know you were in the wrong. Going to court is a huge hassle! Your insurance will not necessarily go up.. especially if you stick to your current one for now!
I suggest you go to the court . If you do not go and pay the fine your insurance will go up for 3 years. If you go to court, Almost all the time you have to see district attorney before going to judge. And for almost all speeding cases he will reduce the charge so that people will plead guilty and that saves time of court.
You drove 11 miles above the speed limit, he will likely reduce it to 5-6 miles. that means you will be charged for speeding at 75 -76 in 70 zone. Ask your insurance agent about insurance point i.e. at how many miles over the speed limit your insurance will go up. If it looks good plead guilty if not ask DA whether he can reduce further down.
When I got ticket last time. I paid 25$ more than the ticket and i didn't had to do any defensive driving either. They will give you three months probation and if you don't get a ticket within that period your record should be fine. It depends on how you talk and on the person over there also. Most of the times they will try to make under 25 to take defensive drivings though.
Katman, is it possible to talk with District Attorney through phone or we need to meet him in-person. Same question for Goddamn whether we need to visit the location of speeding to follow your suggestion or we can do it through phone. Also Goddam can you suggest me the steps to follow your suggestion considering I am 250 miles away from the spot of speeding and phone would be best option for me.
Aasirbad, chill out dude...You are crying like you got a DUI or hit someone. Your got speeding ticket for just 11mi/hr more than the limit. You want to talk with district attorney for that?? Are you kidding me...Usually anything below 15miles from limit won't even go to your record so relax, just mail them the fine and save everyone's time.
from what i know, i sure you dont get point if you get a ticket out-of-state! so, just pay the fine!!!! and u were going 11miles more so ur ticket is probally $90.
if you hav a nice record bro, dont worry ur insurance wont go up. dont listen to this pakhes. LOL!
best of luck!!!
Thanks guys for all your suggestions and sharings. I am really chilled out now and most probably pay the ticket online soon hoping that it wont increase my premium or reduce any points from my driving record.
Johnhy, looks like you have not been to traffic court. you do not need to ask for district attorney, you have to go through District attorney. so no choice, you have to see him. Like I said, Insurance point works differently in different states.
Also pirka, rules have changed. just google and you will see that you might have become a pakhe.
aasirbad, do the google whether you will get insurance point for out of state speeding. my best bet is go and see your insurance agent. if they say it does not mail it.
http://www.dmv.com/wv/west-virginia/dmv-point-system
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