Speeding ticket (ADVICE NEEDED NOW)

"Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen" (sportwagen)
10/02/2016 at 14:12 • Filed to: None

Okay, I’ve run into a dilemma. Back in september I got a speeding ticket where a patrol officer radared me at 83 in a 60 (on an on ramp) but wrote the ticket for 1-10 over (a $161 fine). I go to pay the ticket online and now it says that the ticket was for speeding 20-25 over (a $202 fine). What should I do? The court date is tomorrow.

Edit: The physical ticket SAYS that I was doing “Speeding 1-10 in violation of municipal code CH32-169" in OKC

DISCUSSION (13)

ttyymmnn > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/02/2016 at 14:18

Go to court and present the ticket. Should be open and shut.

CB > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/02/2016 at 14:18

Bring the ticket to court. Say that that’s what he charged you with, and that’s the fine you should have to pay.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/02/2016 at 14:20

Since it’s probably too late to bring up the discrepancy with the courthouse, your best bet would probably be to show up and bring the issue up with the prosecutor. Worst case scenario, you’d probably have plead guilty to 1-10 and pay the fine given on the ticket.

At least, that’s my non-expert opinion.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > ttyymmnn
10/02/2016 at 14:20

Okay, I’ll do that. I was just confused as to what I should do

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/02/2016 at 14:22

I was just going to pay the ticket to begin with, but this issue is kind of bugging me. I’ll just go to the courthouse tomorrow and get it taken care of

Honeybunchesofgoats > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/02/2016 at 14:27

I don’t blame you. Especially since it happened on an on ramp. That’s kind of dumb to get a ticket for that.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/02/2016 at 14:31

It stupid to be honest. Traffic does 70+ there all the time, I was going that quickly to merge safely, instead of cutting someone off. Oh well, the city needs money!

Chuckles > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/02/2016 at 14:37

If I had to choose between going online and paying $202 for a ticket that I fairly earned (going 23 over and getting a ticket for 20-25 over) versus having to take time out of a work day, driving to court, and trying to argue that I should only get a ticket for going 1-10 over just to try and save $41, I’ll take the online option every time. I don’t want to have to explain to my boss that I need time off to go to court, and if I end up wasting a few hours of my time, did I really save that much money anyway?

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Chuckles
10/02/2016 at 14:38

Its the fact that 20-25 would affect my insurance rates... 1-10 doesn’t. Besides, I have tomorrow off anyways :)

Chuckles > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/02/2016 at 14:43

Well, having the day off certainly changes things. In that case, go for it. Does the ticket actually say “83 in a 60 zone” anywhere on it? Sometimes that might be noted, which would make it harder to argue down. If it doesn’t say your actual speed on the ticket anywhere, then definitely try to argue that you were only going 1-10 over. Enjoy your day off :)

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Chuckles
10/02/2016 at 14:45

No, but I think the officer wrote that on his copy, mine only says speeding 1-10 on it. No other speeds or anything

sonicgabe > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/02/2016 at 17:29

Go to court. Most likely, tomorrow’s court date will be to plead not guilty, guilty, or no contest. If this is what happens, you won’t be arguing your case tomorrow, but be prepared anyway. If it’s just a hearing to plead, keep your mouth shut say not guilty. Don’t try to explain it, or ask for the fine to be modified to match what it says on your copy of the ticket. Just say “Not Guilty” and ask for copies of all other copies of the ticket and any notes the officer took. Ask for this to be mailed to you and ask the judge to set a court date far enough out that allows time for you to receive these item with time to properly review them, maybe 90 days?

If tomorrow you have to argue your case, tell the judge that what it says on your ticket does not match what it says online when you went to pay it. Tell them you would like to see and obtain copies of all other copies of the ticket and any notes the officer took. If they provide them to you on the spot, tell them you would like a continuance to examine them because of the discrepancy. Tell them you need 30 days as you have to arrange for time off from your job.

If they can’t provide that on the spot, they’ll set a new court date with plenty of time to have those things provided to you, ask for 90 days.

Show up well dressed and be polite and professional, that goes a long way to help you. If you get a continuance and get or will get copies of everything, that gives you time to prepare a defense.

If you get shot down at every turn, and it’s gonna end with you paying something tomorrow (or at least assessed a fine), tell the judge you would like to change your plea to “No Contest”, ask that the court have mercy on you, and that you would humbly pay the fine for the offense listed on your copy of the ticket.

Good luck.

Judges like everything to be quick and easy, but if you keep your cool and ask for the above things, which should be well within your rights, there’s always a slim chance the judge will just find you not guilty to get you out of thier court as they don’t want to have to deal with you and your fancy legal stuff in traffic court.

DynamicWeight > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/03/2016 at 16:48

My experience with going to court, is they always offer you a deal. And sometimes they just let you go for practically free. Always fight. No one does. Any little bit of resistance can often times be enough.

Edited to say: Following the advice I just gave you, I ended up having a ticket where I was pulled over going over 100MPH on my bike in a 65, completely dismissed. I made no arguments. I just showed up twice.