Paying double and getting tickets reduced

[KC Ron Carter]

Paying double and getting tickets reduced.

I always loved to explain that to foreign computer consultants.

They almost always asked isn't that like a bribe?

Yep, but I really like it.

Later,

[Towncar]

Hmmmm. I was just going to pass this post right on by..
but then, Ahhhh what the heck !!

I don't get it !!
Exactly what's being reduced when your paying double ?

I've had plenty of tickets dismissed, paying absolutely nothing. No record of them getting to insurance co.'s etc.

Reduced just dosn't fit into this scanerio, unless of course your talking about some scheme you have over there in Kansas where you can pay more to have the ticket dismissed.

[Diesel2NR]

what are you talkin about? A little explanation might help...

[lwpat]

"Paying double and getting tickets reduced.

I always loved to explain that to foreign computer consultants.

They almost always asked isn't that like a bribe?

Yep, but I really like it.

Later,"

What Ron is talking about is called a deferment program for speeding tickets. You pay an increased fine and your ticket does not go on your record unless you get another speeding ticket within a certain period of time, usually one year.

This option is not available in all states so you have to check with the clerk of court. I prefer traffic school especially since many states now accept online traffic school and the speeding ticket does not go on your record. You never know what will happen in a year.

[bm2boats]

#1, Always go to traffic court. If the cop does not show up( at least in NJ and NY) the judge will fine you inicent. If the Cop does show up, Go up to the D.A. and ask ( in a nice voice) your insurance will double will the points. He will always say pay the fine and he will wave the points. if the fine is $100.00, with 2 points on the D.L. . In NJ or NY your insurance will go up at least $500.00. get 4 points and your paying an extra $1,000.00 a years for 3 years then, another $200.00 for another 3 years before your insurance will go back down. So, if the judge says your fine is $200.00, smile and say Thank You your Honor. Pay the fine and your insurance will stay low.

[YukiHime]

But in my case is...I got caught going 50/45...but still...got 2 points and 100bucks fine...
And no one ever told me that I should go to the court...also, on the court day, I got a biggie in my class...just bad luck enough, right?
Stupid cops giving tickets for 5 mph over limit...Our government is that broke now?

[klohiq]

Always go to court...especially for anything under 10 over...you can usually get those dismissed...you can usually get the other tickets reduced...so in general you should always take it to court unless you have more important engagements.

in maine it works the same way as a lot of states...cop doesnt show then you get off "scott free"...fair deal?

[YukiHime]

Originally Posted by klohiq

Always go to court...especially for anything under 10 over...you can usually get those dismissed...you can usually get the other tickets reduced...so in general you should always take it to court unless you have more important engagements.

in maine it works the same way as a lot of states...cop doesnt show then you get off "scott free"...fair deal?

But Michigan Cops are just jerks.

[Bryan C. King]

Every State is different in this aspect. In Mass the police officer does not have to show up. The department has a court prosecutor that goes to court every day. And for the comment regarding "Stupid cops giving tickets for 5 mph over limit...Our government is that broke now?" There is no such thing as a quota, and everywhere I know of when there is a posted speed limit sign, as for example 45 M.P.H. 46 is over the limit. I agree, giving tickets for 5 M.P.H. is extremely unordinary. I don't give a ticket unless it is over 15 M.P.H.

[Towncar]

Originally Posted by Bryan C. King

" There is no such thing as a quota,...

Maybe not however, on the statistical charts presented to our board of supervisors we see "areas of police concern" and "police responses" in those areas represented in numbers.

[originalmike]

What are good things to argue when you are trying to get a ticket dismissed or reduced?



I really dont like the cops in Oregon who sit on the border with Idaho waiting for people to get caught going from the 75 mph speed limit to the 65, then giving them i fine thats 4 times as much as the ticket 400 ft away back in Idaho.

[YukiHime]

Originally Posted by Bryan C. King

Every State is different in this aspect. In Mass the police officer does not have to show up. The department has a court prosecutor that goes to court every day. And for the comment regarding "Stupid cops giving tickets for 5 mph over limit...Our government is that broke now?" There is no such thing as a quota, and everywhere I know of when there is a posted speed limit sign, as for example 45 M.P.H. 46 is over the limit. I agree, giving tickets for 5 M.P.H. is extremely unordinary. I don't give a ticket unless it is over 15 M.P.H.

And that 5 mph difference is because I was going downhill...

[bm2boats]

up hill, down hill. You were over the limit, RIGHT? Cops are stupid? It is a job. They have to write tickets, they have to arrest people, they have to respond to to any Bullshit call that A-Hole people call 911 for.( My cats in the tree, My mother-in-law won't leave my house, ( During a Thunder Storm) I heard a BOOM, is there an explosion.
Cops are doing a Job. We need them. Hell, You stated that you were doing 104 mph. That is Dangerous one of my kids could be on the road. In NJ, If you are caught doing over 100mph, a Cop in allowed to pull your lic. right there, with out a judge.
Grow up! One day, a nice ambulance will pick you up. Maybe in pieces

[Mediocrity]

All I can say is, sorry man... you got ripped.

Last day of classes for me I was comin home and decided that I'd have a little fun on the way home... bad day to do it. Right outside of the town onto the 2-Lane highway.... boom cops hiding. Im doin 71/55, didn't have my license with me either (was a there and back trip for finals).

Grrr... I'm about to get pissed...

I didn't have a job and there was no way in hell I could pay for that thing, let alone the new insurance costs.

Court appearance comes... Judge is in a bad mood because it was 2 days before christmas. I'm thinkin "oh shit... im fucked".

Advocate there decided on the circumstances that since I'm a college student who's tight with money that I could do a one year diversion and do 16 hours community service (1 for each mph) with no marks on my record. And no court cost either. Ohhh shit I was lucky.

Long story short, I've only got about 10 more hours to do :P

[Webslinger60]

This is a fairly new thing that certain towns decide to do, if the state (any state) approves it. Previous to around 1965, (+/- a decade), you got a ticket & paid a fine. But what happened was, wealthy people who could afford it, just paid-up, and that was unfair. So the states came up with the Point system to get habitual offenders off the road. But then, the point system was unfair to people who were on the road a lot, like truckers, cabbies, commuters, etc.

So now what they’re doing is offering the choice of bigger fines but no points. I argue the technical-legality of this, but when given the choice, most people will jump at it.
I live in NJ. The last ticket I got was for an illegal left, back in 1990. I went to court & had a very good excuse. The Judge suspended the fine. I thanked him, but politely told him it was the points, not the money, I would rather do without. The judge had the power to suspend the fine, but said he had no power over The NJ state point system. I guess the laws have changed since then.