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View Full Version : I got a speeding ticket, 20 miles over.



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OdysseusNJ
03-09-2008, 08:57 PM
I think the effect of tickets on insurance is blown out of proportion. I got a 2 pt ticket and it didn't change my rates at all, despite me being in the worst demograph (22 yr old male) and in some of the worst states (CA, NY, NJ) for insurance. NJ actually is the worst state for car insurance. The only folks I know who have their rates doubled all have DUI or DWI.

You should just call your insurance company and ask. Don't mention the second ticket, but it sounds like the first already on your record so it's reasonable to talk to them about it since they already know. Ask how much of a difference it made on your rates, and ask how much of a difference 1 more, or 4 more, or whatever more points would make. They are probably legally obligated to tell you so don't be shy!

From there you can just make a judgement call of how much the ticket will cost you versus how much it will cost you in time, money and ugh factor to fight it. To me that's the easiest and most sensible way to approach it.

Another way to save money might be to shop around insurance carriers. It might be more time effective than legal wrangling.

Fawn
03-10-2008, 12:33 AM
OMG how would I prove this??? My speeding ticket says I got it at 2:00 am, but it was 3:00 am because of daylight savings time. How do I prove that he put the wrong time and get this ticket thrown out?!?

kandie_kitten
03-10-2008, 08:03 AM
^ You cant. The cop will say "Oh, wrong time because of day light savings", and the judge will say "oh, okay".

My boyfriend was pulled over and the cop put the wrong date, and thats till held up.

Secondly, for the OP, I know in many cases, if you show up at court, the cop who pulled you over may pull you aside and ask you to change it. This has happened to me, and every one I know who lives near me that has a speeding ticket, they were pulled aside, and if they admitted guilt, they knocked the speed down to get less points, and they threw out the fine as well.

Or myabe my area ia just very friendly.

Fawn
03-10-2008, 08:08 AM
^^^ Thanks for letting me know. I will go in exactly on time so he has no time to pull me aside now : )

Sh0t
03-10-2008, 08:18 AM
The insurance hit on getting points on your license is not overblown.

One major violation can mean an increase of 25%.

Call the company anon first if you can and get answers.

ColetteCalahan
03-10-2008, 08:48 AM
^^^ AGREED. ody, if your insurance didn't increase a lot, it was merely a stroke of luck.

OMG how would I prove this??? My speeding ticket says I got it at 2:00 am, but it was 3:00 am because of daylight savings time. How do I prove that he put the wrong time and get this ticket thrown out?!?

yeah, probably won't hold up... unless they get you on the wrong violation (like they mark 'basic speed law' when you're doing 100) these small things will get overlooked.

HOWEVER- you're starting to think critically!!! keep reading the material in those sites (esp. the texas ones) and use some previous cases, too- construct a case for yourself!

toomuchhomeworklately
03-10-2008, 10:06 AM
I'm just curious - How bad would it be if someone said they weren't guilty of speeding & said all the stuff about the radar gun not being callibrated properly & whatnot; then they were still found guilty. Would the fine be higher? Would it include court costs?

I've always paid my speeding tickets (haven't gotten one in over a year tho) and paid extra to go to those retarded classes so my insurance won't go up. I never considered contesting. Is their a downside to contesting a ticket if they still find you guilty (more costs, etc.)?

Sorry for the slight threadjack.

cameron_keys
03-10-2008, 10:08 AM
I'm just curious - How bad would it be if someone said they weren't guilty of speeding & said all the stuff about the radar gun not being callibrated properly & whatnot; then they were still found guilty. Would the fine be higher? Would it include court costs?

I've always paid my speeding tickets (haven't gotten one in over a year tho) and paid extra to go to those retarded classes so my insurance won't go up. I never considered contesting. Is their a downside to contesting a ticket if they still find you guilty (more costs, etc.)?

Sorry for the slight threadjack.

Theres court costs, but they arent much so its worth it to try and fight. You cant really do worse. Teh worst thing they can do is make you pay it.

ColetteCalahan
03-10-2008, 10:12 AM
No, the fine you paid already would be put towards them finding you guilty. Then again it may vary from state to state and district to district.

OdysseusNJ
03-10-2008, 03:57 PM
The insurance hit on getting points on your license is not overblown.

One major violation can mean an increase of 25%.

Call the company anon first if you can and get answers.

It's not? See below:


honesty isn't worth paying double your insurance rates, a huge fine, traffic school, etc... no way.


In America it's common for ins. rates to double.

Seems like in this very thread it's been overblown by 75% over your estimate.

We agree that OP should call the insurance company. Anyone throwing out numbers is pulling them straight out of their ass unless they are an agent for that company. I'm not even sure OP needs to call anonymously. Generally drivers are assigned to a risk category based on things like driving record, age, gender, etc. In NJ at least, ins companies are required to explain in detail (and in writing) what category a customer is assigned and why. The rules of assignment are tightly regulated and it's unlikely that your category will be changed until and unless the notification from the state DMV records comes in that the customer was convicted of an offense.

To be on the safe side, I would call my company and identify myself (which will result in them being able to give more accurate information) but not mention the ticket. Instead I'd first check my policy documents to find out what risk category I'm in, and then ask the agent how being in an adjacent category would affect my rates, and what it would take to get into one (both better and worse).



^^^ AGREED. ody, if your insurance didn't increase a lot, it was merely a stroke of luck.

Luck had nothing to do with it. It simply wasn't enough to push me into the next risk category. I was, as a 22 yr old male driving for less than three years, already in a risky category. Extra risky was probably reserved for DUI, DWI, under 18 & multiple offenders. At this point it's off my record and irrelevant (NJ also regulates how loing a violation is allowed to affect rates).

If I were OP I would find out the potential monetary cost

(fines + (insurance change * duration of offense on record))

and weigh that against

(cost of lawyer + lost wages in court + (perceived value of free time * amount of time spent on google and SW "researching") + (ugh how much you'd have to pay me to deal with a courthouse hassle hassle blah blah))

Then decide whether it's worth fighting. Many jurisdictions will reduce 4 points to 2 and half the fine over the phone which eliminates whatever value you've assigned to hassle if you go that route.

ColetteCalahan
03-10-2008, 04:01 PM
^^^ oh, you knew what i meant by luck... you're "lucky" you were in one category and not the next. i didn't mean "luck" as in "your FAIRIES were rooting for you!!!" ;D

but as to insurance... ok, so sh0t was right... 25% for pleading guilty/paying or for a second ticket... i don't see what the point is.. it's still too much to not fight it.

OdysseusNJ
03-10-2008, 04:15 PM
but as to insurance... ok, so sh0t was right... 25% for pleading guilty/paying or for a second ticket... i don't see what the point is.. it's still too much to not fight it.



I think you're letting your emotions about speeding enforcement get a vote on this matter. Without real numbers of both the financial effects and the OP's value of her time I wouldn't make any such declaration, either way. No one here has all of those numbers.

OdysseusNJ
03-10-2008, 04:17 PM
Anyway I think the OP already decided to fight it so it's a moot point.

ColetteCalahan
03-10-2008, 04:22 PM
beh, you're right. also remember that regardless of how i view 'the system,' i LIVE for this stuff... hell, i am working to become a lawyer one day... i know i get a little over-exuberant about it. apologies.

stangboy124
03-12-2008, 09:07 AM
Is there something like a county attorney in your area you could speak with? In my experience, they'll usually lower the infraction to improper equipment or something similar so it won't cost you any points or be reported to your insurance company. There will still be a fine, though...