Wife got a speeding ticket, advice?

[bronson75]

My wife got a speeding ticket in town today. She was going down hill on a 4 lane mixed business/residential street, speed limit was 25mph. The LEO was at the bottom of the hill (which is known for cars going relatively fast), and clocked her at 41, 16 over. 16-19 over is a ticket that will cost her $114 and 4 points, under 16 over, we're not sure about.
She confesses she was speeding, and she said she might have been going 41, she didn't really know.
We haven't had any speeding tickets between us ever, so I'm not sure how to handle it. I have a feeling that if she contends the ticket, she'll get a break (she obviously won't fight the whole thing, she WAS speeding), but is it worth the hassle of going to court?Her driving record is spotless, aside from hitting a deer and totaling her car a couple years ago.
I don't want this thread to turn into typical TCL 'quit bitching and pay it, you sped, now pay the consequences' thread, I'd just like some advice on whether or not to contest it to get the fine and points reduced.

Oh, and before anyone posts it, we aren't lawyering up.

On a side note, did you see FABEL's THIRD frame thread got locked?

[1Point8TDan]

I don't want this thread to turn into typical TCL 'quit bitching and pay it, you sped, now pay the consequences' thread, I'd just like some advice on whether or not to contest it to get the fine and points reduced.

My first and only ticket I asked to just have the points dropped, and judge (might have been some commissioner or something) did and lowered it a couple bucks.

[Hybrid_Hatch]

[stascom]

Write a letter with apologies and other BS to the judge before the court date. Enjoy a reduction in fine. Idk if you will avoid points though.

[DowNnOuTDubin]

My mind went to this.

['dubber]

Plead not guilty and talk to the prosecutor on your court date. Always fight. It's your right, and imo, your duty to contest. Even if you lose, why make it easy? Either way, if you end up with four points, you'll be eating sky-high insurance premiums for years to come.

[Kzoo]

'quit bitching and pay it, you sped, now pay the consequences'

You said it so well I thought I'd just quote YOU. See what I did there?

[under the radar]

look up to see if WI has a basic speed law.

[freddy2081]

got a lot of experience on the topic. My advice is to talk to the prosecutor (some townships make you talk to him by default, for others you need to plea not guilty), he will probably reduce it to a 2 points ticket, then have her taking a safe driving course, which will get rid of the 2 points left on the license.
she'll get out of it with no points, and in my case we got safe driver discount of the policy.

in some areas the 25 mph limit is plain ridiculous and it's very easy to get tickets...

[ATL_Av8r]

It's Wisconsin. Bribe the judge with cheese. She'll be fine.

[WakusPakus]

Take it to court fo sho. Talk to the prosecutor-theyre willing to work with people who aren't a-holes. Done it many a time-it works. 'Round here the cops that pull you over never show up to contest your story...its a guaranteed break of some sort.

Sent from the toilet

[TooFitToQuit]

I was going to say a simple "pay it and tell her to quit speeding" but four points is nuts. I'd try to negotiate with the solicitor a bit.

[Anony00GT]

Yeah what others have said. Talk to the prosecutor, usually they'll cut you a break, especially first-time offenders.

in some areas the 25 mph limit is plain ridiculous and it's very easy to get tickets...

Speed limits in a lot of places are just plain ridiculous. The interstate highway limit (65) comes right to the top of my mind. I'm 100% convinced that speed limits (especially in NJ) are set artificially low on purpose to generate revenue.

[pknopp]

Most places now the money goes to court costs which are what they are. $100 court costs, $14 fine. So you are unlikely to get the costs down much.

Maybe save a couple points. Maybe as noted take a class but IMO one ticket isn't worth it. If you are quickly piling them up, then maybe so.

[revbjeff]

[bpodlesnik]

Take it to court fo sho. Talk to the prosecutor-theyre willing to work with people who aren't a-holes. Done it many a time-it works. 'Round here the cops that pull you over never show up to contest your story...its a guaranteed break of some sort.

Sent from the toilet

x2. Just showing up and being respectful pretty much guarantees you point and fine deduction, especially since it's your first time offense.

[BsickPassat]

Oh, and before anyone posts it, we aren't lawyering up.

Show up to court and get in line to see the DA.

spotless record usually means the DA can choose to drop the points, increase the fine plus court charges

[Egz]

x2. Just showing up and being respectful pretty much guarantees you point and fine deduction, especially since it's your first time offense.

This. Dress nice, be polite, explain that it was error on her part, and most times, it will ever get tossed or allow her to do driver improvement instead of getting points. The city gets your money from court fees, and you avoid an insurance hike.

[Boogety Boogety]

Wife was speeding? Wife got ticket? Wife pays ticket.

It really has nothing to do with you, OP, now, does it? The days of the little delicate female flower needing the care and nurturing of a strong man are, like, gone forever... Let her pay it, argue it, lawyer up... whatever she needs to do. I'm not seeing where it has d¡ck to do with you...

Oh, you both pay the (soon to be larger) insurance premiums from a common account? How quaint. Have her contribute more moneys monthly to the account from her income for as long as the extra surcharges are in effect, so your joint budget stays level.

[Calcvictim]

Not sure how it is where you are but in MA the first appeal is in front of a court magistrate, explain to them what happened.

If they do not drop the ticket then appeal the second time, this time it's in front of a judge and the cop has to show up, if he doesn't then the ticket gets dropped.

Do no settle for a reduced fine, the 4 tickets will ass rape you on insurance costs.

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

advice?

Pay the ticket.

[Calcvictim]

Wife was speeding? Wife got ticket? Wife pays ticket.

It really has nothing to do with you, OP, now, does it? The days of the little delicate female flower needing the care and nurturing of a strong man are, like, gone forever... Let her pay it, argue it, lawyer up... whatever she needs to do. I'm not seeing where it has d¡ck to do with you...

Oh, you both pay the (soon to be larger) insurance premiums from a common account? How quaint. Have her contribute more moneys monthly to the account from her income for as long as the extra surcharges are in effect, so your joint budget stays level.

I am gonna guess you're single.........you sound like no one loves you.

[B3passatBMX]

Pay it. Move on with life. Slow down.

[roman16v]

It's honestly too hard to say because every cities court system is going to be different. Usually you can get a reduced fine by appearing in court though.

[FastGTi]

I was in a similar situation, going 80 in a 65 zone and wanted to avoid a possible reckless charge so I lawyered up. The lawyer made a side agreement with the prosecution prior to the "trial" where I would be charged with another infraction that carried the same fee penalty, but did not add any points. The county was happy because they got their money, and I was happy (happier..) because I didn't have my insurance rates skyrocket.

I would fight it. The high insurance cost can really F your future plans up for years to come.

[shepherdgti]

why wasnt she at home? you know, in the kitchen- or doing laundry?

[KYDUBBER]

Two choices. Go to court yourself chances are they will drop the charge down to faulty equip or something. Still having to pay court cost... or traffic school. Save the points and insurance won't find out about it

[Rice Rice Baby]

Pay the fine and ask for traffic school without any points taking out/ no infraction reported to insurance = clean record.

[Aonarch]

Came here to post this.

[deadernie]

I always go to court. There's no hope for reduction of points our fines if you just pay out and move on. Around here a clean record will get you a probation before judgment, no points, and pay the fine. Anything that gets you a reduction or elimination of points is going to be ideal.

[c0r3y.af]

If she has never had a ticket, they might just drop it and have you pay the court fees. Not sure how it works in WI, but in RI, we can plea guilty and if the judge sees that you have a good driving record, he/she will ask if you'd like to use this to drop the charge, which can be done every 3 years I believe. Then we just pay the court fee and are on our way.

[clutchrider]

Go to court. Worst thing that can happen is they will say no and you pay full fine. I would ask if you could make a donation or do anything to reduce the points or penalty to a non-points fine. It can't hurt and you have nothing to lose.

Also, 41 in a 25 is a bit crazy. My rule of thumb is usually about 8-10 over is safe. If she was doing 35 I bet he would have let her go. But it's obvious that she was fairly easy to spot for whatever reason...

see what I did there.

[whitekryptonite]

She should have opened her blouse a little and showed the cop her Tata’s. ( Or cried like my gf does)






But on a serious note, plead not guilty. If this is her first offense the prosecutor will lower the fine and ask for a "donation" to certain societies. You can then claim it on your 1040 itemized deduction form.

[samc]

It's funny how it's 1 mile over for a higher fee and points. Funny right?


First part is to stop speeding but yes we understand that everyone does it.
Get a lawyer as suggested above (by many ) and you'll pay a lawyer, pay the fees that the court wants and you'll all be happy. Well not you because you have to pay for all this out of your pocket but what can you do right?

[DUBLUV401]

pay the ticket and keep her in the kitchen from now on