Dudley

Rats, first ticket in ten years. I was issued a ticket for 75 mph in a 65 mph highway in my pick-up. $100. Also got a ticket for not wearing my seat belt, another $25. No excuse. The reason i was caught is I had droppped my sunglasses and I must have leaned on the gas as I reached forward to grab them and he nabbed me. I know, dopey. The problem is the surcharges on my insurance will really add up on my two cars. A local lawyer that advertizes success in defending traffic citations usually ending in a "Not Responsible" finding. His fee to represent me at a magistrate hearing is $950, does this seem to be a reasonable course of action. Your advise would be greatly appreciated.

John95cab

I have always gone to court (because of my business insurance) and give my contrite but lame excuse and get the ticket reduced to plain speeding (not over 10mph over the limit). I'd rather take my chances on that than shell out a thousand bucks for an iffy proposition. If you've been a good insurance customer for 10 years they might give you a pass on the first ticket. You might want to pose the question hypothetically to your agent.

Dudley

Thanks John, it's worth a try. I do not have high hopes with the insurance indusrty here in Mass.

c993k

The outfits that fight tickets here are only $50-150. They usually get good results.
If you get a ticket in South Florida, your mailbox get flooded with offers to fight your ticket.
Chris

LuftKopf

where did they hit you? I travel in MA a lot, so everything helps.

Dudley

On Rte 290 by exit #22 in Worcester.

Marv

One ticket for 10 mph over? Is your state different? One ticket is ignored in our state by the insurance company. Now if you have a trend of two or more, too bad for you.

Generally, the state expunges them after 5 years, so this is just a blip on what I assume is a spotless record. You don't have any other moving violations, do you?

Now, I just have to say this. Shame on you for your heads down moment!!! If your attention was adverted for long enough to put 10 mph on the speedo you could have just as well been violently parked into a tree or another car.

What's with not having a seat belt on?

Dudley

Marv, I have to agree it was foolish to have forgotten my seat belt but I don’t believe I was going 75 MPH. Massachsuetts "forgives" the first ticket but it also eliminates any good driver credit earned. The lost of the upfront "credit" could cost me $500-$600 each year.

Marv

My wife works in insurance (here in Ohio). She said you may want to go shopping. Policies vary as to how tolerant they can be, Erie insurance only rewards the Pope. If you fail to wash your car on Sunday they raise your rates.

State Farm has been awesome. I have had one ticket and a major crash in a 964 which did not change my rates at all. They dropped my rates when I got the 993 and they continue to fall. I pay $630 a year for the 993 fully covered.

I would shop around, unless state law dictates the rate you pay. In which case I would leave the state!

sojglenn

In Mass., the state law dictates your rate.

993c2cab

I've had several tickets here in Michigan. My insurance has never found out unless I change my policy or make a claim. Stay clean and they eventually drop off. I just went to court and the officer never showed. That's always a possibility. Good luck.

LuftKopf

Yeah, that's a legendary trap area. Bummer. I do the 290-495 thing up a few times a year and see them out. I'm surprised they bothered for 10 mph. So many to choose from.
Between there and the area around Amesbury on 93 I always count on them.

I think this is my motivation to finally get a V1.

Dudley

I just installed my new V1 in the 993.
I have an Escort in the Tundra and it never saw any Laser signal, if there was one.

Christer

I sincerely mean no disrespect saying this, but that story does sound like a....well...story. If I was a policeman and heard that you may have pushed the gas pedal when you bent forward to grab for your sunglasses, here in the UK we would then add 'Driving without due care' to the speeding and no-seatbelt fines and you would go to court. If it isn't going to affect you much I would take the ticket. The fee for the lawyer is a lot to lose, if he loses. And besides, if you were speeding you should take responsibility.

Dudley

Christer, no offense taken. It does sound foolish. I thought twice about even posting, I should have thought thrice. Sometimes on this board, rather than advice, you take a bit of a thrashing.