Keep the date, and when it gets close, see if you can get an extension. The farther away it is, the less likely the cop will show up or remember the circumstances. Act like you don't think you were going that fast or the equipment might have been defective. Make them prove their case...

 

I have a nato license, that I got in germany.. its a little plastic card, looks almost like a credit card.. because I was there with nato forces, I had to go and take a class, and then the test.. if you failed the test ( which yes indeedy i did.. You can go back the next day and take it again.. then its so much time between failures( got it on try two.. the next day when my truck arrived in country talk about good timing)..
Germans as pointed out.. have a lot harder time getting a german license.. and it costs alot.. they I am sure, would think twice before they did something to lose it.
I understand all the reasons you got your ticket.. believe me.. but even by your admittance.. you said you were speeding.. why fight the truth?

 

In North Carolina they have "Prayer for Judgment" which means you get a slap on the hand if you haven't got a ticket in a while. No points just pay the fine. I think you can use it once within a 3 year period before getting another ticket.

Other states have them but under different names, so maybe his state may have it...but I think you need a lawyer to request it.

 

i'd say fight the ticket. i don't know about insurance laws in other states in massachusetts, they are regulated by the government. so if you pay your speeding ticket, your admitting your guilty. that can result in an add up of points resulting in higher insurance rates. i think the average amount of money you pay over a 2 to 3 point increase over 3 years is something like 2000 to 3000. thats a lot of money on the long run. it doesn't hurt to fight it just to at least reduce it or even appeal it. some cases they may reduce the fine if it's unjust. other cases they may not reduce it at all but may waive the additional points.

i got into 2 speeding incidents. once i was going 73 on a 35. the police officer pulled me over. he gave me a warning since it's my first incident, and wrote down 43/35. super lucky.

second time i was caught going 48/35 resulting in a 130 ticket. i filed for a appeal in july, and my court date was april of next year! but i went and they actually appealed it within 2 minutes. it was totally worth it.

 

THAT IS INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! Screw NC. No more OBX for me

 

oh btw, forgot to mention I'm from massachusetts too. i actually got those tickets in Brookline. if anyone is from there, we all know they are the most uptight cops when it comes to speeding.

 

There's more. I got a ticket in NC for doing 90 on the interstate (cop got 3 of us at once), and had to follow him to a magistrate right then. Had to hire a lawyer to make an appearance pay a large fine and lost my privileges to drive in NC for a long time (had a FL license at the time). They then said to restore my privileges I had to pay another fine ($25?). I didn't and when I went to get a PA license they wouldn't give me one till I settled up with NC. This was in 1990 and the who;e thing cost me $300+.

 

Still wanting to know--will any previous tickets (2 in 10+ years) NOT resulting in convictions show on my record? They were in a different county.

For what it's worth, I do NOT believe I was going as fast as the officer said, and that is why I plan to fight it...

 

Every state is different, Deb. Some list moving vilations for just three years, some list them for decades. Most states only list convictions, a few of them list everything (but would reflect those for which there was no conviction).

I've seen a lot of states Motor Vehicle Records because I'm in the auto insurance industry. But I can't recall what the practices are of your home state of Texas.

By the way, I suggest you have a better plan for your day in court other than "I don't think I was going as fast as the officer said". That one will be ignored by the judge. Regardless of what you say, given your good record, I doubt you'll get anything more than Probation Before Judgment.

 

Well having not had a ticket since 1995 I got one back in July. It was not a good one either. I was going 61 in a 55 on a four lane highway. A guy comes up behind me in a hopped-up chevy truck right on my bumper. I was behind another car so I moved over. Then he moved over and kept on my bumper. I got pissed. I dropped a gear or two and hit the throttle. I went around the car in front and slowed back to 61. Put the cruise on and made a turn about a 1/2 mile away. When I looked back here comes a trooper. He pulls me and asks what were you doing back there? I clocked you at 77 in a 55!! Ouch...I told him....he hit the laptop and handed me a thermal printout. No slack....77 in a 55. He said the judge would cut me some slack as I hadn't had a ticket in 12 years...well bs....I sent a lawyer over as I had legal insurance. My insurance covered because I was in danger of losing my license. The lawyer went to the front of the 300 plus person line for admin court and the DA had a spreadsheet. You do this you get that. Etc. No bargains, no nothing...PJCs don't work in this county. I got it reduced to 64 in a 55. What a ##($&#($!! Cost me $130 costs of court. If I get another they will throw the book at me. Within one week my Valentine was installed and now I am at war. All of this for one quick speed up. What a system we have in the USA.

 

But what SHOULD I say? That's what I don't understand, because I've never gone before a judge before. BTW, I can still change it to not-guilty: judge, or guilty: pay.

 

Well, I wouldn't plead guilty. I would just communicate to the judge why you feel you should have the charge dismissed. Perhaps something like, "I was going along with the flow of traffic and didn't realize how fast I was going. Because of my good record, I request the charge be dismissed".

And if your courts operate like ours here, that's all you'll have time to say !

 

I'd go for a judge rather than jury. Juries have to go by law. Judges can make concessions. Not guilty. I would not suggest anything about how the judge should rule or that the charge be dismissed. That'll really **** him/her off. Tell him/her that the speedo on your car is off to the side and you were watching the road and the cars in front of you.

 

I got a ticket today. 85 in a 65. I totally deserved it.

Traffic school, here I come...