vjd3

Car insurance in Mass. is state-regulated and extremely expensive. The national carriers -- State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, Geico etc. -- won't insure anyone in this state.

Dudley, I'd go to court on it, if the judge is in a good mood, you might get it tossed or just wind up paying the seatbelt violation. Be nice, very apologetic, stress that you have an excellent driving record, etc. Won't cost you anything more if you lose, but you could beat it.

Howdy993

Dudley -

Does Mass. have Deferred Adjudication sp?? If your record stays clean for 6-9 months then the ticket goes away. You pay the fine, but you don't get the points / insurance bump.

Best wishes Howard

vjd3

Nope, they don't have that here. Get a ticket, you're screwed, period.

Edgy01

Wish I could give you a good way to proceed but after living in "Taxachusetts" for a number of years I bugged out! I found, too, that the police authorities would routinely LIE in court so just beg on the court's good graces and go to court, but plead that you were in error.

As several have pointed out, there is no negotiation in Massachusetts on your insurance rates. All are driven to charge the same amount,--that's competition for you.

Massachusetts,--the land of Kennedys, Kerrys, etc. You get what you vote for.

Dan

Dudley

Thanks Guys, I guess I will just go to court and follow Vic's advice. Just stand on my previous record and let the chips fall where they may.

Marv

That is sick! I hate it when the government tells a vender that they must sell to the public at a cheaper price than market value.

The only thing worse is when the government dictates that the vender must sell at a higher price than market value!

I don't know who got elected that put that into law, but you guys should ask for your "money back".

Sorry about your luck. I hope you get a resolution with rates that you can live with.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

JasonAndreas

On your first visit for this ticket you will get stuck with a magistrate and some random state police officer. No matter what you will be found guilty. Whatever you do DO NOT ADMIT TO SPEEDING! You don't have to lie just don't say you were speeding otherwise you are screwed on appeal. After you are found guilty they will ask if you would like to appeal, just say yes. They will set a court date and that is usually the one that the officer won't show for. At the very least you can fight it a thousand different ways (continuous appealing sometimes works). Its unfortunate you weren't pulled over by a Worcester cop, they show up a lot less than the state troopers of which there are a few on Rennlist.

lexart

Well, you certainly didn't save much in taxes

http://www.census.gov/govs/statetax/04staxrank.html

but we're sure glad you did

Dudley

Jason, Thanks for your input, solid advice as usual. I spoke to a lawyer and he offered similar advice. I have a few weeks before I get a court date to determine my course of action.

Christer

I think the point I was trying to make was that you should not be basing any defence on that story...no thrashing intended.

LuftKopf

News for NY State troopers:

4/10/06 ALBANY, N.Y. Starting in September, state troopers will no longer be allowed to negotiate lower traffic infractions for drivers who contest their tickets.
Currently, drivers pulled over for speeding or other moving violations often plead not guilty. They show up at court weeks later and have the charge reduced by the trooper _ not a judge _ before the first court appearance to avoid a trial.

The practice allows a quick resolution to many cases and still brings in money for the state and towns where the offense occurred.

Now state police officials have directed troopers to stop making deals with those they ticket and leave that responsibility to local prosecutors.

They say allowing troopers to carry out the duty is unethical because it forces motorists to bargain with the officer who has charged them and poses a threat to public safety by keeping officers from road patrol.

New York State Police officials say troopers issue about 900-thousand traffic tickets annually, including about 43 percent of all speeding tickets and 25 percent of safety restraint citations.

Dudley

Christer