Speeding ticket in Vermont - fight or not?

1: Pay ticket = 219$
2: Fight ticket = fuel cost$
3: Fight ticket fail = 219$+ 50$ + Fuel$
4: Fight ticket, get fine reduced = 119$+ Fuel$

I usually always fight tickets, showing up at court shows to them your willing to put in the effort to make amends. If you fight it there is paper work that the officer will have to fill out, occasionally they never do ( I went to court for 105 in a 65, officer made it 28 over so i could go to work and not get arrested on the spot, i had a court date but he never did the paper work so I walked) fighting it will almost guarantee that it will get reduced. If its not too much work I would fight it.

 

Fixed for you....

 

I would not just pay the ticket.. This is what I have always done.. I would plead guilty with explanation.. And this is exactly what I say in my letter..

To whom it may concern:
I have worked very had at keeping a good driving record and I would really like to keep it that way.

Sincerely,
....

obviously if my driving record sucks this would not work. But I keep the letter very short. So I either get it deferred or they give me some other non-point citation.. All they really want is my cash. Which I feel is better then taking off work, getting points and my insurance going up.
But that is what has worked for my. Why just pay without at least trying something. Either way I would have had to pay, but I paid without points.

 

X2, they will reduce it.

 

... ^^^ ... FWIW ... Those (and cell phone users) are the folks that almost hit me every week. ...

Have had some really close calls with "women in SUVs doing animated self absorbed talking" on their cell phones ... several times a week now ...

They act like they are the only ones on the road too ...
.

 

not necessarily, radar showed he was doing 50% over the speed limit. "I know I wasn't doing 60" isn't much of a defense.
my Mom's uncle was a judge, he'd double the fine in this situation.

 

... ^^^ ... I don't know about the units today ... but the "hold signal function" actually disconnected the broadcast antenna in the old days ... I think ...

My old company (back in 1980s) used to sell Kustom, SpeedGun, Decatur & VASCAR ... IIRC ...

.

 

If Workman was in your situation, he would just pay the ticket.

 

fight it, just keep getting extensions, postponing it, when you appear for arraignment plead NOT GUILTY and dont pay the bail, just make sure you show up for the trial or you will get a bench warrant... Worked for me a few times, better than just handing them your money. FIGHT IT !

 

I keep going back and forth about this, but I talked to VT DMV and they won't report this to my insurance so no increase in rate and no points if I pay.

 

then it all comes down to do you have more time or money?

 

You should know that court records are public record.

In Wisconsin, you can look up anybodies court record (Full disclosure - I used to work there) and so insurance companies will find it by looking.

That doesn't look to be so easy in Vermont.* That said, just because those records aren't easy to get to now doesn't mean they won't be next year.

I'm not saying your rates will or won't go up - I don't know enough about it. I just wanna help you make an informed decision - I've known a number of people to get bitten in the ass by some small infraction long forgotten.


*Detailed case information about Criminal and Family Division cases is currently NOT accessible through VTCourtsOnLine

 

I live in Vermont, they will not reduce it.
They will charge you more abeit the $50 fee if you lose.
All the tickets the LEO writes will be scheduled on the same day
so you have to wait depending how many are in front of you.
More time wasted.
The LEOs show up & the system is setup so they show up.
The traffic court system here is not setup to let you go or lessen the fine.
My last ticket I just paid online & got on with my life.

 

Pay it. You know you were speeding....and you got caught. Ok so you weren't going 61, but you weren't going 40 either...

where the debate is here. More time and more money spent fighting it in court.

 

add some more money to the pork barrel doughnut trust fund

 

Why wouldn't you pay it? You were going over the posted limit, right?

 

It actually goes to the general fund, for better equipment, better vests, better lighting, etc.

 

ALWAYS TAKE IT TO COURT! You HAVE to take the chance that the officer won't show up, at which point the ticket is dismissed, since its up to the OFFICER to prove guilt. Take the chance. Even if you KNOW you were in the wrong and have ZERO proof otherwise, the worst that will happen is you have to pay the fine anyway. Always go to court. )

 

^^ what this guy said... Come on OJ knew he was guilty but still pleaded "Innocent", some times you just gotta put up a fight and take a chance.. it's a dice throw

 

This applies to everyone with this mentality. Yes your case can be tossed for lack of prosecution but normally each side (i.e. Prosecution and Defense) will be afforded one continuance.... Your 6hr. round trip to get firewood and have your day in court could very well turn into TWO 6hr round trips to get firewood, just so you can attempt to plead to the court that while you were in fact speeding....you just weren't going 61. I'm not giving advice, only bringing up a minor detail that everyone seems to be overlooking. Or maybe all weren't aware. For what it's worth......