Catharpin

Yes, this is the civil action that I was talking about. You can ignore it since it is a civil and not criminal complaint, but if your state reciprocates with NY DMV they will eventually get your ability to conduct DMV transactions in your state halted.
We just owned up and paid up. Expensive lesson but I did tell her when we crossed into NY from PA to be on the lookout. Cop even asked why she never slowed down, she was too busy talking to her mother in the front seat. Doh!

bkrantz

Agreed--get pulled over and cited, and then pay a fine. But not extra revenue-enhancing add ons and other threats.

And not to make excuses, but 65 max on a rural interstate? At least in CO we can go 75 in most areas, and even that is too slow for a good driver in a good car in clear conditions.

Sorry you got busted in Gunnison. But that might be different, coming into a town.

achtung6

Fight it. You never know when your next one may be. And that one may be for a less egregious trespass than this one. I'm all for owning up for one's mistakes and taking responsibility but the potential unforeseen consequences of just "paying the fine and the points" are not something I would recommend you roll the dice on. You've been given good advice here. Go with a lawyer and fortunately, it sounds like you've been given a referral to one that works that county. My 2 cents.

achtung6

I miss my old friends the "Ticket Busters" from when I lived in FL!

PTS-BRG

I fight every single ticket every single time and if I lose I appeal it too. Right or wrong, innocent or guilty. I always felt that if everyone fought their tickets that the system would grind to a halt. There wouldnt be enough time to process every ticket, or enough judges to try every case or time lost by law enforcement testifying at every trial. I do my part to wreck havoc on the system.

I also have laser jammers, built in radar detectors, Waze and Escort Live reports, so I am not the easiest motorist to catch.

Rezus

I live in state of NY and get a ticket once a year. I have realized the best bet is to have the lawyer handle it. It costs about $250 and is always reduced to parking ticket for another 150, if you have been really bad could be two parking tickets and jay walking. It saves you a lot of headache and guarantees the best outcome

PTS-BRG

That works if you dont live in the 5 boroughs.

Freddie Two Bs

There's a town in NY state where if they bust you the cop almost encourages you to appeal the ticket. A few months later you get called to show up one night, together with other 100 people or more, stand in line, talk to the Chief of police, accept his proposed downgrade (usually to parking next to a fire hydrant or that kind of thing), go in front of the judge for 15 seconds or so, then they take your credit card right there in the room with the judge. Not cheap, I had to pay $325 I think for going 60 in a 45 area, but no need for lawyers and at least you avoid the points.

PTS-BRG

That is exactly how it works in Ft Lee Municipal Court. 200 people all there for the same thing. Wait in Long line for your turn to speak to prosecutor who offers you a no points plea and you pay "extra" fines for that privilege.
If you take it, you go in front of the Judge and he signs off and your out of there fast. If you stand on principle and want to fight it, you will have to come back to court no less than 3 times before you can actually have a trial. $20 toll on the GW Bridge if I recall, so thats $60 in tolls plus gas plus your time. And you will still be found guilty as there is no way to beat a NJ ticket in NJ court with a NJ cop, NJ Judge and NJ Prosecutor.

Bend over..

Carlo_Carrera

Over the past thirty years I have received tickets in nearly every state in the northeast. Never had any additional fees nor civil threats because I plead guilty and pay the fine immediately. IMHO all these others suggesting getting lawyers and fighting it and all are wasting their time and money.

fast1

After reading this thread I've learned a lot about how things have changed in traffic court. The last speeding ticket I received was over 30 years ago. I live in Md and was issued a ticket for doing 75 MPH in a 60 MPH zone. Actually I was going around 80 MPH , but the County Cop gave me a break. My recollection is if you exceeded the speed limit by 10 - 19 MPH in Md, you were assessed 2 points, but 5 points if you exceeded the speed limit by 20+ MPH. Rather than pay the fine and get the 2 points, I decided to go to traffic court which was conducted in a small court room in Baltimore County. There were no prosecutors; it was just the County Cop, the Judge,and me. When my case was called, the County Cop read the citation to the Judge, and I was then given the opportunity to respond. I just told the Judge the truth: I momentarily took my eyes off the speedometer and exceeded the speed limit. The Judge then asked me if I had any moving violations within the past three years, and I said no. The Judge then verified my clean record and offered me probation before judgement. So I had to pay court costs of around $20, and the speeding citation would be removed from my record if I wasn't convicted of another moving violation within six months. If I violated the terms of the probation, I would have to pay the speeding fine and two points would be assessed against my driving record, The proceeding only took about five minutes.

Turbodan

I had one in New York summer of 2018, had lawyer fight it cost around$500 total including fines and had to do an online safety drivers course.

Ceepe

We're talking about when the speed amount over the limit lands the ticket into a category which will produce enough points to be a problem (I cited a ticket in Westchester which was written for the maximum allowed points, a single ticket). Or, a ticket in CT I received in 2019 which had a mandatory court appearance and was written as a misdemeanor. If it's a first ticket for 10MPH over its easier to pay it, yes. The OP referenced a +25mph over ticket in Westchester county. They go hog wild after a certain speed, which I think is 25 over. You're talking about 500-600 in fines at least and a large amount of points. Regardless if the license is out of state. If you drive in NY that's all that matters. If points were not involved of course you'd just pay it and move on.

That's before you even get to the ticket being justified or not. I've received some tickets in the 911 that were not legit. Do you still plead guilty if you don't feel the ticket is accurate?

0luke1

Lawyers help. NJ allows a person to plea down two tickets in any one seven year period to a non moving violation. Cost me about $1,000 both times I did it and the lawyer gets you heard before the graphic t-shirt wearing crowd. Time is money. Plus, if you have any antique cars, you’ll have trouble ($$$) with that excess speed ticket. I have declared value antique car insurance for the vette that allows me to drive it around like a daily driver. They asked a lot of questions about the 2 points on my license before they wrote it. 91 in a 50? Forgetaboutit.

You NJ guys probably know about the speed trap on route one in East Brunswick. My tt was in the shop for one day (tires) and they gave me a brown Audi A6 so I could go to lunch. Got picked out of the crowd and when the cop (older guy, my age) got to my window, I teed off on him “I was in the middle lane driving with traffic, this is bullshi#, it’s not enough for this state with income tax, property tax....” I saw the cop begin to smirk and I added “and you’re just doing your job and it’s beginning to rain how about I just shut up”. He said “oh no, this is your big chance, get it all off your chest.” I laughed, he said “you’re right, I picked you out of the crowd at random - go to court, you can plea it down to a 2 pointer and it will be off your license in one year if you’re a good boy”. We shook hands and I took his advice.

spiderv6

I got a ticket couple of years ago on the GWB and ended up in that Ft Lee traffic court. I couldn’t decide if I was more disgusted or amused. Exactly as you describe, a line at the prosecutors door - they take you up row by row from the courthouse - and then there is essentially no discussion as the prosecutor reels of an ‘offer’ and you just agree, Questions are actively discouraged - far too many people to process to be troubled by questions.
Then it is back to the courthouse, called up in turn, 15 seconds later you are waving your credit card in front of the cashiers window (yes they have payment plan options for those that can’t afford to pay today).

American justice at its finest.