uhh . . need help with a speeding ticket

the reason i ask i that i'm not familar with california's laws - i've had one ticket in my home state (WA) over a year ago, i got the latest on I-5 bout a week ago. (a CHP ticket, btw)

i've heard of all the mitigation and traffic school solitions, but the only problem is that i took trafic school the last time i screwed up, and the infraction still raised my insurance rates.

i'll basically do anything to keep this from raising my rates any further. dont care how much the ticket is. traffic school is an option, i'm told, as this is my first ticket in CA, but i don't know if it'll keep the ticket off my record (at least so my rates can't be raised)

thanks a million for any help. .

p.s.: a few things i've heard that might apply (but probably don't):
there was no fine amount on the ticket, the cop didn't even know how much it was. someone told me that if the ticket has ANY errors (e.g. no fine amount) that it is invalid. i seriously doubt this, but anybody know for sure?

also . . .

ever more of a longshot, but this cop was camped out behind an overpass, completley invisible. yet another person told me they beat a ticket because the law says that's entrapment, and cops have to be in plain view. i seriously doubt this one, but if anybody knows, please drop me a line

Ok 3 things........1 "entrapment" ?? getting a speeding ticket is not a drug bust. Cops are supposed to hide out. Your going over the speed limit and they are there to catch you. They are not telling you to speed because you don't see them......tell your friend he's an ass for even saying that.

2. the fine amount i don't think is an excuse either....only personal info about you and about the violation are key.

3. since it was in another state you might be able to goto traffic school again...but your insurance is still going to be fucked because of the violation.

actually i think that the entrapment excuse will work because they are supposed to be out in plain view so you can see them. if they were hiding behind something or you can't see them in plain view then that is "entrapment." maybe someone else could clear this up for me.

Originally posted by 94civic
actually i think that the entrapment excuse will work because they are supposed to be out in plain view so you can see them. if they were hiding behind something or you can't see them in plain view then that is "entrapment." maybe someone else could clear this up for me.

think about what you are saying....before you go any further. I spoke with my father...(NYPD 10yrs) It's not entrapment because they are not forcing you to speed....you're speeding free of will and no encouragment. Entrapment is when you are decieved into committing a crime....if you were speeding you did it free of will.

I was reading your post & thought it happened in T.O. The cops along the 101 in T.O. are big dicks!

If there are errors, your odds are better (but not 100%). Just ask all sorts of specifics and try to make him look like he didn't know what he was doing.

Discrediting the officer's judgement is the only way to win against the "buddy-buddy" law system.

Here in Florida if you get a ticket and take the class, your insurance CANNOT go up. Thankfully. Unfortunately, my last ticket was within a year of the previous, so I couldn't take it. What I heard however, is if you mail in payment and send like $5 more than the ticket, they refund you that amount. And if you don't cash the check, the deal never closes and you don't get any points. I tried it, sent them $188 instead of $183. I figure it's worth a shot, even if it doesn't work. Probably won't. Still waiting on the check.

Originally posted by CXHatchback
$5 more than the ticket, they refund you that amount. And if you don't cash the check, the deal never closes and you don't get any points. I tried it, sent them $188 instead of $183. I figure it's worth a shot, even if it doesn't work. Probably won't. Still waiting on the check.


that doesn't work bud...

if Califorina has no-lo use it. It is pleading no contest, basically it states you are fucked, you did something wrong, you are sorry, now just give us some money to waste and we won't put points on your license, lol.

Originally posted by JayFidizzy



that doesn't work bud...

Yeah, but like I said $5 and it's worth it if there's even a chance in hell. I've had at least 5 tickets now, and anymore and I'll probably get kicked off the insurance. So I'll pretty much do anything at this point.

If you can get traffic school then it won't have any affect on your insurance. Even if you get another ticket (within 18 months) you can see a judge and ask him if you can take traffic school even though it's your second offense. They're most likely to say yes unless you got two tickets in two months.

thanks for all the replies - i called the superior court today, i'll be getting a "courtsey notice" (courtsey my ass) soon, and the traffic school option is $160:eek: (a hell of a lot worse than WA, someone is getting rich off speeders)

the only thing i am wondering about is because after taking trafic school in WA to clear a ticket, my rates still went up (because i had an accident a few months before, i guess)

i know i wont have any points, but if the insurance company (USAA) finds out i know my rates will increase, as i'm past the threshold of that first offense. the issue is wether or not my insurer even finds out in the first place, not about the points.

i did that back in NC....i got a ticket for 58 in a 35 (long story, the road changed from a 35 to 55 about 10 feet from where i got hit..you could see the sign :/)
i opted to take the traffic class, ended up costing me more than the ticket, but it was wiped off record...which was all im concerned about. basically had to pay a 60 dollar court fee, and 85 dollar class i think it was...

dont know about cali..but here in texas we have something called defered ajudication. you go on probatoin for a certain amount of time i thin kits like a year. or maybe 90 days...i dont remember.....all you pay is court costs +the ticket. and if you have to moving violations within the probabtion period hte ticket is wiped from your record.... and just for the record, i too have heard about the entrapment, clause... where the cop must be in plain sight. a pricinct around here got busted for not having a light visible at night, trying to hide. i beleive it is a safety issue. that way if he catches someone, he is visible when he takes off and doesn't cause any accidents...
just my .02 though