Need info about Speeding Ticket in Socal

if you have to do Traffic school do it online for sure instead of wasting your time at a class. GoToTrafficSchool.com

 

I don't feel like reading the whole thread. Has anyone mentioned trial by written declaration? I have beaten 8 speeding tickets that way.

 

After having more than a handful of speeding tickets in california Ill tell you a few of my experiences.

My first ticket was going 55 in a 35 construction(double fine) zone. Since I was a student with no funds, I got an extension from the court. Which by the way the clerk can only grant you one extension to pay your fine, after that you can go in front of the judge to ask for another extension, usually 60-90 day extension. Back to my story... Since it was my first offense, the judge reduced my fine by almost half and gave me extra time to finish traffic school.

Side note: You cant take traffic school less than 18 months apart. So, if you got a ticket in january, went to traffic school in the same month, then got another ticket, lets say in march, you would have to wait until next may to take traffic school. UNLESS you go in front of the judge and he is nice enough to grant you traffic school.

BTW, you can also make payment on your fine, if you cant pay it all up front.

I've also done the whole contesting a speeding ticket. If you go that route, you go in front of the judge stating you are not guilty and the court will schedule you a later court date so they can let the officer know that you are contesting the ticket. Someone said earlier that CHP officers will more than likely not show up. This was true for me. I contested the ticket and the CHP officer didnt show up on the date scheduled. Case dismissed!

Another time I tried to contest a speeding ticket, the officer(city) actually showed up! I was totally screwed! He had already drawn out on posterboard a timeline leading up to him pulling me over. And him explaining how he was going the max speed his vehicle would let him to catch up to me and pull me over yadda yadda yadda. He threw out some other LEO jargon out there as well. So, having said all that, I paid the fine and they sent me on my merry way. (I dont recall if I was eligible for traffic school at the time)

My wife had gotten her first ticket sometime last year. She did the same thing I did with my first ticket: got one extension, asked for another one in front of the judge and he ended up reducing her fine cause it was her first offense.

LOOOOOOOOOOONG story short, since its your first offense, the judge will more than likely reduce your fine and grant you traffic school (even though youre already eligible).

Sorry for the mouthful... I know, I know... thats what she said

 

X2. Online traffic school is way better than wasting a whole day sitting for 8 hours in a boring class. With online traffic school you go at your own pace ftw.

 

like someone said earlier you could try and do trail by declaration but u gotta make it sound real good and its kinda alot of paperwork ive heard

but like the other two mentioned do online traffic school, usually cost the same and it only took me 2 hours to complete while i was watching tv

 

if you plead no contest and lose, you CANNOT go to traffic school

seeing as its your first ticket, bite the bullet, go to traffic school, and try not to get another ticket for 3 years.

 

3 years? its a year and a half if im not mistaken

 

i fucked up i think youre right, tickets fall off every 3 years but youre good for traffic school every 18 months.

 

o ok i was worried for a sec, i thought i didnt know how to count for a second lol

 

Since when? I have done this myself a few times.

 

Go to court, admit guilt, plead for a reduced fine based on clear record and low severity of the infraction. Go to traffic school.

If the cop doesn't show, you're off the hook.

 

Here's some advice. Wait until the ticket is almost due, then ask for an extension. Keep getting extensions as long as you can, I usually get 2. Once you cant get an extension then ask to see the judge and set up a court date for later. Pick a date as far away as possible because the point is to let so much time pass before you actually have to see the judge.

Example: I got a ticket on 4/20 for speeding 85 over 65. The ticket was due July, I was able to extend until about October. Then I asked to see the Judge which happened about late November. I showed up and the officer didnt. Automatic victory for me. Also keep in mind if the officer shows up but cant remember any details pertaining to your case, you win. I've seen/heard officers say they cant remember this person/case, so judge will award victory to you.

This technique has worked for me 3 outa 4 times. The other time I forgot about the due date and had to pay a ridiculous fine. Cell phone ticket was 180 regularly, but after i forgot about it. It went up to 480....whack.

Anyways this method has worked for me on numerous occasions and I will continue to use it. Also remember to never say anything to the officer whose citing you because they use anything you say to them against you in court. When he asks why you were pulled over....shrug your shoulders and say you tell me. But always be courteous and respectful or you'll pay dearly for it.

If your still on the fence you can try a Trial by Declaration like some else said. This link should give you all the help you need.
http://ticketassassin.com/docs/forms.html
Good luck bro

 

I've got a lot of experience with this. Where'd you get your ticket (specific city/street (officer?)). I can tell you if you go down the fight-it path, you can't choose traffic school when you lose (i.e. cop shows up to court). In Fullerton, you used to not be able to do online traffic school.

RZ Rob

 

i got it in the city of fullerton on rosecrans and i believe idaho? i could be wrong but its in fullerton on rosecrans haha. im not sure how you can tell what city officer he was? i can do class or online school now

 

Thats probably the best advice if you plan on fighting it, just gotta keep getting extenstions and pushing it back as far as possible. I have lots of experience fighting traffic tickets, I beat many of them but to tell you the truth if I had the money I would have just paid for some of them because its not really worth the time it takes to take a day off of work wait at court, go to arraignment, trial, etc..

If you got the money and you dont have a bad record just pay and do traffic school. If you fight it you have a 50/50 chance the cop will show and if he does you will lose 99% of the time

 

This is pretty simple and a lot of people are over complicating it. It starts with a basic question.

Did you break the law? (Were you speeding? And yes, going 57 in a 55 is speeding and violation of the law)

If the answer is no, you go to court and fight the ticket. Our system is set up for just such a circumstance.

If the answer is yes, suck it up. You do the crime, do your time. Traffic school sounds like an easy and cheap way out.

If the answer is yes and you go to court, you’re pissing off a lot of people. Your pissing me off for wasting a public servants time (which is my money), and more importantly, you’re pissing off the judge. The few judges I’ve met don’t appreciate having their time wasted and generally give max fines or no breaks. The only thing you have to gain by fighting it when you know you’re guilty is hoping the officer doesn’t show up. I won’t mention the moral and ethical problems with fighting something you know you did.

EDIT:

Oops, look like I got in a little too late.

 

Never say guilty with a reason. Guilty is guilty as far as the judge is concerned.

 

X2 , Most people think the term "Guilty, with an explaination" is a viable , commonly used court room option when standing before his honor.
Absolutely false, generally prior to starting proceedings a bayliff or another officer of the court, & alot of times by the judges themselves will speak briefly to the court as to what types of pleas his honor will accept in "his" courtroom, there are no set guidelines unilaterally, the guide lines are dictacted by each individual judge how there court will run, some judges will allow the "guilty with explanation " plea, not many....

 

Two things.

Letter of the Law and Spirit of the law. Officers are taught to us this as a means of inforcing the Law.

Letter of the Law VER Spirit of the Law

Example:

It's midnight and you approach a stop sign. Not a single person or car around. You roll past the limit line by one foot and stop. The letter of the law says if you do it your guilty. Spirit of the Law basicly implies since no one else was around as long as you learn your lesson then your good to go.

Does this make since. When you go to court one option is to ask the Judge to use the Spirit of the law because you "Learned your lession".

Take it from my point of view... I go to traffic Court ALL the time if you get my drift. I have seen this approch work time after time. Now because of your age you can count of the Judge throwing the book at you you you will "learn your lession".

As far as the idea the "COPS may not show and the ticke will be dismissed" is not true. COPS get subpoenas to go to Court. If they don't show they can get in big trouble. Not to mention they get paind overtime. Court = $$$$.

 

Worked for me 'paced' at 85 in a 70 zone by the CHP. It was easy and I got my money back, no points, no increase in insurance.