Tagged at 17 over coming out of Old Town onto the GW Parkway South

[bmwhoo]

Speed was changing from 25 to 35 and I was at 42. Prior to the posted speed limit change. Is this ticket worth fighting and, if so, any advice on how?

[jschweiger]

Originally Posted by bmwhoo

Speed was changing from 25 to 35 and I was at 42. Prior to the posted speed limit change. Is this ticket worth fighting and, if so, any advice on how?

Do you have a Virginia Driver License, and how may "safe points" do you have? It looks like you were going 7 over, which I think is 3 points. I got pulled over 10 years or so ago at the same speed over. I didn't fight the ticket since I was at +5 safe points. Geico saw the ticket, but since I was still +2 after the ticket, Geico didn't see it as a ticket or that I had any points.

So, unfortunately, I think you need to do more research on what will work best in you case.

Jeff

[XsltAnalyst]

Yeah, definitely hire a lawyer and go to court.

[elias]

If you have a good driving record I would get a Lawyer and fight it. Seven miles
over thats not much these days. I got a ticket so I got my Speedometer checked
and certified and it was off by 5mph. It helped me not get the points.

[mtr3s]

Horrible advice. How much more would you have to pay for an attorney? And, the court can charge you court fees if you show up. If you have expendable cash, then go for it.

Go to court by yourself. In Maryland, if the officer doesn't show up, you get a free pass aka Failure to Appear.

If the cop does show up, claim guilty and ask for a lower speed and reduced points.

[bb1857]

Not sure about Virginia but in MD if you have a clean record and get a minor ticket like that you simply go to court alone, without attorney and plead guilty with explanation. Judge looks at your record and gives you probation before judgement which is zero points but you still pay the fine.

[EALm4]

Fight it with an attorney. Call around and get some prices but usually they charge anywhere between 250-450 for speeding tickets under the reckless driving threshold. Dont risk the points or raise in insurance.

The presence of an attorney alone is almost enough to get the case dismissed or reduced to a non-moving violation such as "improper equipment". Not to mention you dont even need to be in the courthouse when the case comes if you use an attorney. So no need to take off work

Or study the local laws, obtain basic evidence and represent yourself in court. PBJ does not guarantee shit. Especially if you are ticketed in a highly targeted area. You'll still have to pay court fees and still risk points on your license. Remember in traffic court, the judge gives the benefit of the doubt to the State, hence why if an officer does not appear the case will be thrown out. I fought a ticket in Baltimore City courts face to face with the officer and judge and won with proper knowledge of traffic laws, photo evidence and proper court room procedure.

So if you're bold enough, do it yourself otherwise hire an attorney and plead innocent.

[elias]

Originally Posted by mtr3s

Horrible advice. How much more would you have to pay for an attorney? And, the court can charge you court fees if you show up. If you have expendable cash, then go for it.

Go to court by yourself. In Maryland, if the officer doesn't show up, you get a free pass aka Failure to Appear.

If the cop does show up, claim guilty and ask for a lower speed and reduced points.

That advise is totally useless in Virginia!

[pseto]

Originally Posted by elias

That advise is totally useless in Virginia!

+1000 VA is a totally different animal when it comes to moving violations

[paliknight]

Originally Posted by pseto

+1000 VA is a totally different animal when it comes to moving violations

That's because Virginia is a shit state.

[DeliAhjusshi]

Just out of curiosity to the OP, were you hit with radar or laser?

[brownb_2]

MERICAAAA!!!!


yes judge man i was accelerating cos the limit change and went past that limit too...
but i dont deserve a fine

advise from an Australian: you were speeding, you got caught, your fines are cheap, just pay it

[MrSmileyDC]

Traffic court is a joke. Just go sit in one day to hear some cases and see how the judge deals with them.