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BigMac (SoCal)
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« on: June 22, 2015, 09:50:33 AM » |
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4 weeks ago I got a ticket for an unsafe lane change. The fine is $238.00. If I want to go to traffic school it's another $57.00 added to the fine. Then you have to pay for the traffic school itself which I haven't look into yet. I called my insurance company to find out what effect it might have on my rates. From what they say although going to traffic school will not show any points to my driving record they will still know about it anyway. She couldn't tell me if it would make any difference when my renewal comes up in September. This is the first ticket I've gotten in 23 years so it's not like I'm to worried about points and if I should be a bad boy and get another within 3 years I suppose I could go to traffic school at that time. I know I can do it online as well. One friend say's I should fight it. Just postpone it a couple of times and more then likely the officer will not appear in court. Even though I'm retired I would rather not spend time going to court. So unless I fight it the insurance company will know about anyway. When I was young it seems I used to get a ticket once a year. One would come off and then I would get another. I've only had one on a motorcycle and that was back in 1975 riding my 75 Goldwing down hwy 101 at 80mph. Back then the max speed limit was 55. I was the only one on the road early in the morning and off of a sudden a CHP pulls up beside me and pulls me over. He said to me is that one of those new goldwings. I bet that is mighty smooth. I said ya a little to smooth, I didn't even realize I was doing 80. He did reduce the speed to 65 on the ticket though. That was the last speeding ticket I got.
Ride safe everyone.
Dave
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« Last Edit: June 22, 2015, 12:14:46 PM by BigMac (SoCal) »
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6shutr
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« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2015, 10:09:00 AM » |
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I don't know for sure, but my instincts and experience cause me to assume that simply getting the ticket would cause your insurance rates to increase. They need little excuse to screw folks, and even if you go to court and prevail, they most likely don't give a whit, and will raise your rates anyway, causing you to fight another battle, gambling that you won't.....my2cents...rick
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2015, 10:15:09 AM » |
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Mack, when stationed at March AFB 1987-92, I got two tickets in five years (CHP freeway performance awards). Both times I took the class in person (no online back then), and both times I got nothing on my record and my insurance co (USAA) never heard about it.
Maybe insurance companies DO find about tickets removed by driving school these days..... or maybe the gal you talked to was wrong (it happens). I would hope one ticket in forever would have no affect on any insurance, but CA can be special. The classes were long (all day) and stupid and occasionally hilarious. I never had point trouble, but I did not want insurance trouble ($).
Also, there may be a difference between getting the class done before the court date on the ticket. Many people pay the ticket (thus convicted), then take a class to remove points (too late, ins already notified). My detail recollection is a little fuzzy, but I took classes right away and never appeared in court at all.
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« Last Edit: June 22, 2015, 10:28:04 AM by Jess from VA »
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Earl43P
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« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2015, 10:57:43 AM » |
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Always, always, ALWAYS go to court if at all possible. My most recent performance award (deserved) was sweet. The assistant DA saw everyone in order (take a ticket #, just like a barber shop) and chatted about their infraction for all to hear. I quickly learned she was recently discharged USN JAG (there was a CPO in uniform a few people ahead of me). She had a soft spot for Marines (a LCpl was two guys ahead of me, also in uniform). She likes wit and banter (me). She dropped it down from 77 in a 55 to obstructed windshield. (You can't have your GPS within the sweep of the wiper blades, my suggestion). She cared not a whit that I had no GPS, no wipers and was on a motorcycle. She awarded me a non-moving violation which the Insurance company will never see, and was happy to tell me that. She was also happy to tell me that my fine would still be $269 for the original charge, regardless. County must get their revenue after all. Never saw a Judge or police officer the whole time either. Just us Defendants, a bailiff and the Clerk. That ADA was SMOKIN' hot too  . |
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08 Goldwing
21 KTM390A
99 Valkyrie IS Sold 5/5/23
VRCC #35672
VRCCDS # 0264
When all else fails, RTFM.
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2015, 11:25:47 AM » |
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Great story. However, NOTHING like that will happen in my county. Cops rarely miss court dates, and if they do, it will get set over for a future date (once), after you waited hours for the chance at a dismissal. If you plead not guilty (on your own unrepresented), you will be found guilty (unless you have a good case and know what you are doing), and the fees, costs and fines go way up from a plead-and-pay-by-mail.
Deals are only made with local attorneys; the prosecutor and police will not speak with you at all without one before trial (no exceptions)..... you stand before the judge and plead guilty (with an explanation), or not guilty and have a quick trial, that's it. I refer to this as the full-employment-for-local-attorneys-policy.
There may be a hundred thousand Federal attorneys in my area (like me, licensed anywhere and usually not VA), and you will get no face time at all with the prosecutor/police if you are not licensed in VA (and they will not allow you a reciprocity VA bar admission unless you maintain a business separate and apart from your home). I refer to this as the Federal attorneys can go suck eggs policy, which dovetails nicely with the full-employment-for-local-attorneys-policy.
Now if you are an illegal and do not speak English (funny that not a single Latino spoke English my day in court, even the legals), they got the lowest fines and punishment of anyone else in court that day, even when causing accidents.
On the other hand, appearing in local Federal Magistrates Court (traffic court for offenses on Federal property/roads), I was given polite and courteous treatment by by an ex-Judge Advocate (like me), and made a very nice deal for my wife, and the fine/costs was less than half that of local County traffic court.
Advice about how to deal with traffic offenses and traffic court vary widely by jurisdiction.... there is no one size fits all.
Mack, I apologize for the thread drift.
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« Last Edit: June 22, 2015, 12:17:50 PM by Jess from VA »
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2015, 01:45:34 PM » |
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So Dave, inquiring minds want to know. What exactly is an unsafe lane change ? No signal ? On the bike or in a vehicle ?
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BigMac (SoCal)
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« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2015, 07:03:03 PM » |
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I was in my truck. In the no. 3 lane behind a slower box truck. I saw a car coming on my left and when he went by I signaled and moved over. There was a CHP motor officer which I saw as about 5 car lengths back. When I moved over he was right on my tail and lit me up. He said that he only saw one blink of my indicator and moved right in front of him. Well there is no arguing with him so he wrote me up. It was like he sped up on purpose but of coarse it's my word against his and there always right in court.
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blackvalkyrie
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« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2015, 10:46:15 AM » |
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If you got pulled over by CHP, more than likely they will show up in court. Lately CHPS has been making damn sure their peace officers go to court (guess their losing too much $). As far as insurance goes... my understanding is the insurance company will know you went to traffic school, but it will not affect your rates....I'm not 100% sure, but I remember that when I got one, that was situation.... granted that was 3 years ago...good luck! I'd do the traffic school, especially if you can do it online! 4 weeks ago I got a ticket for an unsafe lane change. The fine is $238.00. If I want to go to traffic school it's another $57.00 added to the fine. Then you have to pay for the traffic school itself which I haven't look into yet. I called my insurance company to find out what effect it might have on my rates. From what they say although going to traffic school will not show any points to my driving record they will still know about it anyway. She couldn't tell me if it would make any difference when my renewal comes up in September. This is the first ticket I've gotten in 23 years so it's not like I'm to worried about points and if I should be a bad boy and get another within 3 years I suppose I could go to traffic school at that time. I know I can do it online as well. One friend say's I should fight it. Just postpone it a couple of times and more then likely the officer will not appear in court. Even though I'm retired I would rather not spend time going to court. So unless I fight it the insurance company will know about anyway. When I was young it seems I used to get a ticket once a year. One would come off and then I would get another. I've only had one on a motorcycle and that was back in 1975 riding my 75 Goldwing down hwy 101 at 80mph. Back then the max speed limit was 55. I was the only one on the road early in the morning and off of a sudden a CHP pulls up beside me and pulls me over. He said to me is that one of those new goldwings. I bet that is mighty smooth. I said ya a little to smooth, I didn't even realize I was doing 80. He did reduce the speed to 65 on the ticket though. That was the last speeding ticket I got.
Ride safe everyone.
Dave
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blackvalkyrie
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« Reply #10 on: June 27, 2015, 06:01:30 PM » |
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How true!! I used to drive a limo for music express in Burbank..boy do I know about the scam!!! |
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JimC
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« Reply #11 on: June 28, 2015, 06:01:57 PM » |
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In my area, I always tell people to plead not guilty, and to request a pre-trial with the prosecuting attorney. You can normally do it by mail, or with a telephone call to the prosecutors office. Read the back of the ticket, it will give you ways to do it without appearing in court.
The city attorney in the municipality I worked for, would give a deal about 80-90% of the time. Ask if there is a municipal citation that the citation could be reduced to. The municipality does not care what you get convicted of, just that you get convicted of something and give them the MONEY.
Our old city attorney would reduce a speeding citation to "a horse in the downtown" (a 100 year old ordinance) or "disorderly conduct with a motor vehicle" neither would not be reported on the drivers license and the insurance company's would not know about them.
I would bet there is something similar in your jurisdiction. You have nothing to loose, and a lot to gain by going to court.
Jim
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Jim Callaghan SE Wisconsin
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