Got pulled over for speeding- should I just plead guilty?

[SlaughterX]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

can't get jury trial for a speeding ticket, jury trial is only for criminal charge where you can go to jail

easy way to beat your ticket is have lawyer show judge a map that shows speed limit is 55 where you were pulled over. that proves ticket is bogus. you could even do that without a lawyer.

This is incorrect.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by SlaughterX

This is incorrect.

Nope, its correct. US Supreme Court case ruled you only have right to jury trial for a charge where you're facing minimum 6 months jail

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_v._Louisiana

[cynatnite]

The worst state to get a speeding ticket is NC.

I got caught going 20 over the posted speed limit.

They don't hand out tickets that you pay. You have to go to court and all that jazz.

No matter how sorry I was for not paying attention to my speed, the officer had no choice but to write me up.

It's terribly expensive for one. Also, they can remove points from your license or just suspend it if the judge wants.

We got a lawyer and after paying nearly $500, the fine was paid, I lost no points and our insurance did not go up.

If there'd been any other cheaper option, we would have taken it. NC laws are very strict. Don't speed there.

[Cremildo]

Originally Posted by SlaughterX

In your case though, if you know you did it then why even make this thread?

Good question.

[Blu2u]

Originally Posted by cynatnite

The worst state to get a speeding ticket is NC.

I got caught going 20 over the posted speed limit.

They don't hand out tickets that you pay. You have to go to court and all that jazz.

No matter how sorry I was for not paying attention to my speed, the officer had no choice but to write me up.

It's terribly expensive for one. Also, they can remove points from your license or just suspend it if the judge wants.

We got a lawyer and after paying nearly $500, the fine was paid, I lost no points and our insurance did not go up.

If there'd been any other cheaper option, we would have taken it. NC laws are very strict. Don't speed there.

I was curious so I looked it up. It's because you were caught going more than 15 miles over. Otherwise, you could have just written in your plea. Here is a quote:

"Speeding is a waivable offense so long as the speed driven does not exceed 80 mph and is not more than 15 mph over the speed limit if the speed driven is over 55 mph."

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by rexcrk

I mean, I definitely messed up. Should I just plead guilty and accept the fine?

I have no problem admitting and paying for my mistakes, but this is the first time I've ever gotten pulled over (and I've been driving for about eleven years).

If I just mail my ticket, pleading guilty will that be the end of it? I just want this to be over, I think I'm fretting over this more than I should be.

As someone who has been pulled over several times in the past for <ahem> "moving violations" , I would say no. By paying the fine, if caught again for a similar offense within the next 2 years, your insurance premium will take a significant hike. Hiring a lawyer is not an inexpensive alternative (my out-of-pocket cost was $500; he had the judge reduce the charge to a non-moving violation, about $95 for the state), but you start with a clean slate and your auto insurance payment will stay the same. Make time for a day in court, preferably with a lawyer, to fight the charge.

I live in a state that has a notorious reputation for speed traps (the other one being Florida), so if you have any related questions but aren't sure if they're worth bringing up on a public forum, send me a PM.

[cynatnite]

Originally Posted by Blu2u

I was curious so I looked it up. It's because you were caught going more than 15 miles over. Otherwise, you could have just written in your plea. Here is a quote:

"Speeding is a waivable offense so long as the speed driven does not exceed 80 mph and is not more than 15 mph over the speed limit if the speed driven is over 55 mph."

Oh, yeah, I found that out right after it happened.

[SlaughterX]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Nope, its correct. US Supreme Court case ruled you only have right to jury trial for a charge where you're facing minimum 6 months jail

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_v._Louisiana

I love how you're trying to tell me I'm wrong when I was literally just in court for this on Tuesday when they were presenting me with the options of paying the fine, having a jury by judge, or a jury by trail. I guess my lawyer, the judge, and all the papers that has the options on it are incorrect. Can you please show me your degree for practicing law in the state of IL?

[The Great Owl]

A police officer pulled me over for speeding during the late 1990s, and told me, "I've been waiting for someone like you all day."

I replied, "I got here as fast as I could."