This is not frugal at all *first ever speeding ticket*

[brennasmom]

Oy! I got pulled over tonight on the way home from soccer practice. The kids and I were chatting away and obviously I wasn't paying attention to my speed (and didn't see the cop )

So, what to do now? The ticket was $195 *thud* for 41 in a 25.

My choices:

* pay it...
* admit guilt but go to court to "plead my case" (not sure what to say or how this works...)
* contest it (really don't have a leg to stand on I don't think?)

I honestly didn't think I was going that fast. But like I said me and the kids were chatting so I guess I wasn't paying enough attention.

Sigh.

Anyone been thru this? Suggestions.

I am blaming it on the fact that I just turned 40

[Nishu]

Do this:

* admit guilt but go to court to "plead my case" (not sure what to say or how this works...)

And tell them this:

The kids and I were chatting away and obviously I wasn't paying attention to my speed

And apologize, tell them that it normally doesn't happen and that it won't happen again.

Judge can reduce your ticket considerably.

There's no point in contesting it. The speed thingies the cops use are pretty reliable. Your chances are better with an apology anyway.

[NicJean]

Oh pooh! That's too bad. See, there's a reason I drive like the preverbial 'little old lady'!! (not yet 39 here. . .)
I'd just pay it, that's what I've done in the past, too chicken to plead case.

[Momto5RN]

if its not enough to get you points and mess with your insurance i would just pay it doesnt matter if you never speed - to them you did they caught you and for all they know you convinced 5 cops before them to not give you a ticket

most go in and plead when they are getting alot of points and may end up with less points but a higher fine

you could end up with a cranky judge who will give you the riots act for not paying attention to speed when kids are in car '
and for when your kids are older - how do you want to be a lesson for them ? try to get out of things you do wrong ?
or pay the fine learn a lesson and move on

[Nishu]

Apologizing and admitting wrongdoing is admirable, too. Its not like she's lying. She can easily save herself a hundred bucks just be showing up. Worst case scenario, he doesn't reduce it. And I disagree that it won't matter that she hasn't had a ticket, it sure will work in her favor.

The cop that pulled me over stood before he judge as well, and he told him that I was polite and all that, and I think that mattered too. You were decent to the cop, right?

[brennasmom]

The cop said something about our state having a deferral program where it's not reported to insurance as long as you don't get another ticket for 2 years.

I have never had a speeding ticket before so I should qualify.

[Palooka]

Just pay it on-line and be done with it. That's what I did the last time I got caught in one of those BS kansas City speed traps.

It's just easier to pay it and move on. Guilty.

[NikoSan999]

I"d just pay it. If you go to court you'll also pay court costs on top of the ticket. My guess is, you'll end up paying more or at least not less.

[The Muse]

Go to court and see if you can get it reduced. It's worth a shot.

In some places if the ticketing cop doesn't show up to court they throw it out, so if you're willing to invest the time to go to court you could get out of it by default. $195 is nothing compared to what it could cost in insurance premiums. In some states, insurance companies look back 5 years. It can cost you dearly. I was married to a lead foot, so I know of what I speak.

[Russ]

I'm with Nishu on this one, but still be prepared to pay it.

[OOwl]

If you've never had a speeding ticket before (or in the last five years), here in Texas the judge can grant you deferred adjudication. You are required to pay a small court processing fee and if you do not get another ticket in a set period of time (here, it's a year), then the ticket is dismissed. Here, you also have the option of taking defensive driving. If you do this, you keep the one ticket off your record. You can go to court and plead your own case, or you can hire a lawyer to handle it for you and you don't even need to show up. If I were going for the frugal, I'd go personally and ask the judge for deferred adjudication based on my clean driving record. Best of luck to you.

[Rhayne]

I've only had 2 speeding tickets in my life. One I went to court and pled my case and got it drastically reduced. And the other I was lucky enough at the time to be working for the city prosecutor so I got it removed and I paid nothing.

[Mojjo]

Go to court and see if you can get it reduced but bring the checkbook just in case.

[xtena]

Or a less frugal option may be to pay a traffic attorney to negotiate a plea. More money spent up front but it can help reduce your insurance costs in the long run. A couple of years back, my ex got a ticket for running a stop sign: that is a four point offense in Nevada! Traffic school would have reduced it to three points; he would have still had a point on his record. The 'plea' reduced it to the equivalent of a traffic ticket; pay the fine; zero points. I forget what he paid; a couple of hundred dollars, but it was worth it.

[McD]

I"d just pay it. If you go to court you'll also pay court costs on top of the ticket. My guess is, you'll end up paying more or at least not less.

Here you pay court costs regardless of whether you appear or not. Just paying the ticket is a guilty plea and still has to be handled by clerks, etc.

I would go to court and attempt to get it reduced as even one ticket can raise insurance rates (at least here).