Owch...my first speeding ticket

[Overtime]

And it couldn't have come at a worse time...

I was driving the BMW (picked up the Impreza later today after the body shop attached the bumper cover PROPERLY.) I had just fought a little with my parents over their inability to help me pick up the Sube, but I got over it.

However, it was a rough day yesterday and I felt like taking a brief respite from school. So I drive down US-1 to Hardee's for some breakfast.

It's 8:15ish when I see a Blazer in front of me and to the right pull over. I think, "Whoa, wonder why he did that?" And then bam, I see highway patrol lights in my mirror.

I figure he's trying to get by me (after all, the Blazer wasn't pulled) so I pull over to the right. No such luck. I pull over and stop.

It was pretty bad even for a first ticket. I was flustered, I wasn't real coherent, and I was very aggravated. I masked all this pretty well, but I still wasn't very quick-witted. He did the whole wait-in-the-car thing, gave me the ticket, and sat behind me in his car writing.

I wasn't sure what he wanted me to do (get out?) so I got out and walked over. He told me to get in the car now and take off, "save it for the courts," etc.

So I'm stuck with a 79 in a 55 violation on a road where no one goes under 70. I'm a little concerned. Of course, I haven't told my parents yet.

How's this going to sound?: "I was skipping and I got caught speeding in your car. My bad." Heck, if I were the cop, I'd have ticketed me.

So my question is this: for those of you in NC who have fought the violation and/or come off without points on your license, how did you do it? I have a little money in the bank and should be able to afford a lawyer without a hitch, but would I do better to enter a prayer for judgement?

I'll be leaving the state for college (don't know which school yet) and I think that means clean license, which I need right now.

Thanks in advance. Hopefully this turns out okay.

[Templar]

Dude, rough day.

First off, tell your folks immediately. Suffer their wrath first and get it over with. Besides, you're going to college soon anyway, right?
Second, get an attorney to advise you. you don't necessarily need one in court with you, but at least get their advice. 79 in a 55 is not good though. If it had been 74 or under, you could plea that down to 64 pretty easily since it is your first offense. Talk to a lawyer before you enter a prayer for judgement. Elizabeth's Dad is an attorney and she worked in court with him extensively, she says she has seen very few PFJ's go very well for the defendant.
I hope this helps.

Again, sorry to hear about THE MAN coming down on you.

Kent

[Matt]

Man...you guys should move to Florida. Driving school pretty much wipes out points and you can drive really fast. It gets ridiculous sometimes. There isn't too much responsiblity for excessive speed and when you do get a ticket, $50 ticket clinics take care of it without you even going to court. Pretty crazy stuff.

I'd just fess up, the truth is always the best. As for the first ticket, how old are you...sometimes there isn't too much mercy for young'uns. I got plenty of tickets in my old 1983 Subaru GL wagon, but I've gone 4 years with no ticket. I do drive just a bit slower though.

Good luck.
Matt

[Sunrise City Rider]

Get a traffic lawyer, bottomline. Most of them know the judges fairly well. The judge always takes into account that by you hiring a lawyer, you really give a $hit about the ticket. You won't get any points and your insurance company will never know. If you have to tell your folks then tell them. If they are gonna trip then keep it to yourself. Its not their problem unless they pay your insurance. The lawyer should run no more than $100. How old are you? If its your first offense, I wouldn't worry too much, as long as you have a lawyer. Its not a big deal, as you make it seem. I know it sucks but its part of living in the US. We have the best roads in the world, but we have the biggest dickhead cops in the world as well. At least when it comes to speeding. I been in your position too many times to remember.
Zee

[motorob]

Overtime-

I've lived in NC a long time, and been in this position a number of times. I have a clean driving recored and always have. With that in mind, here's the law and what to do, and in what order:

1: Mae an appointment and go to the Wake County District Attorney's office. Call first and say that you want to come in and discuss a traffic ticket you were given. Calling first shows them that you are cooperative and considerate. Dress nicely, but not obviously so, when you go there. You will probably be given an appointment with an Assistant DA. The law is this: any ticket for nine miles over the speed limit or less has no effect on your insurance, although it will go on your record. That's about the best that even a lawyer can do for you, and you may be able to do it for yourself. Tell the DA you'd like to have the ticket reduced to 64 in a 55, that you're a good kid, that you have a clean record, and that you don't speed, you were just having a bad day and were distracted. DO NOT say "everyone else was going that fast." You ahve nothing to lose here but a little pride, they may say no way, but even so, it has cost you nothing. If it works, you've saved $200-300 in lawyer's fees.
If this doesn't work, or if having the 64-55 ticket on your record is unacceptable to you (remember, it has no effect on your insurance), you have two more options. You can hire a lawyer, although he may not be able to do more than you did at the DA's office, he may also be able to get it reduced to a non-moving violation like "improper Equipment" or a very weak moving violation like "unsafe movement" (I got that for doing donuts in Harris Teeter parking lot in Chapel Hill once.. reduced down from C&R!) The other option is the PJC, which I always considered the last resort for a couple of reasons (although I did use it once, down in Clinton, NC - go slow near Clinton if you're ever going to Wilmington on I-40, it is a notorious speed trap!) The PJC totally wipes the ticket out, but there are two big drawbacks. One, you're only allowed ONE PJC per HOUSEHOLD every three years. If you still live with your parents and decide not to tell them about this, and them one of them gets a ticket and decides to use the PJC, they will quickly find out about your ticket, and that they don't have one to use, which will be doubll infuriating to them (at least it would be to me if oyu were my kid..) And also, PJC is a little like probation, if you use it, and then get another ticket in the next three years, this ticket will arise from the dead, and you will have to deal with it again. Two tickets at once, one with a little dust on it, is no fun at all to deal with.

PM me if there's anything more you want to know. I come to Durham every now and then, I'd be willing to go to the DA's office and hold your hand if you want, it's like a second home to me...

[skeisenb]

I think Wake Forest is in Wake County. I grew up in Raleigh and I got a ticket when I was 17 going 60 in a 45. Under the advice of a lawyer that was a friend of my parents, I used a prayer for judgement and had it reduced to 54 in a 45 which spared me the extra insurance costs (I still got a couple of points on my lisence tho). My basis for the reduction was that the spedometer was off (it really was actually) by 6 mph at that speed. The insurance will still know about it and it though and if you get another ticket in the next few years you get nailed for both tickets.

Getting a lawyer is probably cheaper than the inflated insurance.

[ChaosThom]

I would get a lawyer. My record is clean but my son can be a bone-head and shouldn't even have a license anymore. He's busted the 15mph over three times in the past year. His lawyer always got it reduced. He lives in Salisbury and is only 21.
Now his insurance is more than his car payment but he can still drive.

[Overtime]

Thanks y'all. That's why this club is so great.

Here's my plan of attack as of now:

1) Tell the parents this weekend. I'll have a (likable!) friend over, and thus, their wrath may be spared temporarily.

2) Take Motorob's advice and call the D.A's office before my court date (which is March 14th.)

3) If that doesn't work...blow my summer money and hire a lawyer to get this reduced. I can afford a lawyer, and that's not a concern...several of my friends have lawyer/involved-in-law parents.

4) If the lawyer doesn't think he can help me, go for the PFJ and, um, pray.

I don't really care about having a low ticket on my record as long as it doesn't affect my insurance. I have no idea where I'm going to school, but I'm hoping wherever it is will give me a chance to start over with the license points.

I just installed my stereo today...and I'm about to go for a drive. I don't want to have to hitch rides for the rest of the year...I really need to get this reduced/removed from my record.

Wish me luck...and thanks again. I appreciate this a ton...it helps so much more than the typical, "Man, that sucks...I heard a guy got his license taken away for that." I got that plenty of times at school.

[motorob]

I posted another reply with a few refinements/clarifications, but apparently it got lost dammit. But your plan of attack sounds good, PM me if you have any other questions, and let us know how it turn out. The sooner you go to the DA the better, it shows interest and concern, don't go the day before the court date...

[Imprezed_Driver]

Hey man, i was in the same spot a year ago. About 15 miles over speed limit in dads 68 camaro ss. This is how i got out of it. I signed up for the defensive driving class at the local college which is only 3-4 hrs long. After doing that, i took the certificate to the DA and got the ticket reduced to improper equipment, which doesn't go on your liscense or insurance. cost of the class was $35 and all i had to pay was the usual court costs. It should work the same for you unless NC has changed the law.
This is the cheapest way out. I don't advise going for prayer for judgement. The deal with that means they can't hold you liable for the offense for three years. If you get a ticket before the three year period is up, the first ticket shows back up on your record and you will have to fight both offenses.

Good luck in getting it settled, and yes, tell your parents. This could affect their insurance as well if it doesn't come out right.

Jason