Wellardmac

Guys, I would love to get your help and guidance. My wife got a speeding ticked while driving through our neighborhood today.

She's pretty annoyed as she says that there's no way she was doing the speed she was cited for, but the cop admitted he was there to make examples of people because there have been complaints.

I would appreciate any guidance and attorney recommendations.

Thanks!

Barn996

Don't have specific advice for you or your wife, but was she nailed with the cops radar gun, or did the cop 'witness' her speeding? What is the posted speed limit? So much for Southern hospitality,eh?

Ubermensch

Since you're in NC you're about to get quite a few advertisements for attorneys in the area. I'd talk to a few and select one that says they can reduce the points to zero and pay a small fine. I had an issue a few years ago while driving through the Charlotte area. I paid the attorney and it all went away. Good luck.

-Shawn

Wellardmac

She's going to call some attorneys today and get some advice.

I've not seen the ticket yet, as I'm away on business and she's vague on specifics. She said something about "probable cause" which suggested it was an observation, but also she said "R-36S", which could be radar.

I'll be back home on Friday and will know more then. Her ticket was for 36 in a 25 zone. She stated that was higher than she was doing.

Zurichgnome

There have been several speeding related threads of late ... I'm starting to feel like the only rube in the world who just pays the ticket. I don't get many. Maybe one every 5 years or so.

For $100+- ticket -- I just want it done. My testosterone level has fallen to the point where I can't get riled up about truth and justice over a moving violation. No knock on the William Wallace's who stand and fight. That's important in some cases. But the hassle vs. cost ratio just never works out for me, regardless of points.

fpena944

The problem is the cost of a ticket is no longer just the $100 cost to the courts. It now always involves an increase that is exponentially higher in the form of insurance increases. So even an innocent little mishap ends up costing you thousands in the long run.

Even if you're guilty it's worth fighting so you don't get screwed by your insurance provider.

Ubermensch

Here in MA the ticket impacts your insurance for quite some time (5 years). That adds up to enough worth fighting for in my book.

Van

Send in the ticket not guilty. Show up at court and ask to plea-bargain it down to a non-speeding violation so it's not reported to the insurance company. Then pay the $150 "driving tax", go home, and put it behind you.

Them's the breaks... doesn't matter if she was really speeding or not. Doesn't matter if it's fair or not. It's a revenue stream for towns. Understand that it's just a monetary transaction and not a personal attack on your wife's driving.

Zurichgnome

Maybe it's my insurance company, sloppy police reporting or divine intervention but I've never seen an increase on my insurance for a minor moving violation.

I agree that if there is a long-term thousand dollar-plus cost to this, then why not fight. But most companies have a ticket forgiveness policy, especially for long-term clients. Usually the first ticket in a three-year period does not trigger a rate increase (says a relative who works for State Farm), unless it's a DUI or otherwise quite severe.

If doing 10 mph over results in thousands of dollars of additional insurance costs, that seems like a trigger to look for other providers. I'm not sure an insurance company would want to do that. Who knows?

Eric - Plug Guy

A good traffic atty knows the DA in Wake County and will negotiate the deal down to less than 9 over, a non moving violation, or get it completely wiped out if she has a clean record.

Email me - I have a name or two who can help you (just dealt with this in Chapel Hill for one of my kids).

eric@bumperplugs.com

rpm's S2

A more local perspective...

If it is her first violation then it is no big deal. She should go to the Wake court house at the appointed time and stand in line. There is no actual court appearance. The writing magistrate will take a look at her record and then, most likely, write it down to less than 11 mph over. She will then owe court costs of around $100. No points.

If she has another recent violation then all bets are off. But the reality is this is an assembly line system. No big deal. A Wake County lawyer will charge you about $300-400 to essentially achieve the same outcome.

And a caveat... there are no guarantees, from either my advice or from a lawyer.

Wellardmac

Thanks guys. I appreciate the guidance. In over 20 years of driving this is her first ticket and she is pretty upset. You are correct in that this is more about revenue and punitive impact. Any points is an automatic insurance increase of 45% and that's just disproportionate to the offense and particularly painful on a household of 3 high end cars.

I am in favor of responsible driving and appropriate speed limits, but nowadays I see a total lack of proportionality in speed limits (artificially too low), punitive enforcement and taxation. It's just wrong and no surprise that people get pissed off and fight the tickets.

Zurichgnome

A 45% automatic increase for an 11 mph moving violation? That was a time bomb waiting to go off. Time to call GEICO!

rpm's S2

GEICO is the last insurance company that any enthusiast should have. I remember when they would closely question prospective clients about radar detectors. If you had one you had to prove you disposed of it to get coverage. Granted, that was in the late 1980's, but no cute lizard will make that go away.

ruffyhunting

Geico is the worst. They will cancel your insurance if you get two tickets within three years.